B --
When I walked along the dike tonight
there was the smell of ice in the air.
Snow brushed the foot of the mountain.
The wildlife was quiet - no gossiping
geese, no chattering ducks, no beaver
splashing into the water to keep
pace with me. Only the shushing
of the river, and a sound like wolves,
howling.
How different this must be
from where you are. Awake, I try
to call your face to my mind, but
it's blurred; it could be the face of any
of the men I've loved. But asleep, you
are there, complete, completely
yourself. I imagine walking the paths
you walk. The colors, the wildness,
the strangeness of you
in that place. The slowness
of elephants, their surprising hair. Such
gentleness, such patience. Delicate,
spangled shawls on the shoulders of
great and dangerous power. Temple bells.
The calls to prayer. Fourteen years. I know
you have found demons, and faced them
down. Have you found angels? Have you
found peace?
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Elegant and heart reaching imagery of loss...
Posted by: Tumblewords | 17 April 2008 at 04:50 PM
this is so intense... i will have to go read it yet again i am sure... the closing stanza is so desirous.. so full of longing... not just to know,, but to understand...
Posted by: paisley | 17 April 2008 at 06:38 PM
One oops: "splashing into the the water"
Posted by: Dave | 17 April 2008 at 07:50 PM
Lovely tone and pace to this
Posted by: Crafty Green Poet | 18 April 2008 at 08:33 AM