The way is never so straight as to seem some true highway. The way is more like a country lane, and when it crosses rivers, then the bridges are not stout but more like rickety handmade efforts, perhaps my own, standing and in use in this life though I have not knowingly built them.
Some Other Way
I wonder what route
I should now take to reach you,
Now the bridge's washed out,
Now that the horse came up lame,
Now that I must limp
Some other way to your house.
*************************************
I am still married in my heart, though I have had two lovers since our divorce. I still have places in my heart concerning Carmen and Katy before and Maire and Francesca after too. I was with Annie from 1971 through the completed divorce in 1997. Annie died in 2001 after a difficult eight years. I don't turn away from my past loves. They never turned against me. When we divorced, Ann got a lawyer but I did not. It wasn't necessary. I don't know if I am really blessed that way, skillful, lucky, or what it is but I am pleased about it. I believe I get karma points for avoiding horrible relationship breakups. Probably you would too.
She Reminds Me
The sun sprays white light
Through the great Sycamore leaves,
Through my eyelashes
While I lie here by Annie,
By our creek, on our sweet grass.
I reach for her heart,
Then she reminds me of time
And of her passing.
Contraction
1 week ago
I really like "Some Other Way," but it takes on a whole different meaning, knowing that Annie has passed away.
ReplyDeleteYou do get karma points. Blessings.
Thanks for that. I wish you were the keeper of the points.
ReplyDeleteSomehow reminds me of that Beatles song, Something in The Way She Moves...
ReplyDeleteSomething in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me
I don't want to leave her now...
Teri and the cats of Furrydance
Some of the Beatles lyrics are consummate poetry. I love Blackbird and most of the Sgt. Pepper album for the sheer poetry.
ReplyDeleteThis morning your poems made me cry. They are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read any poetry by Gregory Orr? Your poetry reminds me of his. This is from his book "Concerning the Book that is the Body of the Beloved":
Everything dies. Nothing dies.
That's the story of the Book.
If the Book were a bird
Those two sentences
Would be its wings.
Nothing dies. Everything dies.
If the Book were a fish
They would be its fins.
But the Book is the body
Of the beloved:
Two hands, two feet,
Two eyes.
Lips to kiss.
---------------------
And one more from the same book:
Some say you're lucky
If nothing shatters it.
But then you wouldn't
Understand poems or songs,
You'd never know
Beauty comes from loss.
It's deep inside every person:
A tear tinier
Than a pearl or thorn.
It's one of the places
Where the beloved is born.
-----------------------
I think you get Karma points for writing your poems. And for sharing them here with us. Thank you.
All this leaves me with the urge to cry. Why? I can't explain it. You are a beautiful soul, Christopher.
ReplyDeleteHey! Faith and I are crying together. :)
ReplyDeleteFaith, thank you for sharing Gregory Orr. Thank you for your kindness.
ReplyDeleteRachel, okay. Crying is good. I don't know why either. My mood as far as I know writing them was serious and reflective. I don't recall being anywhere near tears.
Or to say the full truth, grief has been my other companion, sits on the other shoulder to inform my days. Death on one shoulder, grief on the other, both saying
"There is happiness and joy in this life. Gather them both into your arms and hold them. Tell all jokes, good and bad, clean and raunchy. Go out to dinner with the ones you love and in that company laugh your ass off. It is all very good. Love others when and how you can. But it will all be false if you forget us."
x
ReplyDeletebeautiful.
ReplyDelete