between the nail that breaks on the drawer handle
and the wicked in the world and the wick in the candle--
that there are great drifts of questions
and little leaves of answers
that come when they will and only for a moment.
i was walking--
and saw a ghost through the window of a vacant house--
she looked so bewildered and lost,
so out of her element and with such a space to cross--
i said to her, sister,
isn't that always the way
isn't that just always the way?
we only want to be loved, don't we,
whether time is on its way up or going down--
and those others who are gathered around
may be devils or angels--
may be lovers or strangers or really anyone under the sun,
all in or out of the same skin--
together and alone--
haunting each other and calling, like spirits far from home.
Shay--The first stanza blew me away, and then the final two had this gently rocking rhythm...
ReplyDelete(I also LOVE the version of "Calling All Angels" you paired up with your poem.)
There's a song-like quality to this, melodic and full of a rather unexpected resolution--the yearning and pain, the alienation all seem part of some natural order, where however lost or strayed, simply loving, haunting each other as unembodied spirit, is more full of purpose than the contradictions and endless process involved in living. Enigmatic, but oddly comforting, for me.
ReplyDeletebeautiful and yes, sing-song ish. i liked it a lot!
ReplyDeleteAh, Shay, this strikes me as the most poignant description of the human condition as I have read in a long time, and you have written it with such tender acceptance of what we are all about.
ReplyDeletewe only want to be loved, don't we,
whether time is on its way up or going down--
This is an instant favourite for me.
This piece had such a beautiful flow to it. Especially loved 'that there are great drifts of questions and little leaves of answers'.
ReplyDeleteThis is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteThis one went especially to my heart, Shay - "isnt that just always the way?", the bewildered ghost, and how we all only want to be loved. Sigh. Topped off by two of my fave singers singing one of my fave songs..........bless you, kiddo!
ReplyDeleteWe're all spirits a long way from home looking for love. This strikes all the right chords of our human condition.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHauntingly lovely ....
ReplyDeleteI love the image of a ghost in the window. Very apropos. And I agree that it's the sane ones who want to be loved. Even during our most desperate hours we hold out hope that somebody will care. Well done!
ReplyDelete" i was walking--
ReplyDeleteand saw a ghost through the window of a vacant house--
she looked so bewildered and lost,
so out of her element and with such a space to cross--
i said to her, sister,
isn't that always the way
isn't that just always the way?"
Something deeper than the words sings in your poems; speaks especially to me....Shay.
ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
EVERY one of your poems always has at least one line that hits me in the gut better 'n a pat of butter onto a big 'ol pancake. Here it was "whether time was going up or going down." I guess I'm probably going up now. But that's okay, I guess. As long as my hair can still looking reasonably cute on occasion and they keep making my Silver City Pink lipstick -- I think time will still be on the way up for me. :) As long as my eyes stay good enough to fix said hair and eye brightener. :)
ReplyDeleteI always love your poems! Leaves Snickers in the dirt, and is right up there with Ghiradelli milk chocolate squares with caramel filling. Thank you for sharing your talent. xoxo
You. Are. Gifted.
ReplyDeleteWho the hell are you?!!! xx
Thats all I want...To be loved.
ReplyDeleteain't that the truth xo
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, Shay. I can definitely hear it set to music. Grab yer geetar!
ReplyDelete"that there are great drifts of questions
ReplyDeleteand little leaves of answers"
!! and the middle stanza is a novel all in and of itself!
and the universal search to be loved - we really aren't all that different from one another.