and you have none on me.
The first wet snow arrives tenuous as a schoolgirl's crush,
and yet, there it is, on every edge of the still unfallen leaves.
Along the rail fence, and in the saucers of the flower pots,
pale and perfect as stationery just bought,
is the signature and sign of what you are to me.
Everything that was there before, remains, but changed in spirit, subtly.
There is no way to explain the ineffable,
or my simple wholehearted pleasure at what is given and become--
Just promise me that you understand,
and that, one more time, you'll come.
_____
for Grace's mini-challenge at Real Toads.
I admire the allusion to nature's gifts like the first wet snow arriving ~
ReplyDeleteBut it is the spirit between the two, the giver and taker that strikes me ~ The openness and freedom that makes gift giving unique and special ~
Thanks for participating Shay and wishing you happy week ~
The rhyme, the near-rhyme, the sweetness of this (perfect for the season at hand)...Bravo, Shay!
ReplyDeleteOnly in the freedom to come willingly comes that connection.. the images you paint are crystal clear.. only in a connection like this should two humans meet.
ReplyDeleteooohhh, so lovely. stationery just bought! love that.
ReplyDeleteI really like this! And the image goes so well with it!
ReplyDelete"Everything that was there before, remains, but changed in spirit, subtly" ....appeals deep in the heart...
ReplyDeleteThis... "pale and perfect as stationery just bought," to describe the snow is just perfection. What that images means to a poet is wondrous.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Shay. Love the photo. xo
ReplyDeletesuch perfect melding of word, meaning, cadence, balance, yearning...
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>
The comparison of the tenuous first wet snow to the presence of a school girl's crush---utterly magnificent.
ReplyDeleteThis just may be your most beautiful poem yet, Shay.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful..I love this line "pale and perfect as stationery just bought"
ReplyDeleteThis moves so beautifully, Shay! I love this.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of two people who maybe work together or encounter each other regularly and are drawn to each other, even though they may not necessarily say it or express it completely. Maybe they're both married or unavailable, but they have some thing, some connection that binds them. And who knows exactly what "come to me" might mean? Their relationship could be real on some level, as in an affair, or maybe it's just a flirtation or something somewhat imaginary that can't quite be explained or pinned down. But there's something deep there, something that touches everything, like newly fallen snow.
ReplyDeleteThis sort of says it all: "The first wet snow arrives tenuous as a schoolgirl's crush" It hides all the necessary information to (un)veil the story.
"Along the rail fence, and in the saucers of the flower pots,
pale and perfect as stationery just bought,
is the signature and sign of what you are to me." In other words, the speaker is constantly thinking about this other person, whose presence brushes everything so delicately.
"Everything that was there before, remains, but changed in spirit, subtly." This makes me think something awkward might have happened that made the speaker have to pull back a bit. Like maybe they both know the feelings are there, but they can't be completely declared.
"There is no way to explain the ineffable" This line may say the most, considering that there probably isn't much that YOU can't describe or explain adequately. There must be a very good reason you can't be perfectly clear about your feelings.
"or my simple wholehearted pleasure at what is given and become" You know the relationship will never be all it could be, but you are content and even joyful over what you do have.
"Just promise me that you understand" This could mean many things. That she'll understand you, that she'll understand your situation, that she'll understand the ineffable, that she'll understand the words you do say.
What a beautiful closing line, tying back to the title and opening line. It makes us wonder where, and in what way, you meet. Do you have a special spot, or is it just conversation or that inward place of magic that is created with the slightest brush of the hand?
Beautiful, beautiful work, Shay.
Today, I especially love the sound in this line:
ReplyDelete"Everything that was there before, remains, but changed in spirit, subtly."
The rhyme of remains/changed, the alliteration in spirit/subtly, the "r" consonance in there/before---you have such an impressive ear.
this is stunning, SP! a poem that only you could write with exquisite and unique turns of phrase that leaves the reader (this reader anyway) breathless and in awe.
ReplyDelete♥