National Poetry Month Celebration 2019 - Post Poems Here!

[ajduclos]

Beautiful, lisaeagle, Sunday is stunningly beautiful... "an escaping tear"...........

[Tracy Mitchell]

Yes -- what AJ said.

[ajduclos]

Day 12

Darling
  
She ceased breathing the other day
his Darling, his beloved wife. 

Her voyage to the bottomless caves of dementia
her descent into eternal caverns
a trail that no dropped breadcrumbs
could map a return route
had been surprisingly quick
a matter of just a few heartrending years. 

The day he dreaded finally arrived
when she required 24-7 professionals.
Confused and painfully raging
she was admitted.
Guilt-ridden and heartbroken
he returned to the morgue-like silence
of their home and wept. 

He visited her daily
always tenderly kissing her
manifesting his love. 

That day, months ago,
the day he looked into her eyes
the day there was nothing
but the measureless terror of infinity...
the day she looked at him
and there was nothing
nothing...
the day she retreated beyond...
the day he lost her.
That day his Darling died. 

Today we celebrate her life.
We circle his wagons.  

[Tracy Mitchell]

AJ - heart-wrenching.
"the measureless terror of infinity..." That's a phrase that will stay with me.

[lisaeagle65]

Day 12

Darling
  
She ceased breathing the other day
his Darling, his beloved wife. 

Her voyage to the bottomless caves of dementia
her descent into eternal caverns
a trail that no dropped breadcrumbs
could map a return route
had been surprisingly quick
a matter of just a few heartrending years. 

The day he dreaded finally arrived
when she required 24-7 professionals.
Confused and painfully raging
she was admitted.
Guilt-ridden and heartbroken
he returned to the morgue-like silence
of their home and wept. 

He visited her daily
always tenderly kissing her
manifesting his love. 

That day, months ago,
the day he looked into her eyes
the day there was nothing
but the measureless terror of infinity...
the day she looked at him
and there was nothing
nothing...
the day she retreated beyond...
the day he lost her.
That day his Darling died. 

Today we celebrate her life.
We circle his wagons.  

So powerfully complete. This is amazing...

[indar]

April 12

But I Repeat Myself

The best poetic writing addresses youthful passion:
what am I to do?
Sagging flesh and flagging minds is cliché among my kind.
How unseemly it would be to relive my lusty days.

What am I to do?
I could revisit summer nights fifty years ago,
how unseemly it would be to relive my lusty days
but I'm not ready to subside into aged platitudes.

I could revisit summer nights fifty years ago
and shock the senior writing group,
I'm not ready to subside into aged platitudes.
Besides, I noticed Able Johnson sneaking looks at me.

I'll shock the senior writing group
and confess my early life:
encourage Able Johnson sneaking looks at me--
there's one more go-round in me yet.

I will confess my early life.
a scintillating expose,
there's one more go-round in me yet.
I think I saved my white fringed dress.

A scintillating expose
ripe with suggestive messages
and I think I saved my white fringed dress.
Browning says the last is best.

 

[Tracy Mitchell]

Pure, pure delight, Linda

[indar]

I agree with Tracy Aj those lines are absolute standouts. And yes, they are haunting--what greater fear could there be?

[Tracy Mitchell]

I have written several poems on the topic of dementia striking. None so poignant as yours, AJ.

[ajduclos]

I agree with Tracy Aj those lines are absolute standouts. And yes, they are haunting--what greater fear could there be?

Indar, lisaeagle, Tracy - thanks for the feedback.  "Darling" was my 7th grade girlfriend, and her husband is a good friend - He and I shared a beer and bits or our souls a couple evening ago.
Shortly I head out to the "Celebration of Life".  Hopefully a comfort for us all.
Aj