I watch,
intrigued
as if this were a clip of a movie we made
perceiving
how easily excuses and lies
can be silenced by a
break
in the sky.
I watch,
assuming a distant
goodbye,
yet letting the question drift awhile
on the blue horizon
until, resisting temptation,
I permit your image
to fade.
I watch and wait
while sorrow ebbs. The sky
rains beachballs, jigsaw pieces,
a lone, tumbling, soft toy,
describing all the fizz, all the love
you shrugged off long ago.
Leaden with memories
they drop, to be swallowed
by a nonchalant sea.
Feet firm on aged rock,
I watch, reminiscing,
yet separating,
releasing the wisp
of the fruit of my womb,
clawing the ache.
Defiance rises within me:
mettle and muscle contain me.
The waves cannot take me.
Weight recedes,
leaving nothing to see.
I am air, air is me.
I sleep.
Written for my delightful friend, Paul Sunstone, who challenges us to write a post on the subject of Defiance.
©Jane Paterson Basil
Beautifully insightful
“Feet firm on aged rock,
I watch, reminiscing,
yet separating,
releasing the wisp
of the fruit of my womb,
clawing the ache.”
Poignantly powerful my friend …..
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Thank you Ivor. I wrote this about a week ago. I’ve got a long queue of unfinished poems written over the past three months. It’s only now that I realise what a mess I’ve been since banishing my son. I’m determined to pull myself together.
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I hope you going well and coping ok xx
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I’m OK, thanks Ivor. The thoughts aren’t constantly circling my head now xxx
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That’s lovely to hear Jane xxx
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Hey it was never going to be easy … I’m following this blog now!
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Thanks Kate! It’s great to see you. I can tick you off my shortlist of folks to hunt down. I think I’ve only got half-a-dozen or so left – and I haven’t done any of the hunting down 🙂
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good things naturally gravitate to those with good hearts Jane ❤
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You are very kind. That’s what first attracted me to you xx
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your kind heart and awesome talent is why i keep in touch!
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Such a beautiful poem for such a tragic subject. Thank you so much Jane.
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Thank you Phil. I was prompted by a dream.
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Whatcan I say? You’ve gone and done it again. It’s good.
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Thank you Raili. I feel like I’m back in the driver’s seat 🙂
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Yippee!!!!!
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