navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #46 » coming home
Open Poetry #46
Post A Reply Post New Topic coming home Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2010-12-04 05:39 PM



coming home


in taking a late lunch
had to get away
computers are down
what’s to miss

took a short break,
went to the
budget bookstore,
looked around, couldn’t
find what I needed

asked the sleepy man,
“do you have poetry?”

he shook awake, pointed and said
“turn around”
and then he said
“keep walking, I’m on
your tail,”

and I thought

“go figure…”

back of store,
small anteroom,
holding poetry,
asked "do you have McKuen?"
and he said
"maybe one or two....just
look around"

so in this small room,
dim lights,
a small reading chair

books marked down,
down,
down…

crooking my head sideways
to read titles

I touched
two,
  
found myself
again

Listen to the Warm
Lonesome Cities...

to add these
to the two I have...

Coming Close to the Earth
Celebrations of the Heart

now I am a little happier....

I missed Sloopy....

but no longer....

I hadn’t realized I could
be transported so easily
backwards

now, to find Stanyan Street

my quest has only begun

for I do not want
e-bay prices
and the easy way out

I want to find a copy
inscribed

that felt the hands
caught the tears
heard the sighs
invigorated the heart
captured and let fly
the mind

of another poet

it’s okay of stains
or a dog’s ear
or two

it’s okay

it’s coming home

that’s what counts

someday, I will have
them all.

~*~

(c) 5-1-01 KRJ

© Copyright 2010 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
1 posted 2010-12-04 05:50 PM


I've not read Stanyan Street but years ago (a lifetime almost) I really liked McKuen. I may have to look around for it. Thank you Sunshine for reminding me of his work.

Loved this poem . . . “keep walking, I’m on
your tail,” / and I thought / “go figure…” . . . Great visual there.

. . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$!

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
2 posted 2010-12-04 10:22 PM


simply superb writing! ...

pure joy to read!!

Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
3 posted 2010-12-04 11:30 PM


for I do not want
e-bay prices
and the easy way out

I want to find a copy
inscribed

that felt the hands
caught the tears
heard the sighs
invigorated the heart
captured and let fly
the mind

of another poet
Now THAT is genius....WOW!

Bastet
Member
since 2010-05-07
Posts 246

4 posted 2010-12-05 12:12 PM


What a wonderful ars poetica! I love the haiku-like structure, simple and direct language. I am also glad to be reminded of McKuen. A really great read!
Prasad Nataraj
Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149
Bangalore,India
5 posted 2010-12-05 05:07 AM


in the age were all books are getting transported to ebooks, wonder the coming generations will ever get to soak into true pages. A gem of a poem, to my library it goes.

"Hardwork pays in the long run"

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
6 posted 2010-12-05 05:42 AM


The heart of a poet, one who loves the words of other greats!   This one made me want to finger the pages of the very old and revered poetry books my father had in his collection.  They've pretty well been keepsakes of the family to look at from a distance because of their fragility.  I have occasionally touched the pages and found the discoloration of flowers saved between the pages.   It is easy to be moved by the loving wear of the book alone!   I enjoyed the image of traveling through my father's books once again.
nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
7 posted 2010-12-05 07:51 AM


beautifully written, Karilea. Makes me want to begin  my search ...but where to start?

My family (once they learned I was writing poetry and had read some) informed me that my Grandmother use to write  as well  as sew and do other creative activities.  I wish she had  lived long enough to share those times with me. She lived to be 95 but passed away when I was much too young.

You always bring out the best of feelings!


M


Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
8 posted 2010-12-05 10:32 AM


Thank you for taking me along to the bookstore and sharing your heart as you went.  It was a warm and wonderful trip! LGR
Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
9 posted 2010-12-06 05:40 AM


This is so beautiful, read it twice and found myself just close to you in that bookstore experiencing the joy of discovery. Also went to reread those poems by RodMcKuen, such a pleasure!

Thank you for this gem.

Love,
Margherita

flash
Member
since 2010-11-28
Posts 213
miami beach, florida
10 posted 2010-12-06 06:07 AM


Sunshine :

wonderful write..so sad that reading printed books is heading via the way of the dinasour..just last week I attended a Rummage Book Sale and guess what the best-seller was?

Rummage Book Sale
their son's lemonade
the best-seller

kindle doesn't light my fire..I loved the dog-ears and fancy bookplates and neat inscriptions and vellum bindings..so soft against the ribs..kindle OUCH!)..

Al



Klassy Lassy
Member Elite
since 2005-06-28
Posts 2187
Oregon
11 posted 2010-12-06 11:00 AM


I was caught in the same lines as Balladeer.  Treasures of the heart are worth moving heaven and earth to find...perhaps I've got that backward.  Maybe we are supposed to move the heart to find heaven and earth?  

Karilea, I would search for a book of your poetry to smile homecomings, where I not privy to it here.  It would be as dogeared as my heart.      You are beautiful!

Amaryllis
Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306
Mi now
12 posted 2010-12-06 11:34 AM


I love this, and so relate... you'd adore Powell's books, here in the city of Roses (nearby to me)... where you might find such a well-loved book of poetry... a gem, indeed.

My best~
Amaryllis

A pile of scribbles here:
http://sharonleighpoetry.blogspot.com

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
13 posted 2010-12-06 07:53 PM


Sissie...come home to my house...it has that lovely appeal that can be found in books ... and you won't have to buy them. I could see you doing this and wished I'd been with you!
Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #46 » coming home

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary