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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2000-08-03 05:15 PM


  Solitaire


The window was open
and crickets hummed
in the warm summer night
when he told her,
let the words out fast,
taking deep breaths at each pause,
like he had practiced
how to say good bye.

Now

the light from a full October moon
shines and patterns the
wall to lace
and the branches of the elm tree dance
like graceful fingers across her bed.

She hears a faint click, click
and a steady hum,  
she knows the sound of solitaire,
she  is aware of the lonely heartbeat
it represents,

sometimes the sound of the
world crashing is so soft, she thinks.

A faint light shows through the crack,
her hunched back a silent statement,
the computer lights the mood
of a hand on the mouse,

and she almost says her daughter’s name

but the word won’t come,
her voice is as helpless
and as tired as a limp rag
hanging on the line
on a windless day.

She feels the weight
of a question
and it hits her
and tares at the heart
of the mother in her.

So the name is spoken
with the voice of a cracked heart
and then she is looking through
and breathing the perfume of
her child's dark hair

and the mouse is dangling
in the stuffed pain of an empty room.




[This message has been edited by Martie (edited 08-03-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

1 posted 2000-08-03 05:47 PM


"sometimes the sound of the
world crashing is so soft, she thinks"

And sometimes the sound is so soft, you don't notice it until you've awakened.  

Martie, this piece's poignant, sad scene and detail made it difficult for me to get through. You write beautifully, my friend.

~ Claire

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau


Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
2 posted 2000-08-03 05:52 PM


Your ability to write brings all the emotions of your words to the reader and can
be quite vivid and overwhelming.  I have been touched by your works before as you know
but this one reaches the depths and it tears at me as I share the pain with you.  This is what Poetry is and you have created it to perfection.  

Corinne
Member Ascendant
since 1999-10-28
Posts 5167
state of confusion
3 posted 2000-08-03 06:31 PM


So very beautiful and so sad.

Artfully crafted as always, Martie!

Corinne

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
4 posted 2000-08-03 07:14 PM


Martie~
Oh, sweet sister of my heart ...

'She hears a faint click, click
and a steady hum,  
she knows the sound of solitaire,
she  is aware of the lonely heartbeat
it represents,

sometimes the sound of the
world crashing is so soft, she thinks.'


How I ached reading this moment of 'solitaire' ... you touched me tender !

I could hear you whisper her name.
Love you~
~*Marge*~



< !signature-->

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
             noles1@totcon.com               



[This message has been edited by Marge Tindal (edited 08-03-2000).]

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

5 posted 2000-08-03 07:22 PM


So the name is spoken
with the voice of a cracked heart
and then she is looking through
and breathing the perfume of
her child's dark hair

and the mouse is dangling
in the stuffed pain of an empty room.
=====================
i am awed and moved wordless by this poem
and the poets grace...
you KNOW....now so do we...
thank you
love ya
jm

There are places inside our souls -
that have never been touched.
There are places inside our hearts -
that need to be loved this much.
~jm~


Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

6 posted 2000-08-03 09:59 PM


The ache and the longing never go away. This brought tears, Martie. Excellent writing, of course. HUGS

Denise

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
7 posted 2000-08-04 12:47 PM


Claire--thank you so much for your always sensitive replies.

Mark--I am overwhelmed by your words...thank you so much.

Corinne--Thank you for the nice compliment/

Marge--It is easy to touch you..you have such a tender heart.

Janet--that was not wordless...that was wonderful words that made me smile.

Hugs back to you Denise--sorry for the tears.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

8 posted 2000-08-04 10:44 AM


Martie, there is just nothing to say...This is a stunner...hugs to you through the tears...
Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
9 posted 2000-08-04 10:48 AM


An excellent profoundly written poem this Martie...

regards,
sudhir

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
10 posted 2000-08-04 02:04 PM


Serenity--although I have had similar life experience to the characters in this poem...and thus the feelings are very real...this is not my story.  Thanks for the hug.

Sudhir--Thank you very much for reading and for your great reply.

brian madden
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374
ireland
11 posted 2000-08-04 03:29 PM


I sit ok I be as envious as hell of your poetry Martie. This is an amazing piece. WOW
a scene so vivid and realistic. A fantastic poem. standing ovation.


"I am melancholy, flower cutting through stone"
manic street preachers

Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
12 posted 2000-08-04 03:38 PM


Don't mind me.....I was just taking another walk through your world.     
Mona Lisa
Member
since 1999-08-25
Posts 100
Halifax, Nova Scotia
13 posted 2000-08-04 07:12 PM


You have constructed a wonderfully worded and meaningful poem.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading your work.
serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

14 posted 2000-10-16 10:02 AM


*clicking again*  smile
Honeybee
Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372
Ontario, CANADA
15 posted 2001-08-04 08:35 PM



Martie, nobody brings words to life like you do  

This is poignantly sorrowful, well expressed~

Melissa~

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