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Open Poetry #37
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With Apologies For A Lost Child
| Open Poetry #37 |
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With Apologies For A Lost Child |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
Not on a bed of straw But a street of Hay Down around The Oriental Bay There was you There was me Two fresh faced kids Thinking we knew the way Speaking of which, I went back there a few years later. Standing across the street looking up at that old rickety house (it seemed so much smaller then than it had been way back when), thinking of what might have become of you, but knowing only of what had become of me. Nothing much had changed, there was still a need for paint and the tree still stood in front. Summer of 65 We knew nothing Of anything Except that, which We found in each other Would we have so readily? Laid down with love In the night If we had known the sorrow That would linger in daylight Walking back down Hay that day I listened to the sun, wind and beat of sea across the bay. Later, sitting on the sea wall watching night drifting down the city streets across the water with its myriad of lights catching on, I wondered if there was one in which you still walked. Later still, in the halls of sleep you wandered by. We knew not How narrow the prison Was love, with its exclusion? Of all reason In which head learning Was overruled by hearts Consumed by hunger For one another I remembered your eyes and the lights that danced therein. The benign streets, as they were then, that we wandered in, and days on the banks of a New Town Park. Glorious summer days with the world far away, how old were we? I know, you were 15 going on 16, and I, recently left college, at my first job 16 going on 17. We had it all, the world our Babylon, where we went dreaming. They weren’t found Under cabbages were they? We found that out the hard way And we passed on through To huddled and ugly walls Enforced by family enraged For long no light that shone Was allowed to dispel the darkness In your journey from that summer of 65 you never knew did you? They never told you. Of how I argued and fought with your father. The telephone calls I made that you were not permitted to receive. Of my want to be with you, or that your father wanted to kill me. For years I avoided your father like the plague for I had stood face to face with him and had seen his rage. You were his eldest daughter, his hope for the future, years later I understood that, and respected him for it. The mind lingering On a long dark summer Has gathered dust In its reflection Like a mirror Now in the light of day May the gentle rain of tears And understanding Wash that dark dust away Your mother would have had it otherwise but was not willing to cross the line. No one can lay any blame on her for that. Me, when I heard you had been sent away, I was resigned to that which I could not change. The paths of life are many, and mine was perhaps more varied than most, so I was surprised to learn just how close our paths had come to crossing on numerous occasions. Would it have changed anything? I don’t know, please accept my apologies, I have no words of wisdom for this on offer today, maybe tomorrow when yesterday has gone away. |
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| © Copyright 2006 Frank Bennett - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Honeybunch Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115South Africa |
tp - It somehow seems to me that any comment could very well be an intrusion on so delicate a memory recalled so vividly. This is what I wrote not even an hour ago which I'm appending just to illustrate that I can relate to the rush of memory. When brain gets a jolt of sudden recall it shouts “Move over!” to everyday life and welcomes within the times of back then to relive again from the start to the end. It closes its eyes and prays for more depth to hold and retain the outflow of tears but happiness, grief, sadness, and love, mixed together like a witches brew bubble and boil and shoot up and out like a gush of oil over dry desert lands. I won't finish it now. |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
We knew not How narrow the prison Was love, with its exclusion? Of all reason In which head learning Was overruled by hearts this was a very touching write...especially truthful above... Took me back to those same years and the knowing of others who were in the same situation also at a time the world was in another disarray... If I were her, I am sure she may also be thinking...for you to accept her mutual apology. Always good to read you here... M |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
H. All memories are that vivid, for myself the delicacy is probably not as great as for another, but what remains is the missing of the one that was lost. |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
M. Yes, attitudes were much different then. Now its not much easier for the young that find themselves in a similar situation, but more help is available. The law still remains draconian on such matters. |
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The Lady Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634The Southwest |
Heatbreaking and beautiful, time prophet. So personal I felt both fascinated and guilty reading it. |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
TL. Thank you for the read, yes, what was beautiful became heartbreaking at the time. For us and all those around us. |
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OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
A poignant tribute in conversation between poetry and prose. I so badly want her to know how you fought to see her. And you are so wrong about having no words of wisdom - your whole poem is wrapped in wisdom, respect, responsibility and love. - Owl |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
Such poignant memories, so very well written. Thank you for allowing us a view into your world and for sharing it here. |
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luminosity Senior Member
since 2005-11-18
Posts 813 |
ah, such heartbreak...children and parents...relationships...sigh...and children lost......I have no words to express the depth of this...... |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
Owl. Knowledge now I believe has provided some understanding. Thank you for stopping by. |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
GS. Your comments are appreciated. |
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time prophet Member
since 2003-07-30
Posts 371In New Zealand Amongst the Ancient Trees |
L. Yes, as mentioned, it wasn't just the two of us in the end that had to deal with the problems. |
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