I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

25 April 2011

I Light a Candle for My Friend

I light a candle for my friend
while reflecting wryly
he wasn’t the kind for that.
Still, you do what you do.

He was living more intensely,
he said, with his days shortening.

I spend this day, first weeping,
then feeling crabby. Just on dusk
I burst out of the house for a walk.

I make myself notice
rows of white camellias,
an old lady walking a puppy,
a gaggle of little children.

A magpie perches on a roof
grooming under one wing.

Soft grey clouds
rest gently on the air;
pale sunset pinks
come in behind them.

All our days are shortening.
The dark settles down.

I puff my way slowly
up the hill to home.

Three birds suddenly
erupt from a tree,
almost into my face,
flying at desperate speed
to get away from me, squawking,

surprising me into laughter.

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