its music cannot hold,
the sad cafes are
emptying
along the river bank,
the sky's washed fresh.
A boatman paddles
thinner into distance,
buffalos loll
to their ears in wet,
the paddies are pale
gold.
A garden open to the
eye,
a beach without a
footprint.
Clear and straight, I
journey
back to a time of light
no grime obscures.
Published in Universe Cat, Pariah Press (Melb.) 1985
and Secret Leopard, Alyscamp Press (Paris)
2005.
Submitted for dVerse OpenLinkNight #84.
Alas, I was too late to submit it for dVerse Poetics: Leonard Cohen and Place, where it clearly belongs.
Once upon a time I had a very romantic affair, in Bali, with the young man who first introduced me to the poems, novels and songs of Leonard Cohen. He used to sing Cohen's 'Suzanne' to me, implying that I was his Suzanne. This poem was written years after that relationship ended, when the happy memory helped me deal with some unpleasantness in my life. It's a very old poem now, but perfect for that prompt.
Alas, I was too late to submit it for dVerse Poetics: Leonard Cohen and Place, where it clearly belongs.
Once upon a time I had a very romantic affair, in Bali, with the young man who first introduced me to the poems, novels and songs of Leonard Cohen. He used to sing Cohen's 'Suzanne' to me, implying that I was his Suzanne. This poem was written years after that relationship ended, when the happy memory helped me deal with some unpleasantness in my life. It's a very old poem now, but perfect for that prompt.
dang...really good rosemary....particularly the boatman in the middle and the buffalo...of course i love the rain in the first part as well..i rather like its music...
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian, for all the likings. :)
DeleteThe rain is intermittent
ReplyDeleteits music cannot hold,
the sad cafes are emptying...lovely images.
Images of Bali as I remembered it.
DeleteExcellent poem, Rosemary; and I enjoyed the story too. Bali...how cool. Sometimes, even if you wouldn't do the same kind of thing today, these early affairs of the heart make for nice memories. (I have a few as well...smiles.) How wonderful to have someone sing Suzanne to you!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was all very romantic!
Delete"A beach without a footprint" - this line grabbed me.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed reading this!
It was a long stretch of beach between Kuta and Legian. I don't think it is so deserted now!
DeleteLovely, I real enjoyed the second stanza--the imagery is very good.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your opening lines..caught my attention..nice work!
ReplyDeleteThe rain is intermittent
its music cannot hold,
cleaning the mind it is....like closing of events for a day!
ReplyDeleteCleansing... there is a place of purity and innocence...
ReplyDeleteenjoyed this! = )
A boatman paddles
ReplyDeletethinner into distance...LOVE this...and cleaning the mind is such a good and healthy things...beaches without footprints..new clean space to walk...a felt write
A beach without a footprint ... love that line. Have you been looking at my blog header?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, this is well written. The images allow the reader to be able to get a rough idea of where it is in the world (I got South East Asia, but not Bali specifically) without giving everyting away too soon. That first stanza coud have been Paris, for example. It is that sense of mystery and intrigue that drew me further into the place and the story.
Yes, your blog header is very like!
DeleteI journey
ReplyDeleteback to a time of light
no grime obscures.
I especially like that...
Spent time in SE Asia and seen scenes like this...
ReplyDeleteA really beautiful poem Rosemary! Love the images and especially that last line, nice to go to that place where no grime obscures :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely share ~ I specially like:
ReplyDeleteA garden open to the eye,
a beach without a footprint.
empty beach and clear light sound lovely
ReplyDelete"A boatman paddles
ReplyDeletethinner into distance," beautiful Rosemary!
Many thanks to all for 'getting' it so thoroughly. :)
ReplyDelete