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.

15 March 2013

Three Cinquains

Familiarity

Two cats
curl, one each side
of my recumbent feet
in perfect love and perfect trust,
asleep.


Rosemary Who?

My name
in the new book*
appears in its old form:
strange, halved, yet sweetly nostalgic:
Nissen.

*Notes for the Translators: from 142 New Zealand and Australian Poets, 
ed. Christopher (Kit) Kelen. Macau, ASM, 2013.

I was once known as Rosemary Nissen, but have been identified as Rosemary Nissen-Wade for about 20 years. This editor, living overseas, obviously remembered me the old way. Well, (smile) both are me.



Slow-down

Six months
after his death
I slow down to a stop,
letting vigilant habits go 
at last.


Submitted for dVerse Form For All: The Cinquain
By -
Labels: , , ,

22 comments:

  1. Brian Miller15 March 2013 at 13:25

    ah the first is soft and cuddly...i like it much...and a bit more of your journey in the second two...esp that last one...not easy progress....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade15 March 2013 at 14:52

      The last one has undergone several rewritings — including one since you made your comment. :)

      Delete
  2. Heidi15 March 2013 at 15:24

    Sweet and heartbreaking trio of poems. I liked them all very much. The last made me immediately go back and reread the second.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade15 March 2013 at 15:46

      Glad you liked them, Heidi.

      There is really no connection between the first and second. I have now added another note to clarify the second.

      Delete
  3. TCPC15 March 2013 at 17:27

    three for three different phases and facets. beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. kelvin s.m.15 March 2013 at 18:11

    ...i was touched deeply by your first Cinquain Rosemary... it reminds me of my own cat (now deceased) who used to find bed on either my feet or lap... i say animals are so easy to please when they sense no fear or harm from people... smiles... i enjoyed the read....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sabio Lantz15 March 2013 at 18:34

    Ah, the vigilant habits are so hard to let go. Letting go itself can make us feel a little guilty, can't it. (it has for me)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nilanjana Bose15 March 2013 at 19:24

    A touching trio, the last my fav, death has a way of making habits stand out in relief.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous15 March 2013 at 19:33

    Two cats, one name, six months ~ evocative poetry :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. brudberg15 March 2013 at 20:16

    The last one took my breath away. Very well done.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mary15 March 2013 at 22:12

    Ha, I feel the same about my dogs as you feel about your cats. Indeed, there IS something about a name. And your last one, I understand well -- No more hyper vigilance. I have seen a lot of you poems written on your grief journey. You might consider a small chapbook on the subject? I think you have quite a collection, which might help someone else.

    ReplyDelete
  10. J Cosmo Newbery15 March 2013 at 22:32

    A sweetly done selection!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laurie Kolp15 March 2013 at 23:36

    Hi, Rosemary- What a lovely offering today... each is special in its own way. How sweet to be surrounded by the unconditional love of your cats.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wolfsrosebud15 March 2013 at 23:55

    loved your word choice

    ReplyDelete
  13. Scarlet16 March 2013 at 00:16

    Love the cinquain poems ~ The last one is touching ~

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous16 March 2013 at 01:00

    Three different moods - each wonderfully captured. You've demonstrated just how versatile the cinquain form is - or maybe it's how versatile you are as a poet :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Claudia16 March 2013 at 04:41

    oh nice..i like the cats curled at your feet...makes me all feel warm and cuddly...smiles

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated and will be visible after being approved by the blog owner. If you can only comment anonymously, please include your name in the comment, just so I know who's talking to me.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)