Surviving
the going on alone –
that, my dearest, is the cruellest:
each memory, bright as a rainy day flower,
gives a moment of comfort, and then
collapses in sodden
undoing;
for summer is over,
and all the sweet small things of summer
too, that we delighted in together, are gone
– certain golden days, particular
blooms, warm skin, long kisses –
forever.
forever.
Photo © Rosemary Nissen-Wade 2016. This photo is mine and should not be copied or used in any way without permission.
Written for Day 5 of Dark Poetry for the Cruellest Month, in which we are asked to compose a triquain swirl on the Cruellest topic of our choosing – and for Day 10 of April Poetry Month at 'imaginary garden with real toads', in which we are invited to weave a poem from three of our own poem titles. Mine are Surviving the Going On, Rainy Day Flower and Summer is Over. (These links take you to the original poems.)
Yes, that must be so very hard. You really explain that loneliness and lone-ness well. k.
ReplyDeleteOh Rosemary, this is so beautiful and true. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read through your poem.
ReplyDelete'The sweet small things of summer...' so intimate. Loved the links...especially 'Rainy Day Flower' ... again that sense of precious intimacy. And in 'Summer is Over' the touch of the Zanzibar subtitle added a smidgeon of the exotic. All so lovely and tender.
ReplyDeleteMelancholy and poignant and a sharing of your feelings that I, too, have known,,
ReplyDeleteYes, for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere, Summer is over (for me with some relief) but one always has the sense of leaving the best part of the year behind and staring down those dull days of July.
ReplyDeleteEvery hair on my arms is standing on end. Such sorrow... This is a lament for last season and for lovers now gone... and the pain of the loss is deep and cutting in each line. This is one of those poem I must read in a very low voice, at a very low speed... in order not to disturb it, for it feels that it is in mourning.
ReplyDelete*crying soft tears*....bitter sweet feelings brought on by your words XXX
ReplyDeleteSummer over meaning is so much both literary and metaphorically, but combined, they make it even stronger.. wonderful
ReplyDeleteThe ending of a season you love does bring grieving. You have done this so well. Beautifully sad!
ReplyDeleteThis is really wonderful, moving work. Thank you, Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteSurviving has a melancholy like no other. This brings tears, but also admiration for your transparency.
ReplyDeleteRosemary, this is just beautiful. I think this line now needs to be the title of something new:
ReplyDelete"all the sweet small things of summer"
Deeply enamored of this.
What a wonderful suggestion, De. I'll file it away for the future.
DeleteSummer and its blooms sure does evoke the sense of passion. Well written, Rosemary!
ReplyDeleteHa, I just posted one along these same lines, my friend. This touches my heart, and I so know the feeling. The gone-Ness is so.....irrevocable. sigh.
ReplyDeleteLoneliness is not seen but can be felt by one but also others around them. It can be most unsettling for all
ReplyDeleteHank
"going on alone"...piercing!
ReplyDeleteooh....I would agree....surviving the going on alone is the cruelest topic!
ReplyDelete