Kind of like stars – only the ancient light of them remains
Not yesterday’s anger either, just the sticky path of our tears
What was it we argued about that now I can’t recall
Less the chores of our lives than slights that pierce our flesh
And make me bend as if holding my ribs will heal the pain
Kind of like rainbows – name their colors but never catch them
Not the wind either, just the toppled twigs, the skittering leaves
How did I not see you shiver, the confusion in your eyes
Why did you fail to ease the ache of my heart, my soul
Though one part of me is as tender as all parts of you
Kind of like water – without shape of its own, only a wild surge
Not the thirst for assent either, just the hungry plea that you see me
Will you call my name, touch my hand? I cannot swallow
Still we yearn to press beyond what we can’t hold in our palms
Love and acceptance, memory and future, all of all between
Kind of like fragrance – bereft of corpus, only a scent we inhale
Not the spices we measure either, just the smell of you against me
Even if you leave, I will still feel your breath on my cheek
Yet I run to gather flowers and seeds, as if they will thrive
You will always be a living presence in my life, today, tomorrow
Just a thought 56
Painting, Lovers, 1928, by Felix Nussbaum, courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Comments on: "Kind of Like Stars" (36)
Beautiful and melodic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Peggy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an amazing poem, Shari. Maybe this is your calling, rather than fiction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jacqui, though I feel drawn to writing fiction.
LikeLike
Just a thought 56 was breathtaking. I would like to tell you my favorite part, but I can’t. I would have to say the way you opened every stanza. They were tone and mood setters.
This is the best piece of poetry (and I assure you I read so much of it here in WordPress)
I have read in a long time. Bravo.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is a huge compliment, Andrew, and I’m humbled by your praise. You make it easy for me to sleep tonight with such an ovation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always in awe of your writing, Shari! I must take note of your delightful adjectives (skittering, toppled) to describe the results of wind. Mind boggling enough to think in the perspective that stars are now just an ancient light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Terri. I’ve got a jiggly fistful of wind right here – Oh, no, now it’s gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha, love it! BTW, I shared your poem on my Facebook profile and a friend really loved it 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for the share – I’ve never been shared on Facebook. A first for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful, awesome, all of the above.
xxoo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Adrienne.
LikeLike
Kind of like magic … a beautiful and mesmerising poem, Shari!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely comment, Annika, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Shari, I just wanted to check that you are not caught up in those horrendous Californian wildfires? I am not sure where you live, but I think it’s in that area … Hope all is well with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Denzil, it’s really nice to hear from you.
Thank you for your concern about the fires. We’re actually not close to the fires but have many friends who’ve been evacuated. Past fires have burned close to us, but we’ve always been kept safe. I wish I could say the same for so many others – the loss of life is devastating.
LikeLike
That’s good news about you, but not about your friends. The scale of it is shocking, and with so many missing too.
LikeLike
We all hope that those who are still missing haven’t been able to contact their loved ones but are safe. Those whom we personally know have been evacuated are all safe, most of them now back home.
LikeLike
This is so beautiful and poignant, Sharon. You captured the intangible and made it tangible…. you’ve put what seemed ineffable into words. I love this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Betty, for such praise. I’m pleased you liked the poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such poingnant verses, and several phrases are staying with me — which I very much love in a poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Words from a poet I very much admire – thank you, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m all bashful.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Wow. Very powerful imagery, tone, mood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m pleased you think so, Chandra.
LikeLiked by 1 person
makes me smile & cry — what a word artist you are, dear Sharon
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Daal. I’m glad you liked this one, written from my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
as if they all aren’t? you are too modest, dear Sharon ❤
LikeLike
I never thought of myself as a poet – my college stuff was pure garbage nonsense. But I started writing poetry from a place inside where I had to be honest even if facing awful truths about myself. I opened up and it got better. Thank you for such a kind comment, Daal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
you & I are lucky that we started writing when we were young — I chatted with a friend recently who said she’s never journaled because she worried her older self would judge what her younger self wrote. we got into an interesting conversation about how self editing — how at some level, when it comes to worrying that something I write may hurt a loved one, I do either toss those writings or don’t write at all…
LikeLike
Though I did start writing young, my very young stuff was absolute rubbish. It was decades before I could face truths about myself and other people. I believed I was totally responsible for all failure and acrimony. Now I think that our strength comes from being vulnerable and talking about what hurts and why. I’m still learning to delve deeply, still trying to bring it to the surface. Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Daal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whether you write poetry or prose Sharon the effect is the same. You get to the core and touch our hearts.
LikeLike
Your comment is very sweet, Irene – thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve beautifully caught with your words the essence of all that’s uncatchable, Shari. Love this!
LikeLike
Or at least not catchable in a traditional sense. Perhaps we need to treasure that which we hold in unconventional ways. Thank you for reading, Sarah.
LikeLiked by 1 person