... beside the highway / a field of sunflowers where you took my picture that day
... the picnic in the cemetery down a narrow dirt road / quietly crying on the way home
... years spent prying my hands loose when I couldn't let go
My reading of this poem on public radio:
https://beta.prx.org/stories/166291
Heartfelt and beautiful! There is a universal story hear that most can relate to, I think. Just loved this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill. It's sometimes hard to write the more personal things, but also gratifying to know others can relate to them ...
DeleteIn the past I have typically avoid writing personal thoughts and feelings but recently I've been letting them slip into my writing. At first it was a little frightening (which is awkward for this 6'3" 250 lb male to admit) but the risk was also quite cathartic. And what I am finding out, especially relating to my own fears and reservations, is how common a thread this amongst so many people in nearly every walk of life.
DeleteThis being said, few, in fact almost none, can express so much in so few words as you. You, my friend, are truly a wonderful poet and writer.
Bill, I just saw this ... what a wonderful thing to say to me. I cannot tell you how much this means to me. You are a very gifted writer yourself. It's the\se common threads that make writing concisely possible. All my experiences are, in many ways, universal. I have found it difficult to share personal things, as well, but also very rewarding and yes, cathartic.
DeleteLovely and sad. Or sad and lovely. You have such a talent for this.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Nancy. I'm very grateful for the time you take to read and comment.
DeleteI know what is to be unable to let go. It took me years.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Montucky ...
DeleteWhat a respectful and heart-felt poem. My mom used to say, "Life is not aways easy. Life is not always fair."
ReplyDeleteI love that photo. I have seen that fence post a thousand different times.
Thank you ... with all this snow and more arriving later .... it's nice to have this be a visit from Steven kind of day ... :)
DeletePrying the hands loose, freeing oneself from futile attachment and those deep rooted thought patterns..... that is one of the hardest challenges. It's true that it can take years.
ReplyDeleteI swear I conjure you up .. I was just thinking of you a bit ago and wondering how you're doing and here you are ... and, understanding what this means ... thank you, Jill ... good to see you. I hope all is well.
DeleteI am honored to be conjured up, thank you! Facing a few challenges but all to the good. You know how how that goes.
DeleteMy pleasure. I hope your challenges dissipate and life's goodness comes shining through. Take care.
DeleteLetting go, it’s so hard when it means the end of something dear to you.
ReplyDeleteI am struggling to let go of the past, the hardest thing. Being the only one left to remember it makes me want to cling to it more than ever.
It isn't easy and seems ongoing in some ways, but let go we must one way or another. So good to hear from you, Friko.
DeleteDear Teresa, I took a deep sigh when I finished reading an absorbing your poem. The letting go. It reminds me of a poem about death by Emily Dickinson--"After Great Pain a Formal Feeling Comes." It is my favorite poem of all I've ever read. Be good to yourself. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee, It's so nice to hear form you ... I am late in seeing this and responding. I hope all is well with you ... all good wishes are on their way to you...
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