Pages of the past

When I dare return to the pages of my past

Turning each one with embarrassment and shame

With regret, remorse and self incrimination

I finally come to you

Like purifying balms you came to me

Luring me gently with a smile and touch

To be the best I could lest you be disappointed

To create another page of my indictments

 

You taught me of the simplicity of life

“What do you want to do today?”

“I want to be happy”

And you reduced life itself to its foundation

“It’s something to do”

You taught me about priorities and philosophy

“Worry . . . . if that’s really what you want to do

Or we can go to the lake and count the swans”

 

And like all things, the problems disappeared

The challenges, goals and ambitions melted into folly

And the reasons for all things homogenized into us

And the enchantment of coffee-flavored kisses

On a bright and promising morning

Became our religion, hope, destiny and dream

And it was beautiful then . . . . in a two room flat

In the Alps of a city where love once lived

Reviews

[Anu Biswas]

I love how you celebrate the woman who has touched your life. The conversational style in the second verse is charming and so refreshing. 'I want to be happy' that is such a profound line - like you add - the foundation of life. And we forget that most of the time. It should become our religion, hope, destiny and dream - wow, that is such great philosophy. Thank you for writing this piece.

[DrD]

And that's how we lived, Anu. It can be done if you love enough. Thanks again for being here

[Jo March]

Of all those poems I haven't read during this week, I missed yours the most. I love the healing you find in these women in your poems and yet 'The challenges, goals and ambitions melted into folly' they heal you, and kill you. Very clever, very crafty.

[DrD]

And it's always good to see you here, Jo. I hope I never disappoint you.

[DrD]

Oh lieve poet, je maakt me reviewen in het Nederlands, want je woorden spreken, alsof je hier in Nederland was, nipte van de koffie, en voelde alles zoals dat het gaat...
Mooie woorden, rijke beeldspraak, mooie visies,
Je bent een unieke poet, met ontzettend veel levenservaring,
Je hebt veel gezien, van de wereld, waarmee je schildert je woorden...
Ik ben u dankbaar... Ik zal terugkomen naar mijn rouwperiode, voor goede vrienden zoals u.

Elisa

[DrD]

Onze tijd is kort en terwijl u treuren, degenen die ons verlaten de voltooiing van hun taak onder ons vieren. Dank u, lieve vriend, voor het sturen van mij uw vriendelijke woorden

Inderdaad, het leven is kort, we halen alles eruit wat erin zit. We moeten verder, na het vieren van de dood, als wij Indonesiers dat doen. Het is prachtig om te zien, dat een rijke ziel zoals u, dat kan begrijpen. Ik zal er altijd zijn voor diegenen, die mijn roots kennen, en die evenwichtig en eerlijk zijn. Daarin bewonder ik u. Lieve groeten, uit Nederland.

[LA Lorena]

A pleasure to read something not only beautiful and insightful, but with a maturity and wisdom of having lived as well.

[DrD]

I have not seen you here before but you are always welcome and I deeply appreciate your kind words

[LA Lorena]

Thank you! I have not been very active here in the past year or so, but was a regular contributor previously. There are not a lot of faces here that I recognize now, but I still enjoy sneaking on here and reading when I have a bit of time.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I love the way you express yourself. Polished and clear, full of meaning and wisdom, a joy to read even with a bittersweet touch.

[DrD]

And I love the way you review, Shimmer, always with your sharp perceptions

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

Easy to review when the writing is so good and speaks. :)

[Tarry Franck]

An amazing piece. The ending grabbed my heart strings. Flawless

[DrD]

Thank you, Tarry

[Sid]

Again great work, it must be cathartic to have a memory like that to fall back on and the way you describe it is just amazing Dr...again great write, I enjoyed it!!

[DrD]

The best of times, Sid. I guess we all have them.

[MachinaWriter]

Haunting in its melancholy, pulling on the strings of nostalgia. This may be my favorite by you so far. The ending was like the final strum of a cello, which reverberates even after the finger has left the string. "And it was beautiful then...in a two room flat / In the Alps of a city where love once lived". As always, a huge fan. Thank you for sharing this ^^ it'll be going to my Favorites.

[DrD]

I can thank you often, but never enough for your visit and kind words

[william keepers]

I really like this one Dr.D. Not just the story of a past lover, but more so a teacher? One who may not be all that knowledgable, or perhaps one who wears their knowledge lightly. I never get tired of the simplicity of wisdom. Thanks for writing this.

[DrD]

And thank you, William, for being here with me

[bob, small b. aka invs]

those are some of the 'pages of the past' that should be bookmarked and underlined. nice to have them to go back to.

[DrD]

Thanks invs, for your visit and your kind words