A Man ...A Woman....and A Kite ... -Mark Manning

Couldn't catch it ...could I ? :)

A Man A woman and A Kite

As is my peaceful want from time to time ,

I park my jeep and seat part recline.

On Dublin Bay in early May,

Sun going down ,dusky balm dreamtime set for night mode.

This is my 51^st ecstatic  rock and roll moment,

When I review what has been done and yet to do .

Me time.. Mark time wife and kids safe at home ...

Just me in that Jeep half asleep alone and .... it... sets in ..

But dogs get let off leads ,joggers shoot by some in shape some not,

Midlife walkers comfort is the rule... style not important long forgotten...

Horizon.. mail boats and ferry cross  waves to England ...god speed.

Sun low sea breeze and there... they were..... A man A woman ...and A kite.

The string was 30 or forty foot long as she held it for the man ... a big bright acrobatic kite and he let it go and oh how it climbed and soared and twisted and bobbed and weaved ...and swooped low and but recovered high .....oh so high to taunt the sky it’s movements symbolic of our own mortal dance struggle hustle whatever .....it swooped low and recovered high .

Tell me darling do you live or exist ?.... I mean do you live or just exist ? ..do you live or exist ?

Think about it sweetie pie .....look in the mirror someday...someday ..Are you existing with brave face or dancing the Life swirling and swooping ,twisting and shouting with delight....are you?...huh.

I watched the woman long dark hair thirties jumper and scarf wondered was she just indulging her man in his boyish ,puerile pursuits ....did she want champagne and lace ?....and he ...oh he was quite the guy he pulled and controlled those kite strings ....to impress or just enjoy ....and you know what ..it was all ok....because it was simple a man a woman and a kite on Dublin bay beach with the tide sloshing in ....a curious dog jumped up at the kite and the man teased him with it ,innocent fun on evenings canvass  breeze water glowing hair  Oestrogen Testosterone . ...Love.

The man rolled up the string in one arm the kite with the other he held the woman’s hand.They smiled I could hear them laugh ,and off they walked holding hands ....I wondered would they make love that night,or maybe it was just a first date with a difference ...maybe they’d just go for a drink ,and smooch at garden gate or would he kiss the coffee from her lips ,as she got lost in his eyes ,the fire would crackle and that kite would lounge in the corner with a big ol grin  on it’s triangular visage ....

And that kite was unobtainable wasn’t it? ,and my footwork ,words of love couldn’t catch it could they ?....and my faltering hands could’nt hold it .....and my dance convulsed and drowned in heart’s cry ...... and like that horizon it was not to be ......as it seemed.

The Man took the woman’s hand , and in his other hand took the kite .....that kite ...

They held hands and walked off in love .....and I was left there...  and I knew I’d never see them again.

 

Mark Manning

2010

 

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

Impressive job, this is a grand and sweeping write, I could just see the couple playing together on the beach with the sun slowly setting and the breeze picking up and you sitting there in your car watching them and thinking all those thoughts.
I love this!