The Sacrament of Those Days

 

 

 

I was once married to you,

I sought that body of yours for solace

in the dark night of my soul;

clinging to your back in the darkness,

a rock that anchored me with continuous conceptions,

and deceptions.

That body that now is bent and riddled with everything;

falling apart like our broken union;

every organ, every system diseased...

weakened and broken past the point of sustaining life.

Where once you were strong against my frailty,

a muscled vitalness...

Now you are malleable mush, a melting pot of malaise.

Yes, I remember when I curled up against the strength

of your intention and your lies, seeking safety.

We shared our youth together didn’t we?

What a simpleton I was then,

smiling with congeniality,

held together with the stuff of secret complexity,

brewing and bubbling invisible to the casual observer...

And you were the most casual of all, barely noticing me.

There were many seeds and little water

In the drought of our days.

Stunted flowers we were

barely kissing the light.

Now you are facing your last goodnight

and I am remembering the sacrament of those days,

and the communion of our youth.

Reviews

[Ed Hart]

sometimes you draw us in so deep, there is no room from outside to even whisper a word; if someone hasn't been there, then they just won't know...

[lady o]

wow... I feel this poem deeply in my soul. the expressions hit me in my gut. excellent form, writing and it is powerful~

[Toni Prehoda Kahler]

Many things make this poem powerful, its sad emotion permeates, and yet there is so much more here. There is a push and pull throughout that I liked flowing with. I see his healthy self, how his body was "a rock that anchored me", was something to cling to "in the darkness". Then his "muscled vitalness" becomes "weak and broken", now "falling apart like our broken union;" what an incredible metaphor you build! The drought images you use to describe your days together "stunted flowers we were" continue this metaphor perfectly.
This is a journey of the spirit you have set before your readers, and above all it reveals painful truths, which I feel carry much power. This is a brave piece because of that, and, more, because though he didn't see you, "And you were the most casual of all, barely noticing me." you still honor what he did give. The last three lines seem like a prayer.

[ShadowWolf]

There is nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. Be well.

[[untitled]]

Beautifully done ... with poignancy ... sadness and such all encompassing feeling.

[Poetic Injustice]

I echo Wildfleour as she put it well .... powerful and poignant. Deeply felt. It causes me to not take what I have left for granted, metaphorically speaking or not.

[Legion]

Rememories. An interesting tribute to what was and a saddened look at the now and short lived future. Well written. Loved these lines:

"There were many seeds and little water

In the drought of our days."

How wonderfully crafted. Brilliant.

[Wildfleour]

This is just beyond amazing, powerful and poignant. I take his disease as being a metaphor, not literal. As you grew strong, he weakened.

Bravo, my friend, bravo!