the first few days

we burnt sage

smudged out the room

you bent the smoke to your hand

we talked of regaining our spirituality

and winning the lottery

dreams and chaos

love and chance

you held my face in

the frame of your memories

dug to the center of my eyes

found my deep fears

and embraced me anyway

we got high on peace

nestled in new age notes

watched vultures wheel

over the circle of life

the world turned

and calendars flipped

we were caught up in the movements

my heart played the first chord

of the year

and yours sang along.

Reviews

[Tink7]

That was really fun to read. Even with the more serious imagery, of fear and chaos, vultures, even of spirituality, there is the counterpoint of "lottery" and "dreams", of being "embraced anyway"... all of that.
Great picture too, of burning sage in a room... smoke being 'bent' to the hand-- that is just how it is, to use it. And music I could hear in the poem. Fine work, 'Ragtag Jesus,' thank you.

[Raef C. Boylan]

"we talked of regaining our spirituality
and winning the lottery." - it's like a poetic summary of our generation; we can't quite mesh our ideals and principles with our desires, which is probably why we're all so 'messed up'.

"watched vultures wheel
over the circle of life" - an example of the more negative elements to this poem, yet phrased so beautifully that the reader finds themselves accepting it as due course and focusing on the more appealing aspects of a fresh beginning.

I mostly agree with what has already been said: that this is young love conquering all, even bleak 2008.
A very pleasureable, soothing read, with lovely cadence and language.

Thanks for posting this.
Happy new year if we haven't exchanged that already (it's the last day of January, so just about allowed, right? Lol).

[Mike P.]

"you held my face in

the frame of your memories,

dug to the center of my eyes,"


man those lines were just f*****g perfect.
6

[Tara]

sounds like a fabulous way to start the new year. I loved this write and i am so glad that you posted it. That last sentence is a killer. and isn't it great to be "embraced anyway?'

[Janyce Helen Van Es]

This sounds a lot like young love-not the love of a middle aged couple at the turn of a new year. Quite refreshing and brings back memories.

[Kara Hadley]

this was one of the best things i've read in a very long time. so...hippie dippy meets beats.
anyway, i really do love this.

[Jonathan Standifird]

Very smooth. : ) got a fresh and ritualized feel at the same time.

[A.T.B.]

This is a brilliant poem about an infallible union surviving in an unforgiving world. The strength of the relationship and the intensity of the love is palpable through each line, each stanza. Excellent poem.

[April Child]

Lovely, a real feeling of new beginnings, the cleansing ritual of the sage, seeing out the old and making way for the new, making plans, dreaming dreams and getting high on peace, doesn't get much better.

Very John and Yoko, I like.

[Haden]

i think that you should keep this going for the balance of 2008 - the lottery would only ruin your life so don't buy the ticket - just ponder your options for if you did. :) this was a very peaceful write, like snuggling up in front of the fireplace and just flipping pages.