Soul

Live a ripe,raw,more relevant life.

I wish it were a knight mare of mescal

Mean menopause

But broken says it all                                                      

Sorrow stains tumble into the void around us

Her heart floats above the feather

Hollow deep wavy blue throaty emotional empty

Perspective embraces, we wish for

Mean menopause, a nightmare of mescal

Time defies logic and yours

Is not the only view

Of hell on the mountain

Drop the telescope and climb, climb the rope

Climb, three points contact, methodical, fluid, purpose

Reach down, form follows function

Function

She said, “thank you in advance”

She said, “Breathe with your soul”

She wrote, “forget me after I’m gone”

In two days she was going to be

A southern biscuit sopping up a plate

Full of Hawaii

Eight minutes ago, eight miles ago

Authentic alive an accolade of life

A funeral is like what should have been a five-month

Planned wedding

Compressed into four days

Boxed and compacted with only our vitals showing

Especially so when “how are you today sweetie?”

Is our twenty-five year old

Blonde worker bee

Pain shared is pain lessened

Courtney Marie Darnell died June 5^th at approximately 4:15pm

Six days shy of twenty-six

The afternoon “microburst” maps out pretty

Deliberate;

Just over a little rise headed south on highway 5 into Hot Springs, Arkansas

A tall pine falls straight across the road stopping a car in front of Courtney’s truck.

A tall pine falls straight behind Courtney’s truck, blocking retreat.

A tall pine falls at an angle taking out the cab and Courtney.

No skid marks.

A stout breath, thunder, and she’s gone,

L V C

                                

Author's Note

Know that somehow Courtney is more present,then ever before.

Reviews

[Horizon K.]

Eight moments later, eight moments earlier... If those moments could just be redrawn, retracted, relived... But life can never be and so we live on and share our pain like this, piercing heartfelt write of yours. And try to breathe. And try to feel them still there. This was chilling Lee. I'm so sorry for Courtney...

[Ken Simm.]

A remarkable, extraordinary, painful , tragic , beautiful write. This one affected me. It went very deep and I am glad for that. The loss is palpable and the poem is truly heartfelt and heartachingly memorable. If I say any more it will be just words.

[Riverz]

there are pines that make sea faring vessels. pines that make book shelves. bed heads. breakfast tables drumming out the noisy one hand clapping. there are pines that make bulldozed mountains, sheer and clean for the digging. sometimes they find oil under there. motorizing the developed world. we love it. don't we? engines. trees. the rawness. the grit we pair ourselves with.
another interesting poem

[lee von cleef]

Thank ya, yes this pushed my journey into emotion, interesting.

[Vani Jalagar]

Enjoyed reading.........:)

[David Scott]

This poem has my pulse pounding.
My daughter was struck by lightning two years ago...
She has had a difficult two years as she begins her recovery, but a big part of her survived.
All I can think of is how thankful I am she was not killed.
Then I read something like this and I pray fir those fate has been less kind towards. Also, I pray to never know this loss.
I did enjoy the healing line you ended with. You have a mature and healthy mind to see things this way.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Life moves as life moves...we have little effect on things, and even if we could go back in time it is likely that anything we do would not make a difference. Anyway, that is one of the many things that I got from this piece metaphorically. Bittersweet tragedy...a chilling tale of loss and desperation. I'm almost reluctant to say how much I enjoyed the vivid imagery, because there is such an undertone of loss. So, I will leave this review just by saying that you have written something important here...it did not fall upon deaf ears.

[lee von cleef]

thank you, training a race horse at some point ,( a real good one you hope), steps up and transcends, to be shared with a larger consciousness , some days I feel this poem has that quality.

[Sami Khalil]

One word : Awesome...:).........

[Tina Kline]

A tragic tale for sure. You've brought the who sad incident to life for your readers. Creative and skillfully done.

[Marie Anzalone]

Lee, I can only sit aside in quiet acknowledgment here. I came back to read your other piece, and followed your notes, here. Understanding what happened. Wishing a stranger's words from across space had some healing power. This piece is raw, and untempered... I think you forged the hot metal into the colder masterpieces of your other works, but this has the heat and power of freshness. It takes an incredible gift to turn searing pain into a work of beauty for others to experience and reas and share with you. Thank you for the gift you give us here.

[lee von cleef]

I don't think I have met a stranger yet, Even in diversity, we can hold a common light,to fix a flat, trying to lighten the moment as my eyes pool from you brush of kindness, Thank you, and yes this was fresh, I hope that most only have to read this trail, not walk it, For a strong man, a light one, this mountain will humble, and test the placement of my protection, comments like yours hold me up ,no protection is "Bomb Proof",but the writers here have answered my call for "Up rope" thank you.

[Marie Anzalone]

your energy is as beautiful as your words, lee

[lee von cleef]

scratch the moon tonight and watch it giggle.

[Marie Anzalone]

oh believe me you have no idea... :-)

[Petra Vlah]

Such a sad story and such an incredible tribute to a loved one prematurely taken away. The loss of a child is the most tragic experience one can go through and having to prepare for a funeral instead of a wedding is more than just heartbreaking, it is against nature. I am sure Courtney is more present now then ever; angels always are. May she rest in peace and may her spirit guide you and give you strength

[lee von cleef]

I was not sure if you would stop back by. I am glad you did.Another poet here at the cafe Diego Paz, Read his work or words, they too layer beliefs, and I think any time spent reading his poems is well worth it.

[Petra Vlah]

I will take your advice and read Diego's work. I am still new to this site and I appreciate your suggestion

[Petra Vlah]

I was taking your suggestion to read Diego's work, but it seems his profile is closed?!

[lee von cleef]

I did not know that till now. I'll see if some of his poems are floating around. Another poet "The Cobra lounge" is gone too but her poems pop up and are great.

[Petra Vlah]

Please let me know if Diego is still around. I would love to read his poetry. Poets come and go from all site, some can't take the heat, some get disillusioned by the few comments and visitors they receive

[lee von cleef]

This sight and the many I have interacted with here have been supportive, a few have a difficult time with tolerance or turning the other cheek, the young are power hungry, and surprisingly capable, and others are down right mean. I have ?"Cultivated" or been "Cultivated " a good group of people who enjoy my goofy reviews,I try to give another perspective or reflect how their poetry has influenced me at that moment and sometimes I don't even know the why of it.