poem: Note 3 Penned for a Friend at New Year's: The Lucky Ones

more things I cannot say out loud

Yes I agree-

   it IS God's work we do...

or at least, our own each approximation

       of what that is. Anyway.

as far as any of us

     can ever know,

              and I tell you-

we are the lucky ones;

      our path is carved in uphills,

   we carry swords carved of light

honed to points fine enough

      to pierce human hearts.

we hope. and that is what we give

              the world, together.

 

   And we know the cost of dedication,

       we have added and multiplied

the havoc wreaked from missed dinners

        the travails of loneliness,

    bad decisions, long sunsets

short mornings, angry moments.

 

We know that coming home and having no words

    sufficient to explain the heartbreak of

our day... that, constructs walls

       of harder stuff than mortar.

 

We reserve some hope for our own forgiveness, then-

 hope that the grace of knowing

we do touch boundaries of awareness,

   push them aside; transcend ignorance

  and hate and fear-

         can ever make it up. That there is,

    or at least can be,

balance in the retribution.

       We are lucky because we found

each other walking the same path,

           or close enough

               that differences do not mean

much, here, surrounded by volcanic power

                and ashen grace.

 

a stark approximation of truth,

   a microcosm of reality-

  watered gently by rains of compassion...

and that, just the beginning.

 

You say we stand, together,

 share the same breath-

     and I accept your offered commitment,

          verily, with open arms.

 Hoping my own life cost, though

          of doing so will not be

also my future generations, my world.

   I tell you, it will be hard

           to share a consummation of hope

with you, and not the rest

        that goes with it.

   How the hell can hearts beat so

         in synch,

without them desiring

       to declare some kind or other,

             of love? this world I think

can hold no greater maddening bliss,

        nor deeper torment.

    These are hells reserved only for

those who overreach.

 

and we are still the lucky ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

still hoping for rescue, still hoping for enlightenment, still searching for grace

Reviews

[Horizon K.]

Wow, another one that I wonder for whom it is written. A soulmate who shares all the same passions and convictions, but yet not a declared love? And here I can see into your own passions and that you love where you are and what you do. Paths carved in uphills, touching boundaries of awareness... yes these self- appointed difficult paths when walked feel the most magnificent. Enlightenment is no easy achievement.
And the volcanic earth that breathes fire and then life... I feel that place in this poem as I have stood on the edges of fiery volcanic pits too, and it is there that I walked in my mind as I read this...

[Marie Anzalone]

Despite the fact that I am a scientist, I believe that soul mates do exist, in the strictest sense of the word. There is a mistaken belief that a perosn has only one, and is destined to marry that person. Many times, soul mates are here to share company, learn/ teach lessons, share important work and life goals, and very rarely, fall in love and/or marry. There is a beautiful belief that, in times of need, we make a pact on the other side to find each other and work together on some great effort or cause- these are often the people dedicated to making the world a better place, and their dynamics create a kind of relationship where the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. I have, I think, fallen into that kind of dynamic, here. This was written for my right-hand person in our work, who is unavailable as a lover but with whom I sense there would be romantic love were circumstances very different. You are correct when you say enlightenment is no easy achievement, and we cannot do it alone. But how does one progress, coming down from those exalted heights after having seen exactly what the perfect life partner could be? Is it possible to "settle" for less after that kind of awareness? I think poets the world and time over have struggled with that. We are the lucky ones simply because we have that desire to push limits and boundaries, and the courage to face the risks that entails. Even luckier to find someone to commit to a life vision with, if not the life itself.

[Horizon K.]

I am a scientist too, but I agree with you, there being many soulmates, and not all in the romantic sense. And for each great passion that I have, perhaps I too seek a soulmate to share those passions with, few of which I have found, some of whom were there for a moment but changed my life and my person completely, and some of whom will be there for a lifetime....

[Emily B]

yes, oh yes

[Marie Anzalone]

mirrors can be soooo revealing :-)

[Emily B]

these were exactly the words i needed today

[Georgia Gypsy]

Some thoughts are easier written than spoken. I know I will read this many times, as it helps me with how to articulate what I want to say.

GG

[Marie Anzalone]

I am glad it helped you, although I am really not sure just how articulate I even was in this one. Some situations in life truly defy explanation in rational terms. This is what I get for hanging around with shamans, I guess. Still... you are right. Getting even a garbled sense out helps to bell the cat, as the old saying goes. Lets one move forward at the very least. I always thought there was great power in naming things.

[Corset]

That makes two of us, these letters have softened me of late, that can not be a very healthy thing for me ...but to relate on such a level, is just phenomenal poetry.

[Marie Anzalone]

Softening is not a bad thing... maybe consider just yielding alittle more. I had to learn to surrender completely, but that is a different story altogether. Yes, 3 notes, 3 different people. Good lord, what will the world think of me? Three different sides of [probably] untouchable emotional precursors to love. I would howl in frustration if my sense of humnor and irony did not stand in my way. I am glad this one spoke to you. it is unfortunately all too real for me. I think the other person in oblivious... but I could also be wrong. If you have someone in your life, I suggest though you do reach out. Don't live with uncertainty. I speak from experience.

[@]

Can't say it outlout, but can write them clear!

[Marie Anzalone]

Thanks, Delaney. I find that I start writing with a thought, often a single image... and am often surprised where the ensuing path leads.

Happy New Year, I have you marked for some reviews one day soon when my head clears.