alive and dead

from ‘The Way of Grass’

 

these lonely people all around you

they once were children

each of them

and now

they have the kids and grandkids

of their own

although, you know

it doesn’t really matter

how old they’ve been

just take a look at their faces -

and you will see a child inside them

the stony time will spare no one

old age is coming on apace

the ways of fate are so inscrutable

and both old and youth - some day

they all will be the little children

once again

a son may once become his father’s dad

a daughter once may bear her own mom

each time i gaze into the eyes of eld

i watch a little kid she used to be

or will become some day

who knows?

that hale old man

who’s talking to a gravestone

he seems to be insane, you know

but now

he’s talking to his dear wife:

she’s still alive for him

and beautiful

and young

he came to her

to share some good news

about children

as if he thinks the stone can hear him

it can indeed

because some speechless stones

are more alive

and they could tell much more than

most of us

in our busy lives

in which it only seems to us

that we are living

yet anyway, some day

each body - ignorant or saint -

will bloom as camomiles and dandelions

and blood will turn into the scarlet poppies

and yellow daffodils

and bluebells

will toll for someone

they have never heard about

and evergreen scirocco

that never cares even two straws

will sing his tune in dry bamboo

and sigh in fluffy feather-grass

and play with weeping willows’ bridal veils

Reviews

[MOON]

Beutifully told Igor life comes full circle . Child to parent , parent to child. Everything is temporary but something are forever , they have stories to tell.

[recantichize]

truly exceptional. thank you.

[Nona]

it looks and reads beautifully and smoothly, flying and playing! I caught myself at enjoying more the form and the flow of the poem rather than the actual meaning... :) Great job!

[J. J. Nightingale]

WONDERFUL WORDS OF LOVE EVERLASTING ..
THOSE STONES DO HEAR ..
AND LIFE COMES FULL CIRCLE .. AND THE END, BECOMES THE BEGINNING .. .

I LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS ... JAZZ

[Mockingbird]

this is something to ponder upon old age and mortality. we neglect them because of our busy lives. we don't pay attention to their inner child. all we see is an old man and an old lady. it brings awareness to us so we may learn a lesson here.

[Divinity Sleeps in This]

Sometimes when I look at a stranger, I tell myself, "they are somebody's daughter", it's a weird feeling but I guess we each have our roots and loves and deep concerns...

[...]

. oh ... this is an epic ... absolutely overwhelming poetry, monsieur ...

"because some speechless stones
are more alive
and they could tell much more than
most of us"

. i am absolutely in awe of these lines ... superbly written and observed ...

[Wendy Seames Garner]

A sad truth of life and matching my feelings this morning. I am aging myself, have parented my grandmothers and parents. Though the stone I talk to is not that of my spouse, but of my child, your words tell the story. The flowers on her grave are so beautiful, I always tell her how beautiful she looks.