WE HAVE LIVED

05 23 13

We have lived
like grounded magpies
having to choose between flight
and a grip on a book of matches

Ill-fated wicks
illuminate frozen gazes
into its flame
then dry out and capsize
stirring congealed syrups
of mourning

We do unto flint
what fate has done unto us
sculpting its yellow mission
into little black hourglasses
strewn about our feet
like schools of lost minnows

Our living rooms
settle for shrines of wax
We settle for ways
of an orphaned shepherd
unhinging our dams of emotion
on the infernos assaulting
our family trees
encroaching on whatever
flora remains
in our field of lonely futures

Author's Note

In time, the best memories will rise to the surface, but not before sadness runs it course.

The opening stanza was inspired by The Fate of the Magpie...and Me by Girl Friday (http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/GirlFriday/1179366/). She's one of my favourite poets so I hope she doesn't mind :)

Reviews

[KAOlmsted]

"...like grounded magpies..." --made me smile.

"...stirring congealed syrups of mourning..." --dude.

"...encroaching on whatever
flora remains
in our field of lonely futures..." --got it but...the entire stanza before it was like (to some, perhaps) what?? *laugh*

(an?)

Sorry, I seem to have just cut and pasted and told you how awesome *laugh* Meh...This is me gushing on your pages, babe. You must be used to it ;-)

xoxo

[kublakhan27]

You always find a way to make me laugh or at least smile, thank you my dear...feel free to gush anytime ;) What can I say, it's all metaphor in this one...it's funny how the pieces closest to my heart always seem to go that way...I'm glad that you like this piece, it comes from a deep place, and was inspired by a friend of mine that you know very well...we're feeling the same things right now...

Oh, when you say dude, is that good or bad? ;P xoxo

[KAOlmsted]

"Dude" is always...always...always good ;-) It is on par with "holy cats"...if you get "holy cats, dude", which I am almost positive you have, that is the holy grail xD

It was the salmon mousse...

oops ;-)

xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Haha okay just checking...I did get the holy cats one thogh ;) xoxo

[KAOlmsted]

;-) Hope you had a great weekend. I got sunburned :-( But it was a great day at the beach!

[kublakhan27]

Haha Did you get any looks? ;) I'd take a sunburn right now in exchange for the weather we got...we're still probably two or three weeks from beach weather...I had a rare "very good" weekend, saw Les Miserables on stage Saturday, what an experience :)

[KAOlmsted]

Sounds amazing...and, haha, yeah, I always get looks *exaggerated wink wink* xD Although, I admit, I didn't wear my hoochie mama bathing suit to the beach, I have a much more "respectable" one I wear in public *laugh*

[kublakhan27]

Haha you probably got some, you just didn't notice ;D

[KAOlmsted]

That's right, I was too busy admiring my own reflection in the water to notice xD Meanwhile, I'm off...my house is in a shambles and apparently I have no maid...wtf? xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Haha you do that too? ;P I must clean my kitchen as well, I just have to pull my butt away from this page first haha Talk soon xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Pull my butt away from the site, I should say, not your page ;P

[Kristin]

This is actually so beautiful I loved reading it. Especially the allusion to the The Fate of the Magpie and Me! The way the words twisted around the story was great loved it!

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Kristin, I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[Melobldnfr]

Awesome write, K! I am impressed. And I LOVE the quote in your notes. Good to be inspired, isn't it? Xo.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much M :) One can never have too much inspiration :) Xo

[J_Star]

"congealed syrups of mourning"--wow. Great line.

[J_Star]

Or two lines, I guess, actually. Either way. It's good.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you J_Star^^

[Angi]

I am feeling the grief and longing in this piece so much today. Those old ghosts are stirring, it seems. Angi~

[kublakhan27]

They are stirring but I don't mind because I know who they are...thank you Angi, I'm glad this piece meant something to you, and I hope you feel better soon.

[Angi]

Thanks, man.

[Pete Langley]

The cloak of sorrow at the permanent absence of our loved ones never goes, but time dulls the hurt and we look for colour in the grey. A superb piece, Steve. P.

[kublakhan27]

Amen to that my friend...thank you Pete.

[The Good Hurt]

'sculpting its yellow mission
into little black hourglasses'

Great use of color to make an implied statement.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks very much^^

[Frieda P]

We've had our discussion about this one and the feelings that envelope one at times as such, you know I feel this one in my bones. We've shared our tears in our grief and you've written a melancholy yet hopeful piece of your heart here. Much love my sweet friend.

[kublakhan27]

We have, and I guess there's little left to say except that it means the world to me to have this one mean so much to you...and there is always hope, although I have to convince myself of that constantly...much love to you as well, my sweet friend :) xo

[KeeD]

Encroaching on whatever flora remains in our field of lonely futures. Wow, you are the master of imagery.
I read Girl Friday's poem yesterday I think about the magpie and how she could relate the human quality of sorrow to it so well and today I read your metaphor and i'm blown away. Like literally all of the aspiring poets here should read your work so they can learn something and better their craft. I know with each new piece of yours I read I always learn something new.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you as always my friend...we all learn new things from each other, as I did from Sarah's piece, and I've learned much from your writing and style as well :) The magpies have been crying as of late, but you all make me feel so much better than you know.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Don't mind at all! I was wondering if I had stepped into Magpie mania... :) This was fabulous indeed. The depth of this one is so honest and real that I feel as though I need to step back into it a few times to feel the full and beautiful weight of it all. I like tragic beauty.

flora remains
in our feild of lonely futures -- so beautiful...you are always inspiring to me, and these lines sent me over the edge!

[kublakhan27]

Haha I'd say you're a star but you were already a star, as evidenced by everyone who was already familiar with your piece ;) This one came to me unnaturally fast, it took about half an hour, when I usually spend that much time on a word :P But the circumstances are what brought it about...I guess I was trying to derive as much beauty from a tragic turn of events as I could...but thank you Sarah, I'm happy to know I inspire you as much as you've inspired me :)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Well, I'm glad that I inspired you...and yes, you do inspire me as well :)

[kublakhan27]

:)