For Adriana

A poem about Love and the Unity of existence

For Adriana

I watch,

For I am you

And you are me.

I watch.

I dive, I surface,

I spin the horizon round,

Yet round again. Sky wide

I stretch my arms, my eyes,

My very Heart for you.

I watch.

I know your pain,

The tattered, little scraps

Of memory, the

Longing, oh God

The longing for our long lost 

Home.

Did we not polish our hearts

To sacred chalice, 

Pray and sing 

 Each ancient chant?

Now,

Like sounding whales

We stink of sorrow.

I watch.

I know the moments

Fierce yearning gnaws the gut.

Walking sticks you gather,

Wind and water silvered,

Wood turned twin to

Our own bones of stone.

I watch,

Let loose a tear.

You check your pouch of Medicine,

Your hoard of magic words. 

There are fallen stars 

For Beauty and for Light,

Shark teeth and lobster claw

For cutting and for pain.

I watch.

The ceaseless longing

Pulls you from the Sea.

You climb the sands, 

 Climb from sight,

My wandering pilgrim 

Leaving sacred word pagodas

Upon the foreign land.

I watch. 

This day do not die into the Night

That passes into Light.

Return to me, 

Return to us.

We are all but little waves 

Rising and Falling in and out of

That great ocean of all,

That ocean of Love,

The One.

Return Adriana.

I am you.

You are me.

I will touch your hair and 

Whisper in your ear. 

I will sing to you like Orca.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

this was a powerful piece. the repetition of the line 'I watch' has a nuance to it; implying 'I wait.' and waiting is all we can do, the things we desire most are not things we can gain, but can only receive. and love is the greatest thing we can receive, but it has to be bestowed upon us, it cannot be stolen.
the imagery of the ocean was also captivating. i can think of a few theories of what it symbolises... but id rather not. the way you describe the water was so sharp and the image so clear - it is itws own truth, own world, an interpretation does it injustice.
there are many other lines i just loved. 'sacred word pagodas' was one of them: a very clever play on words, dense in meaing. and the final line worked: it's a bit of an odd thing to say but contained in this verse, it really matches the theme and motifs.
this was a moving read, but also full of drama and movement that held my attention beginign to end.

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you for your very kind words. I wrote this in response to the pain and suffering of another. When I read my own poem, I am rather amazed, wondering where the words came from. It is a favorite of my own.

[Chris Shaw]

I am so honored to be the first to call on this splendid poem which I have read several times. It is rare that a poem moves me so. Your lines touched me deeply. There is so much love and care here for one who appears to be losing a battle with life. Beautiful poetry. Thank you for sharing.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

Thank you Chris. This is my most beloved creation since Winter Friend. I read it and ask myself, did I write this? My concern for another opened me to the One and this emerged.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased I chose a poem to read which means so much to you. I will come back later and read more. I am pushed for time this morning.

Chris