Your's And Mine

What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

whisper surrendered truth and i'll raise the white flag of lies

hugging the barren breach straight as the unfettered crow flies

utter your fervent supplication and i'll pray the reality of mine

embracing each other everlastingly whilst waiting in life's quixotic line

sing me your song of desire and i'll croon the remnant's of a forgotten time

waiting for the foundation to dry in an an endearing, pastoral shrine

gesture me a twinkling sign and i'll wink you one back

as we practice unplumbed living 'til we finally get the knack

save me from the storm and i'll usher you the sun

as we tread the rising water and grow vines entwined as one

twirl me the breeze and i'll dance you the wind

never forsaking the harvest as the once abundant crop is thinned

blow me a kiss and i'll catch it for sure

as we step out of the doubting boat and head for the trusted shore

whistle me of happiness and i'll trumpet you of pain

as we run and take cover from a gauntlet of invading rain

raise the velvet curtain and act out the minstrel's tragic, enigmatic play

clinging steadfast to faith and bending black and white to grey

turn the pages of the good book and i'll convince you to stay

help me to carry the heavy night and i'll bear the burden of the day

as angels gather nearby and the sea crashes its unmistakable spray

gallantly looking back over leaden shoulders

as we find our lost way

Author's Note

"To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school, but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity and trust." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

Wow. This was simply fantastic. I enjoyed reading it. It's quite a loaded piece of work with much to consider and digest. Oh, and incidentally, you've misattributed your opening quotation. Emerson said that, not Thoreau. But they were good friends and I'm certain both are beyond caring by this point. I love the transcendentalists. Great work.

[Re-Pete]

thanks for sharing. i identify very strongly with the transcendentalists. i will change the credit of the quote - not everything can be trusted on the internet. yes, emerson and thoreau were close friends. my understanding is that emerson owned a parcel of land at walden pond and let thoreau use it as a place to reflect and write. i used to live in a town next to concord ma. i've been in emerson''s mansion which has been preserved overlooking the concord river and the old north bridge where minutemen engaged the british and where paul revere rode out to in order to warn the people. i have swum in walden and hiked its woods many times. i have also stood at thoreau's gravesite. thoreau's birth name was david henry and he preferred henry david instead. thoreau worked with his father making pencils. he refused to pay the fee for his harvard diploma. he also refused to pay his poll tax and spent a night in jail - an experience that fueled his write - 'civil disobedience'. he adored nature and is credited with many discoveries. an amazing man for sure. i have not forgotten you telling me that you read 'Walden' to your ailing mother in the hospital. you couldn't have picked a better book - my personal favorite of all time ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

well done ... the opposing lovers engaged in all the tempest finding that love can bring .. love the rhyming .. it's evident the work put into it .. nothing trite .. creative and unique .. telling the story start to finish .. really like the imaging in this line especially .. as anyone who has stepped into a small boat knows how unstable it feels "as we step out of the doubting boat and head for the trusted shore" I also appreciate the reference to the Good Book .. a corner stone of any relationship if two desire to become one .. good stuff this morning sir! thanks for sharing!
E.

[Re-Pete]

a good top o' the mornin' to 'ya e! yes, the boat and good book are key. you have a keen eye for importance. great synopsis ... :)

[lightsong]

this is gorgeous dear Pete, so perfectly gorgeous! I can't read this without feeling it personally to You. a hymn for humanity as for true love too, together flow all along through your breathtaking phrases... hand in hand, heart to heart, soul to soul... the ending completely brilliant, it is like back home, and where is that home? where the heart is, where souls dances only with joy and love, "angels... sea... spray..." I love this! a masterpiece of love. thank You for keep sharing your beautiful self with us❤️

[Re-Pete]

aren't you kind. indeed, life is too short. can't go wrong learning the steps to such a dance you tell of. we follow our hearts because they know the true way. thanks for a sweet share ... :)

[emmajoy]

For me, there's a tongue in cheek musical touch to your words: a voice that suffers tremors about your thoughts of love and life but - is veiled with 'must see it through, must cope'. And among all that are some wonderful phrases that say what might have been hidden:

'.. twirl me the breeze and i'll dance you the wind' -- '.. save me from the storm and i'll usher you the sun'

PS - you know Albion!!

[Re-Pete]

there's always a song spinning 'round and 'round in me so right you are with the musicality. love, the truest of all leaves us vulnerable when we dare but nothing is better. to be truly alive is to have hope and love neither easy at times but well worth. such a pleasant visit ... :)

[emmajoy]

We've often read and valued the same page..

[Re-Pete]

that means of phrasing is a common thread that when pulled unravels much of us ... :)

[Re-Pete]

albion black lake is a good one. have always loved jethro tull and stumbled into it. very talented. sheer poetry in motion ... :)

[Melinda McQueen]

Such a lovely love poem. Feelings portrayed here run deep and unmeasured except by your words.

[Re-Pete]

that deepness of love stirs much. thanks so much for sharing ... :)

[Yellow Butterfly]

I’m struggling to interpret the feelings that this has stirred up in the pit of my stomach. Trying to translate what my tummy is telling me and not let my words get lost in my thoughts. I have to say…. if my feelings could speak out loud they would probably say…..this is purest poetry at it’s finest. Love coming back and reading the different angles….dimensions and depth you bring to each piece you create. Be them short or lengthy your story accompanied with your exquisite imagery…….you have penned beautifully…..My fav :)

YB

Ps: One of many favs :)

[Re-Pete]

you are spot on. i think i had that same feeling in my stomach when i wrote this. meant to express the turmoil of life and relationships. neither an easy road. we do the best we can. as long as it's done with honesty, love and good intent we can't lose. acceptance is key. thanks as always yb ... :)

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

Enjoyed the read, thank you for sharing!

[Re-Pete]

you crack me up r. j. - your writes go into volumes but your reviews are short. i tend to be the same way (depends on my mood). thanks and stay cool ... :)

[R.J Calzonetti (SinisterPotatoe)]

That's true, it's kind of funny that my reviews are so different from my poems. Keep up the great writing!

[John the Baptist]

The poem well conveys HDT's message. Don't know if it is directed to a particular individual or the world in general, but the tone is upbeat all the way. Life can throw some curveballs at us, but if we trust in the best that is within us, we'll be OK. A lot of unique imagery in this one, as well as some imaginative rhyming.

[Re-Pete]

interesting that you raise that question - started out thinking about relationships i've had as is often the case with my writes morphed into being applicable to the world in general as you say. take it for what it's worth i guess. it's never easy but we have to at least try so that we have something to talk and write about (lol) ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! I felt the romance so deep and powerful. You are excelling in multiple expressions sir. Every line needs to be studied thoroughly. You come up with wonderful things for us to ponder.

[Re-Pete]

thanks sami! too bad i spend most of my time pondering, usually afraid to act on it. matters of the heart never easy but things worthwhile rarely are ... :)

[Sami Khalil]

So true and well said. You are welcome sir Pete.

[MOON]

Simply lyrical love the line "save me from the storm and i'll usher you the sun"

[Re-Pete]

!!! i liked that line too when i wrote it. thanks ever so much for sharing ... :)

[NotUsinganymore]

Interesting poem about the world. Life was simple where I was until I moved where people can make choices no matter how crazy it was.

[Re-Pete]

freedom is not free. everything has a cost including the choices we make or do not make ... :)

[NotUsinganymore]

I agree with you.