The Thaw

To say the least,

   The day you met me

(there in the dark,

   lost to mind and heart),

I was a damaged goodie,

   Fumbling in an Alabama hoodie.

But you taught me that spring

   Something that I believe

To be the most important thing:

   That even the blind

Are gifted with insight.

And I will never see the sun

   Rising without

Being reminded of your name

   And about how

You saw a light in me

   That no one else saw,

And I felt a warmth in you

   So strong that it brought me to thaw.

...

Then--I drew a line through my life--

   Hoping they could discern more clearly--

The person that I am tonight

   From the person I had been previously.

But--sadly--it was to no avail--

   As none of them can fully tell--

How wonderful it can feel

   To warm after a great chill.

But I will never see the sun

   Rising without

Being reminded of your name

   And about how

You saw a light in me

   That no one else saw,

And I felt a warmth in you

   So strong that it brought me to thaw.

...

And didn't the sun

   Shine through to me,

And blind so beautifully?

   And at once, darkness did, of course,

Abscond with the starkness it adores.

And I drew a breath,

   Which I could attest

Had been my very first.

   An experience to, at last, quench my thirst.

Now I will never see the sun

   Rising without

Being reminded of your name

   And about how

You saw a light in me

   That no one else saw,

And I felt a warmth in you

   So strong that it brought me to thaw.

...

To say the least,

   The day you met me

(there in the dark,

   lost to mind and heart),

I was a damaged goodie,

   Fumbling in an Alabama hoodie.

But you taught me that spring

   Something that I believe

To be the most important thing:

   That even the blind

Are gifted with insight.

Reviews

[Stephanie]

What a beautiful piece. So appreciative. The tone is very beholden and the title... absolutely brilliant. This made me feel all types of warm and fuzzy feelings. Thank you for writing this. And I am happy you had someone to help you through a difficult time.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you. We all need someone like I'm speaking of here some times. I was very fortunate. I felt, when i first wrote this, that it rollercoastered for a bit, the way it reflected on sad, bettering, and then happy.
It's likely the best Thank You I've written.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'The Thaw'
Wesley Dingler,
Rhyme and meaning all intertwined. Written six or seven years ago it looks like. It's really nice. I think it needs a melody to accompany. Pretty poem with the inspiration of hope and the reality of mattering enough to have another see your good when you may not see it yourself. The repeating stanzas give a foundation of dynamics of memory, or heart.
Blessings and I wish you happy spring!
Kathy

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oedipus Rex saw more through his wisdom after he blinded himself than he did with two good eyes.
And when we know the kind of love expressed here, the vision is profound.
j.

[light and ashes]

I see the light in you. I always will. I hope you will always see the light in me......This is truly stunning baby.

[Wesley Dingler]

I will my love. Thats a promise.

[light and ashes]

Good :)....

[Giulia King]

I love this. Absolutely love this. Such a beautiful piece. I'm so happy I found this poem.

[Wesley Dingler]

Awe, thank you. I am so happy you found this poem, too.
And im even happier that you liked it so.

[Tabby Mac]

WOWOWOWOWOWOW! I aspire to speak to the heart as you have done here. As well as speak from it! This piece cuts to the core in a way all writing should. Thank you for Rockin' it!!!
Tabby

[Wesley Dingler]

You're welcome, Tab, as always.
It's easier than you might think.
You'll do it well, Im sure

[barleygirl]

This is one of your best expressions of something personal & heartfelt from your life. I really do feel how much this means to you & most anyone can relate to how it can be when someone sees the light in us. This is more repetition than I would prefer . . . about half of what's written here is repeated. But some people like to write this way, as if lyrical with repeating song verses. All in all, it is a powerful statement of appreciation that carries on & on thru-out one's life (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Cherrie Palmer]

It rings out like a memory set to rhyme, and with a unique voice that belongs only to you.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you so much Cherrie. This is one of my favorite rhymes. I look back on it now, the writing process, and i remember me at 26 years old, not knowing what direction to steer my life in. Then i remember a few days later, when i actually started to pen this one, and i remember my oldest friend Rose and i drinking at my granfathers house. This was the year she helped me out of depression and it was a special year. I survived that winter with only a couple of goid friends, a few good friends, and an undying faith that even the blind deserve to see the err of their ways.
The voice may belong only to me but the message belongs to my dear friend rose and everyone else who has ever aspired to rise out of darkness and coldness and just be better and happy.
No the woman of whom i speak wasnt a lover or anything like that. She was just my friend and she cared enough to help me. I still live in this workd where a man and a woman can be this kind of friends without sleeping together. Just simply because they love each other, inspire each other and for whatever reason, thats enough.
Its teue ill never forget the writing of this poem. And i hope others never forget its meaning.
Its deepest meaning is that there is always someone in our lives who wants us to be better. Simply because when we're better we are better.
If any rhyme I've written lives on beyond my own years i hope its this one. Not just because its my favorite but because it is a form of truth. A form of medicine, when all others have failed. Because it reminds me that to the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may just be the world.

[emipoemi]

.....I have no words....my voice is in my awe!! Well done!

[Wesley Dingler]

Well, I guess this is one of those instances where less is more.
If it robbed you of your words, then I guess it must have worked very well.
Thanks for reading.

[emipoemi]

My pleasure.

[Chris Shaw]

What a delightful poem of thanks to Rose Shillito who was able to look inside and see the best of you. That sort of faith in someone can move mountains. Nicely penned, and touching with it. All good wishes for the New Year.

Cbtis

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you, Chris.
I did have a wonderful time at the new year.
I went to a pretty big bash last night.
I woke today to find that the first of January is in fact National Hangover Day.
Isn't that something.