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To Finally Be Alive
Such solemn voices, like hooded monks in the pouring rain
Obscure birdlike forms gliding through the semi-darkness
A messenger makes his way across the sweeping plains
Bringing word of the void which rattles in his satchel
The prophet’s bookkeeper will open up any volume for you
But you must be ready to be consumed by the words
Or to drown on the pages
They are very lovely faces, the golden color of memory
When it is warm and whole, a puddle of honey and water
Friends that have moved on to a land of illumination
Leaving behind one white-haired boy to write their memoirs
And to continue to love their bright-eyed ghosts
Which flit in and out of the pulsating lamplight
And inhabit his quiet heart
Did you wonder why there was no sparrow on the third day?
No swift, brown dab on the rich, blue sky to circle overhead?
I am so sorry, darling, but you had to know that kind of loneliness
To realize that you are never truly alone
And I came back on the day when you were resurrected, remember?
I was flying far above the stooping figures of your flustered rescuers
I always return for you
A pair of eventide lovers, hand-in-glowing-hand
Ambling wordlessly along the edge of the dogwood forest
Worry stones resting, unneeded, in their pockets
Engraved with the outlines of a blue dove and a red chickadee
Catching falling petals between their gentle fingers
Knowing the secret of recovery and saved by the sensation
Of finally being alive
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This article has 19 comments.
Beautiful work as always, Raven. But what's this? More mention of love - that seems to be mentioned in most of your poems. Tells us, are you in love, Raven, or are you just in love with the idea of love?
Btw, I absolutely agree with you. It's very hard to attempt to love all humanity. I just love my family and friends and give respect to all the others. Cats are much simpler to love than people. I've only met one cat that I didn't like, though I liked him plenty enough until he bit me. Sadly, I have never had the wonderful opportunity to own a cat, but I wish that I did very much.
That sounds like a good use for it.
I'll have to read something of Orson Scott Card some time, without a doubt.
Haha, oh dear... I find it easier to love all of humanity L:
Maybe it can be about a certain lost necklace that I found one day at the health food store and just fell in love with it's raw beauty... I still hope that it will come back to me.
Most decent people make it their goal to love all of humanity, despite the large number of people who it is their inclination to despise. I tried, but have been finding it too difficult; so I resolved to love all cats, instead (much easier). Crystalized sundrops, hmmm, you should certainly incorporate that into a poem. I wonder, who or what is Alvin Maker?
Liz: ha, I like that. Cats can get quite grumpy, but I love it when they try to compensate. :)
I am not exactly a lover of cats as a species, but I've found that certain individuals are lovely. Among them, Tigger and Cactus, one cat belongs to a friend, and I took care of him for a week. The other is mine. Though I'm not sure if I get to keep him.
Reminds a person of Wonderland, The Book Thief, and crystalized sundrops. Expertly drawn together, whenever I read your poetry, I imagine long fingered hands intricately drawing many colored threads together. Very much like the weavers in Alvin Maker who weave to discover the life cloth.
Thank you both very much; you are too kind!
To Aderes, oh wonderful! Tell Mr. Piggle-Wiggle that Raven says hello and also that he's invited to come and have tea with me any time he likes.
To Liz/Bard, that is just as well. :)
