Best
My best poem is the one I just wrote.
(Except when it’s the one I’m about to write.)
My best friend is named Helen,
Linda, Pam, Maureen, Marian, Angela….
The best cat I ever had is every cat I ever had.
The best mango, the best chocolate: I just ate.
But my best daughter is my only daughter –
who was not born to me, but chose me.
And the very best man of all I’ve loved
is – well – each one of them; and yet
some are a little sweeter than others.
I confess, best of all, I love – who? You, dear!
For JULY P.E.O.D. MEMOIR CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE, July 5: BEST MOMENT. (And yes – instead I'm being slightly subversive about the idea of 'best'.)
Also shared at Poets United's Poetry Pantry #486
This is the truth of it...it is all The Best! I love this!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this poem, Rosemary. Makes me think of all of my 'bests' as well. It definitely is good to savor what has at this moment and also to savor all of what one had / loved in the past. We really shouldn't have to limit what is best...but enjoy the best in all that we have had!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love, love this poem, Rosemary!💞 There are so many people in this world, so many experiences and things that we hold dear to our hearts .. yes it's difficult to determine which is the best one .. and I feel that each and every one of them possess their own charm 😊 and are special in their own unique way .. between you and me... I have had quite alot of romances in my life ..(though I guess "the one" is yet to come) and whenever I sit down and reflect I am unable to decide which was the best experience ... as each taught me and left wisdom along the way. Speaking of mango 😊 have you ever tried having it with rice? It's pretty common where I live.💞
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree about the wisdom and learning to be gained from each relationship.
DeleteMangoes are prolific where I live, but we never have them with rice. I'll have to give it a try.
Can I please marry this poem? I promise to treat it well and always feed it smiles and how I admire yous. I love, love, love what this poem says about life and love and friendship and, well... living. All the things (and people) we love are the best, while we are loving them. And some, we love forever.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Rosemary! So true! I have mango most morning for breakfast, pulverised with hazelnuts and mixed with chopped apple and fat free Greek yogurt - the best breakfast ever and suitable for diabetics.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful!
DeleteWhat a joyful poem
ReplyDeleteI know such questions are often asked but perhaps it's best to keep secret as we are so fickle that we will probably change the answers next week.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the sweet tone, and how this poem is just open to each and every spark of beauty in the world. It's hard not to grin while reading it.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun. I wish I wrote this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a deliciously obscure ending---it leave us guessing!
ReplyDeleteWow. What a splendid, different, wise, clever, beautiful love poem. How can I not love this? It's the one I just read, but it will linger, I'll remember this one.
ReplyDeleteheh, it's best not to make up your mind.
ReplyDeletelove this! :)
Yes, me too - love in triplicate! I love the subversiveness of it because it's truth demanding to be seen...with a big, fat, lovely smile!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely Rosemary.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile! I felt like you were laughing as you wrote it.
ReplyDeleteLoving oneself is not being narcissistic but rather being fair to oneself. One needs to reward oneself for all the goodness and the striving in life as no one is able to appreciate
ReplyDeletethe efforts in getting to where we are!
Hank
Dear Hank, I think you must have clicked the wrong link. I believe you meant this comment for someone else's poem. It doesn't relate in any way to this one.
DeleteI thought this was an interesting poem. I know you meant it in a light hearted way but I put another more serious take on' best' and I am too tired from watching tennis to go into it:) Maybe a response poem is in order here.
ReplyDeleteWell, it might sound light-hearted but the underlying message is perfectly serious.
DeletePS I would in any case love a response poem!
DeleteThis is very special. Perspective, like most everything else, changes. And thus, I think 'best' is - for a myriad of reasons - seldom 'locked in' every second ... for life.
ReplyDeleteI took from this that 'best' for you (or rather as you have chosen to express it in this poem) is the thing that you're thinking about or nearest to, in the moment. I think that is a wonderful way to go through life, seeing the best in everything and everyone as it/they come to you (or revisit you in memory). Lovely!
This poem is a delight :)
ReplyDelete