We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage / And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, / We Poets of the proud old lineage / Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ... (James Elroy Flecker)

13.11.19

The Possibilty of Peaceful Ageing


The Possibility of Peaceful Ageing
(on entering my ninth decade)

Now I am new, 
softly writing the winds of the past
into history
where they may blow unheard
taking away the rains and storms 
and even also
the fierce fires that sometimes
in towering beauty
flared and razed
leaving scorched ground, with ruins
to be repaired or be abandoned.

I turn and face forwards
into a calm and gentle sunlight
over fields and a river.
There are trees.
On one side is a three-humped
cloud-catching mountain.
From the other I smell hints,
tangy and fresh,
of the near ocean. 
A few white clouds
sweep the sky like angel wings.

‘Follow me!’ she cries,
that Goddess to whom
I have given my heart and allegiance,
and I step with assurance 
into the realms of light, 
calm and radiant.
‘Here is joy,’ she tells me,
‘embrace it. You’ve earned it.’
And I dare say I have. But I pause.
While strife remains 
I have a duty of healing.

Also, when I sit in my armchair 
a small black cat
climbs on to my lap –
dead Selene, who settles 
as she did when she was alive.
Or I find a letter 
from an old love, long gone,
and linger over it, failing to destroy.
‘Forgive me, Lady,’ I say. 
‘I am not yet ready
for blissful oblivion.’










Rare sample of Egyptian terra cotta sculpture, could be Isis mourning Osiris, (raising her right arm over her head, a typical mourning sign). (Public Domain)


Written for Thotpurge's Poetry Tuesday #2 – New

35 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Rosemary, on your eightieth birthday! I love the opening lines, the idea of being new in your ninth decade, ‘softly writing the winds of the past into history’ and then, in the second stanza, facing forwards, enjoying life. I’m so glad Selene is still with you.

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    1. Thank you for the birthday wishes and all these good thoughts.

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  2. This poem of reverie is so beautiful, stuffed with gorgeous images. I most love that Selene still climbs into your lap and WISH Pup would do the same, gigantic lapful that he would be. This is a poem I file in the I Wish I'd Written This folder, because I would like to hear much more about it.

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    1. Any time you'd like to do a guest post, Sherry, down the track, we'd never say no to you!

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    2. On any poet, I mean – since you have a file. :)

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  3. I love the relaxed understanding dancing from line to line. There is so much strength in experience, in knowing the self and what the self wants. The tone of this piece makes me think of that, of how much better living tastes when we accept the now, the before, and are not afraid of what's to come.

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    1. I do find (or have found so far) that every age has its treasures and pleasures.

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  4. I like how effortlessly the details of the metaphysical world weave around descriptions of the solid world. It's not always easy to have one's heart be part of two worlds like that, but there are those of us who wouldn't have it any other way.

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  5. Oh dear, my comment from earlier seems to have vanished! But what I felt then and feel again now is the wonder of being renewed each moment carrying just the joy one has earned.. I love that thought - such a positive way to look at life. Also isn't it fabulous when the past curls up in one's lap to comfort and reassure.... beautiful poem.

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    1. I think it was my fault! I had a notion I might have accidentally deleted an unread comment along with some spam, a few days ago. Thanks for saying it again.

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  6. This is wonderful... and congratulations on you ninth beginning... love the forwardlooking with so many memories to bring with you

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  7. As anytime this can be asked of us, the strong-willed remain. No need to ask forgiveness when you are still needed, still wanted on this side. Many happy returns for your birthday as well.

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    1. Thank you – for the reassurance as well as the good wishes.

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  8. This is incredibly poignant, Rosemary! ❤️ I resonate with; " softly writing the winds of the past
    into history," and feel that being human we tend to keep on evolving throughout our lives .. each time shedding the old skin and embracing the new .. letting go of the past and holding onto wisdom.. Congratulations on your eightieth birthday! You're an inspiration to us all! ❤️

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    1. Thank you, dear Sanaa – I intend staying around to be so a lot longer!

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  9. 'While strife remains
    I have a duty of healing'

    Wonderfully inspiring!

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  10. Ah, this is so beautiful, Rosemary. So close to the bone and real. I feel past, present and future sorting themselves out and melding into a timelessness that elevates. Surely this is what the Lady intends all along - whatever number of human years it requires.The ninth decade sounds auspicious somehow. I have a feeling you will make of it a great wonder.

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  11. Good wishes for your birthday! The peace and grace in this helps the strength in the lines shine.

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  12. Birthday greetings, Rosemary! I love the wisdom you’ve woven into your poem. I love the freshness of “gently writing the winds of the past into history…“

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    1. Thank you for the greetings, and the kind comment.

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  13. This is beautifully constructed. I love the way you paint the scene - visually and metaphorically - and then step into - visually and metaphorically. THIS IS POETRY!!!

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  14. 80 is a good age to reach until you experience the consequences! Personally I prefer to forget the numbers hoping no one else will notice! Lets hope your words will flow as normal and be honed well with your experience.

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    1. Oh, I am working on getting younger and fitter with time! (Grin.)

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    2. Besides, you are such a good example!

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  15. I especially like the first stanza, being new and writing the winds of the past even though they may be blown away unheard. This work is satisfying to the end, gives us the last word.

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  16. I wonder if any of are ever ready, unless in pain. I don't fear death, because I view it as simply returning home, but I do fear the process of dying. I bet when my time comes I'll be like "No! Not now, I have stuff to do!"

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