The light in your greeny-blue eyes, reminder of a summer ocean.
The way one lock of your hair always used to stick up, rebellious.
Your freckles, your flushed cheeks, your whole face lighting up with sudden laughter.
How fervently you would debate a point to understand it better.
Your hands moving swiftly through books and papers, or stilled and warm in mine.
The time I leaned back against your chest, your cradling arms around my waist.
All the lines that you wrote me: letters, poems, and that book inscription.
The path we walked our last day together, sunlight warm on our faces.
Written in response to Magaly's request for a list poem, in Friday Writings #40 at Poets and Storytellers United. Each item in my list is an American Sentence, the form created by Allen Ginsberg.
Feels like I know this poem from all that I've read. What an affectionate list, well remembered!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to remember the happy. (And nice that, in a way, from your reading, you remember it with me.)
DeleteThis I liked, this I've lived.
ReplyDeleteOnly different item is the last line,
I DON'T REMEMBER OUR LAST LINE.
All I got was a note in the mail, she had moved out of town, had quit her job.
She did tell me why; her former boy friend (or more) had come home from the wars.
Mrs. Jim does the cradling bit, on the motorcycle that we used to ride,
she'd hang on tight, to me!! Still gives me the shivers, thinking of it.
..
Glad to have stirred some (mostly) happy memories in you too, Jim.
DeleteI love this take on a list and the parts of the whole of it.
DeleteThanks, Colleen.
DeletePS Jim, we (the we in this poem) didn't know at the time that it was the last day.
DeleteThese American sentences are just wonderful....a testament to a true love....very very special ! Rall
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've been immersed in writing prose lately, and I needed some form so my list wouldn't sound prosy too. This seemed the perfect choice; glad it worked.
DeleteThis is beautiful. Love and longing dancing together in balance. I love everything about this one.
ReplyDeleteAwww, thank you!
DeleteWhat a love.ly list
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday Rosemary
Muchđź’–lovr
Thanks and same to you, Gillena.
DeleteMemories of one's beloved are indelible. These you have shared with us are simple--and precious.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right; indelible indeed. And yes, simple and precious, both. Thank you.
DeleteWhat a lovely list of sweet and poignant memories. And in American sentences too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it. As I explained to rall, above, after being immersed in prose writing the last little while, I needed to do something to make this poetry, and American sentences seemed to fit the bill.
DeleteDear Rosemary, I am inspired to create a list as lovely as yours ... remembering my forever true love. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! I look forward t reading yours.
Delete❤️
ReplyDeleteUntil the last few lines, this could be about my daughter. It made my eyes wet. ♡
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI like, especially, the line about the hands. And I greatly admired Allen Ginsberg.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I found the recent film about him starring Daniel Radcliffe very interesting, full of stuff I hadn't known. I still treasure my old copy of Howl. But the things he did later in his life are perhaps even more deserving of admiration.
DeleteNow that is a list poem that steals my heart. The hands line and the last one are my favorite but the whole poem is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteSweet memories.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are!
DeleteThis is such a beautiful poem, it made my heart swell. I found these lines especially moving:
ReplyDelete"How fervently you would debate a point to understand it better.
Your hands moving swiftly through books and papers, or stilled and warm in mine."
<3
What a beautiful comment!
DeleteThe images in this beautiful poem, made me feel loved and cradled.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a lovely comment. Thank you.
Delete