Karin at dversepoets.com
asks us to write slant poems today; also calledhalf rhymes, there are words that sound alike but don't quite rhyme for a bit of surprise
or variety. Yeats was a master.
Lifelong friends found their way
to my doorstep recently
We had lost track for more than a decade,
familiar faces, voices dear
familiar faces, voices dear
Touching again that special place
tucked inside my heart
since we first met in '68,
and their old pickup decked out
with zebra art,
black and white striped paint
and their old pickup decked out
with zebra art,
black and white striped paint
Young marrieds with babies,
sharing walks with strollers to the zoo;
and time passed after we moved away
Some Christmas cards in the mail,
then, suddenly, a wedding or two
Some Christmas cards in the mail,
then, suddenly, a wedding or two
Now no longer in our prime,
now we laugh, talk and cry
a tear or two
It's humbling when lives cross again;
now we laugh, talk and cry
a tear or two
It's humbling when lives cross again;
guess it's true what's said of time
So if your thoughts can travel
through the wind across space,
So if your thoughts can travel
through the wind across space,
conscious desires can be channeled -
soon to arrive at your gate
soon to arrive at your gate
i am in a season of parting from some very dear friends and co-workers...and some anx at life after them...so i look forward to paths crossing once again....and i know from past experience it is cool when they do...well done on the slants...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian..I like this form...and parting is temporary...until the final departure ;)
DeleteKate, I love this - moving from Hippies and youth to aging in laughter
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bjorn, for I've learned a thing or two from you ;)
DeleteIt is wonderful when one can reconnect with former friends and the connection can pick up where we let off. "now we laugh, talk and cry" - this sounds like a great program!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful when it happens as you age, as if no time had gone by at all.
Deleteawwww...this is such a beautiful write.
ReplyDelete:)
Ah, lovely- and the mix of rhymes works so well . Thanks. K.
ReplyDeleteThe slant almost near rhymes blend like cream in expresso, adding sweet depth to the tongue, the ear, the heart. An excellent use of the form, but just a damn good poem presented, so much so, the form is irrelevant. 4 years ago I began to work with Facebook, and friends from 4-5 decades ago resurfaced, several of which have made in-person visits. You can't choose your family, but surely you can your friends.
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool..plus, one has to then make the effort to contact them before anything can happen....thank you, Glenn.
Delete....be over there shortly ....
DeleteConnecting with lifelong friends again is a very special thing.
ReplyDeletewhen you reconnect - it really verifies the depth of the connection. And that's a good thing.
ReplyDeletePleased the reconnecting of old friends gave you so much pleasure. Nice poem.
ReplyDeletethat is very cool to see old friends again after a long time... so much to tell and i guess the old familiarity will be back quickly
ReplyDelete"now we laugh, talk and cry:...trying to touch that golden time and beyond...precious moments these are....
ReplyDeleteA surprisingly joyous use of slant rhymes (to my mind, they seem to fit in better with a sad state of mind) - there is a jauntiness and bounce to this. It sounds like quite a pleasure to meet old friends, dwell a little on nostalgia, slip back into the old comforting ways.
ReplyDeleteThose are the best friendships!
ReplyDeleteit is humbling... and a bit of maturity changes things... but the depth so much richer
ReplyDeleteA most wonderful trajectory.
ReplyDeleteVery true, very real sense of how time changes us, life changes us, and yet there are places neither ever really change in us at all.
ReplyDeleteReunions can be almost bittersweet. Especially if you expect a goodbye shortly after. This poem was really touching and beautifully written. I think the final stanza was really poignant.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you, and thank you.
DeleteThis is so good, love the journey you shared here.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice or have long time friends to keep one company through life's journey. :-)
ReplyDeleteWonderful to have those old friends that are every bit as much friends now as they were back then!
ReplyDelete