Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

All These Years (Poem)

1 view
Skip to first unread message

Olivia

unread,
Nov 19, 2009, 5:41:08 PM11/19/09
to

All These Years


All these years when we imagined him dead
and had his ashes in an urn to prove it
(as though ashes ever proved anything
except that there had been a fire)
he had only slipped away through the smoke
and hangs about behind you in the kitchen
or stands at the bed while you sleep, teasing dreams
into your head. Every now and then you glimpse
his faded cap in a crowd, bobbing like a cork
in the sea, always too far away to follow.
The sight of him, loafing perhaps near a corner,
does not excite any more; too many times
he has turned himself into a huddled shadow
or even a silly junk heap in the alley. Sometimes
he startles at night, calling, but when you wake,
as if to mock your instant thought of answering
he sounds again like some cat owning the fences.
But it's all him. He was like that before.
Whenever you expected him, he did not come.
Whenever you spoke to him, he did not listen.
Whenever you thought you felt his arms about you
it was only the bedclothes.


BLACKPOOLJIMMY

unread,
Nov 19, 2009, 7:38:51 PM11/19/09
to

Like it.

Father?

Olivia

unread,
Nov 19, 2009, 8:48:22 PM11/19/09
to


Thank you.

Husband.

BLACKPOOLJIMMY

unread,
Nov 19, 2009, 9:01:17 PM11/19/09
to

> > Like it.
>
> > Father?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Husband.


Powerful.

Olivia

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 2:05:37 PM11/20/09
to


Even more thanks!

BLACKPOOLJIMMY

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 4:54:06 PM11/20/09
to

Have more?

Olivia

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 5:57:15 PM11/20/09
to


I think I'll pass the compliments back to you for
all your very evocative word pictures. So thank you
for those, I enjoyed them.

Olivia

BLACKPOOLJIMMY

unread,
Nov 20, 2009, 6:01:16 PM11/20/09
to
On Nov 20, 5:57�pm, Olivia <t...@gmail.com> wrote:
> BLACKPOOLJIMMY wrote:
> > On Nov 20, 2:05 pm, Olivia <t...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> BLACKPOOLJIMMY wrote:
> >>>>> Like it.
> >>>>> Father?
> >>>> Thank you.
> >>>> Husband.
> >>> Powerful.
> >> Even more thanks!
>
> > Have more?
>
> I think I'll pass the compliments back to you for
> all your very evocative word pictures. �So thank you
> for those, I enjoyed them.
>
> Olivia

Thanks Olivia.

Now if the rest of the world could get along like we do...it's all
gravy.

Enjoy.

0 new messages