After Leaving Here

AFTER LEAVING HERE

the shadows are lengthening
I look beyond the faded floral bouquets
a cloudless sky, the backdrop
and I see him
he sits on a bench beneath a large shade tree
leaning forward
elbows on his knees
he appears to be talking
yet his silhouette is alone

I walk quietly toward him
zig-zagging through the memories of so many.
The light breeze
carries the scent of  jasmine from his hands,
and the words, from his lips.
“After leaving here…
I will be alone
for the first time in 63 years.
We will be forever together in spirit,
but…what will I ever do without you?”

2011-04-30 11:35 a.m.
P. Wanken

written for Poetic Asides poem-a-day challenge
Day 30:  write an “after leaving here” poem

If you’ve been reading my poems this month, you’ll recognize the first stanza from earlier this month. When I read today’s prompt, the image that came to my mind was the one I had when I wrote the earlier poem, and the words of a second stanza just sort of spilled out. The first stanza, here, is unchanged.

Poem-a-Day Challenge 2011 Comes to an End

I wrote and posted the following letter to the editor of the Poetic Asides blog that has posted the prompts I have followed all month…it was quite a challenge, writing a poem a day! Thought I’d share my thoughts with you about my experience…

* * * * * * * *
To Robert and the Poetic Asides Community…

Besides my usual poem/post for the day, I wanted to take the opportunity to add my thanks to those that have already been expressed by so many of you as the month has been winding down. Each and every one of you has contributed to my life in a special way these past 30 days.

As a brand new writer, not knowing what madness I was in for, I started the month of poeming as a rather “anonymous” person. Just one of the masses, throwing my hat into the ring with my attempt at each day’s challenge. Only a few days into the month, I quickly learned that “the ring” in which I played was a far grander venue than the backyard gym. My exercises in poetry were no match to the well-honed and practiced expertise of the other players.

Overwhelmed by being out of my league, each morning the new prompt was like a bell signaling I made it through another round. But could I make it through this new one?  If I threw in the towel, no one would notice. I was not feeling “knocked down”—just exhausted and out-matched. No one would miss the post from P. Wanken. No one knows I’m here, anyway!

And then…my first “mention”. Someone DID know I was here. That was like water squirted in my mouth while gasping for breath in the corner. Like smelling salts under the nose…reviving me to keep going.

How glad I am that I did! Through 30 days I have learned a lot from you, my fellow poets. I have learned that you are friends—not opponents. I have learned that we are different—but can still love one another. I have learned that we can encourage—which grows into challenge. I have learned that I have friends that I have never met. And…I have learned that I suck at iambic pentameter! 😉

Thank you, Robert, for the daily challenges. Thank you, PA community for being the theme to “Rocky” in the soundtrack of my PAD month! You are the best!

I told a friend that the end of this month feels a bit like summer camp ending…having spent extended time with a bunch of people I didn’t know, becoming fast friends throughout, and then it comes to an end with promises to continue to stay in touch. How nice that we have the capabilities to do so in the world of cyberspace! I look forward to seeing ALL of you here on Wednesdays… promise!?  And by staying in touch through our own blogs. You can find me at echoes from the silence.

Have a great last day of PAD!!

~Paula

written about Poetic Asides poem-a-day challenge