Object Permanence

(It’s April – poetry month – and I haven’t been writing much at all. Teaching this year – riding a unicycle while juggling plates and my hair is on fire. So here is a lyric…and a link.)

I could sleep the day away when you’re here with me

with just the air that’s full of rain, just the light on trees.

And all the luminous days written in our hand are like a dress I wore or a song you sang.

But when you go away then it gets so still.

It’s then the night comes down and I feel the chill.

Never go away. Never stray too far.

I’ll recall the birds for you and you can name the stars.

A flicker feather picked up from the ground

is just like you and me and the air all around.

We are lost and found.

So breathe in, close your eyes, kindly guardian me.

Just like two rivers we’ll roll to our eventual sea.

Keep me close to you. Lie down by my side.

See, I was born for you and I will abide.

And all the luminous days running through our hands are like a dress I wore or a song we sang.

Never go away.

Let me see your face. Show me where you are.

Responses

  1. Claude Palmer Avatar

    E.- I love this poem. it is so very personal- and visceral. it doesn’t go sentimental, but honest. it opens like a conversation, goes deeper, deeper, finally softly breaks.C

    Like

  2. Claude Palmer Avatar

    yes. this says my life from far away, getting closer and closer. thank you!

    Like

Leave a reply to Claude Palmer Cancel reply