Saturday, 14 March 2009

washed by words

one-legged, tilted to one side-
rusted garden bench
now sprouted with weeds
witness of my past deeds

the way I used to sit there
waiting. waiting for you.
the glances, the kisses
we shared, curled to its corner

we talked of our future
you did. I only listened
totally washed by your words
love radiating from me

which could be felt from
a radii of a kilometre.
it went on and on
basking in your words forever

one similar day, same place
same me, but not you. never again.
no words. sound of breath,
one's own, is so hard to listen to.

this present, which in a way
is well into the future of what
not to be, is as colourful
as the drab earth you joined.

twenty odd years, I still can't let you
out of me. whole of me. in the
bigger picture of my dead life
farewell holds no meaning
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50 comments:

  1. Robin15 March 2009 at 00:01

    You've taken pain Gautami and turned it into beauty.

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  2. Jay15 March 2009 at 02:09

    Oh, that was so sad.

    Loss does indeed leach colour from our lives and tilt the benches, doesn't it?

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  3. anthonynorth15 March 2009 at 02:11

    Pain often leads to the best poetry.

    New Prompt & Prompt News Post

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  4. sage15 March 2009 at 02:49

    You paint such a realistic picture with your words, Gautami, but also on so sad. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Jeeves15 March 2009 at 05:22

    This will remain one of my favourites ones. I read and reread this many times.

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  6. TJ15 March 2009 at 05:37

    A sad journey well written.
    Very touching.
    TJ

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  7. SandyCarlson15 March 2009 at 05:45

    I feel the pain of this one. The conversation is so intimate and beautiful yet incomplete. Pain, it seems, never says farewell.

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  8. Amias15 March 2009 at 05:47

    "bigger picture of my dead life
    farewell holds no meaning"

    When one put feelings into words, that wraps around the reader's mind, and makes it real .. well, darn it, that's poetry!

    I could feel the pain ...

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  9. Brian15 March 2009 at 05:55

    Do you mind if I sit with you?

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  10. Sue15 March 2009 at 05:59

    Your poem pulls us in to share your sadness. I particularly like the stanza with the phrase:
    "this present, which in a way
    is well into the future of what
    not to be..."
    That turn of phrase is very powerful!

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  11. Janice Thomson15 March 2009 at 06:25

    So poignant Guatami, and so very beautifully said...

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  12. captainmolecule15 March 2009 at 06:48

    Did leave me with some heartburn - beautiful work.

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  13. Maggie15 March 2009 at 07:30

    I can so well relate to your sad tale...you told yours in a beautiful way.

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  14. Haiku Tuna15 March 2009 at 07:44

    I can so relate to "...washed by your words, love radiating from me" -- perhaps that is the fate of some of us, in real life we listen and absorb, but in our poetic life, we radiate to others :-) I know I am awashed by your words, time and time again!

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  15. Fledgling Poet15 March 2009 at 08:18

    The pain of lost and unrequited love is very hard to bear...you spoke of it beautifully here.

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  16. Quiet Paths15 March 2009 at 08:29

    Very painful, very real. A very delicate wordsmith on a difficult emotional place. The last verse feels very familiar. Thank you.

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  17. Geraldine15 March 2009 at 08:50

    This is so touching, so sad and so beautifully written. YOu've captured emotions that I can so relate to. Thanks Gautami!

    Hugs, G

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  18. Tumblewords:15 March 2009 at 09:45

    Well done - this one tells the tale of who we were, who we are and who we will be. Good work...

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  19. Deborah Godin15 March 2009 at 09:52

    You have found great beauty in the pain of this empty bench!

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  20. Beth P.15 March 2009 at 10:15

    Dear Gautami--
    There's a part of me that wants to rescue by saying, is there anyone that's worth that type of agnegation? And then there's another part that says, sometimes.

    I've been there. I no longer live there. Both are good.

    Thank you, as always, for your gutsy honesty--

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  21. WillThink4Wine15 March 2009 at 10:16

    Such a sad farewell, still these many years later. Beautifully written, Gautami.

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  22. Writer on Board15 March 2009 at 11:23

    Aw. Crushing. Beautiful.

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  23. Linda Jacobs15 March 2009 at 12:03

    This is one of your best!

    this present, which in a way
    is well into the future of what
    not to be,

    I love this line!

    Sad but wonderful!

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  24. Granny Smith15 March 2009 at 13:58

    This poem, centered on that bench, is heart-breakingly beautiful. An emptiness is so hard to bear.

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  25. keiths ramblings15 March 2009 at 13:59

    Such a sad and touching poem. I hung on every word.

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  26. Tammy15 March 2009 at 17:33

    That kind of love is best expressed in poetry as it follows us in time. Bravo Tami

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  27. endurogirl15 March 2009 at 18:41

    washed in melancholy, heartfelt and some lovely imagery. Thank you for sharing.

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  28. floreta15 March 2009 at 21:52

    it is hard to truly let go.. i think because they will always carry a piece of you.. a part of you was helped shaped by this person.. i could really relate to this especially:

    we talked of our future
    you did. I only listened
    totally washed by your words
    love radiating from me
    ---

    i felt that way too. that i was just listening and going along with everything without active decision.

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  29. Sij16 March 2009 at 05:17

    Nice one..the promises before a farewell..a bitter taste of despair and all that future holds seems futile.

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  30. Jim16 March 2009 at 06:25

    Oh girl! That poem is my song! My first love had a boy friend she was waiting for who was in the Air Force. When he came back, that was all, ist vorbei.
    ..

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  31. Pam16 March 2009 at 16:24

    The poem grabbed me with its first lines. They made me stop and hold my breath while I pictured the bench.

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  32. qualcosa di bello16 March 2009 at 17:56

    i stopped abruptly in my reading with your words 'sound of breath,
    one's own, is so hard to listen to' because that phrase cuts to the quick of the pain of loss

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  33. zoya gautam18 March 2009 at 03:28

    .."this present, which in a way
    is well into the future of what
    not to be"..

    ..'sound of breath,
    one's own, is so hard to listen to'..

    ..lovely..many thanks..

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  34. Patti18 March 2009 at 06:45

    Beautifully written, but oh, so sad...

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  35. Beloved Dreamer18 March 2009 at 06:53

    Ah Tami, this is one of your best. Life sometimes does not give us a fair play. We find, we know and loose love. Beautifully written.


    love, Melanie

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  36. Leo19 March 2009 at 09:41

    ur words are absolutely wonderful.

    i liked esp. the last line. farewell holds no meaning...

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  37. Barb6 April 2009 at 09:52

    I see both outer and inner worlds in this poem. Very moving.

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  38. DeLi23 April 2009 at 00:54

    oh! im so drawn........

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  39. Tammie Lee27 April 2009 at 22:57

    so lovely to touch on such a depth with someone
    so sad when that someone
    is no longer here
    you expressed this beautifully

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  40. Sandi McBride20 May 2009 at 19:28

    I'm trying to decide if this is a poem about death or simply a poem about love and being reunited...I'll take the latter rather than the former.
    Sandi

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  41. david mcmahon2 July 2009 at 20:41

    It's been a LONG time since I visited - but what a great post this is.

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  42. Merisi3 July 2009 at 02:16

    I came here thank's to David awarding your his "Post of the Day Award" - congratulations!

    A touching prose monument to love, exquisitely composed! I hope creating such beautiful pictures of the mind out of your love gives you comfort and peace. Blessings, Merisi

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  43. Sandi McBride3 July 2009 at 03:51

    I loved it the first time I read it, and now I'm back to say CONGRATULATIONS!! on Post of the Day!
    Sandi

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  44. Jientje3 July 2009 at 04:29

    I'm moved to tears. Beautiful.

    I came here through David's Post of the Day. Much deserved.

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  45. Cheffie-Mom3 July 2009 at 06:31

    Beautifully written. Congratulations on the Post of the Day Award!

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  46. Brian Miller3 July 2009 at 06:53

    emotional piece...i felt your pain. congrats on POTD!

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  47. A Super Dilettante3 July 2009 at 08:35

    Absolutely touching and reflective. I LOVE THIS POEM!! Congratulations.

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  48. ♥ Boomer ♥3 July 2009 at 19:34

    I ♥ your work, your thought process, the way you heal.

    Here from David's. So glad I came by.

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  49. Ms. Neha Gandhi6 July 2009 at 08:36

    very moving...very poignant

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  50. Tammie Lee6 October 2009 at 20:25

    tender piece. the depth of two connecting, sometimes lasts forever...

    Spirithelpers

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