Friday, September 9, 2011

A Way of Seeing



A Way of Seeing 

I said
“Good morning”
to the sky…and the sky said
“Tangerine.”
I watched the child say
“Hop, hop!”
to the squatting frog…
and the frog replied back with a short but rather high hop and a
“Blink, blink.”
I watched the green ocean ebb and flow and I saw the waves slap at the sky
and the sky said back
“I will embrace you with my azure
blue.”
I watched the mother, watching over the child and I saw her think
I will protect you.”
I watch the old man sitting in his chair and I see him sob, with a heart that yearns
for all that has passed--
as I watch his young(er) son say
“Look over here, Dad.”
I saw the floppy eared little dog coming up the hill
and the dog said
“Cuddle me.”
I see the food on the plate, and the garden fresh food says
“Eat me! I am a gift.
Let’s celebrate!”
I see the soft spoken gray haired women standing still,
dressed in gray
leaning hard against her cane, quiet--
yet, she is telling all those who will listen
“Slow down.”
I see the clothes, washing themselves today
and saying
“Smile, it suits you.”
I see the ivory keys, white, in sharp contrast to the dimness of the morning light
and they arrest me saying
“See me.”
And C through E chime in, saying
You need to pay us a visit.”
I see the baby, with tears streaming down her swollen, red and puffy cheeks--
and I hear the
“Drip, drip,”
as she glides past
riding up high
in the front of
a shopping cart,
cold metal--
at an hour unlikely
and I see
the mother’s absent-minded stare also blank,
as she tries hard to maintain her state of
oblivion;
fingering the clothes, and I hear her empty sighing
as she lingers in the aisle--
and all the while
I hear
the screaming cry
of the young little baby, as it demands to be heard,
saying
“Mother, mother, let me lay my head down…and
put me to bed. I need my rest— now,
this instant. ”
I see the big black truck menacing me and my car bumper says
“Watch out! This is not a stable person.”
I see the mist laying itself completely over the top of the trees and it says
“Come now and play.”
I see the heat streaming in curves and rising
up off of the pavement—hot, hot
and it says
“S-s-s-s-summer.”

4 comments:

  1. That's lovely, lg. I'll bet you see with your heart all the time.

    A woman I crossed paths with in the park yesterday was crying and I almost asked her if I could help. But her body language didn't invite comment. I worried about her and then crossed paths with her again on the return trip and she had stopped crying and looked better. I like to think the exercise and beautiful surroundings made her better. Your poem brought back this memory.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lynn, I love that what I wrote provoked this thought-memory and I enjoyed your (thoughtful)and (as always!) insightful comment.
    Thank you! Hope your weekend sails, Lynn!
    I know what you do mean about people, though. There is a time to (simply) let them alone (to deal with their stuff.) All we can do sometimes, is to hope (on their behalf) and to pray (if so lead.)
    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like your seeing..
    Should have more of that last word here..
    Hope you have a blessed weekend. Hugs from Tania

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hugs and a good weekend to you, too Tania!
    lg!

    ReplyDelete

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Lois Nancy

This artwork is my mother's. It touches my heart.    (So gentle.)   A thoughtful depiction of something sweet, tiny, and cute.   'Wa...