My best friend came to stay;
they’d prepared a room – especially,
almost opposite mine.
She suggests a stroll – a walk
around the grounds. Dusk – fast falling;
weeks since last I’d gone outside.
A potpourri of things refresh
my senses; lambs, bleating
in a nearby field, a barn owl’s screech...
as we stop for a moment on the porch.
A moth, beguiled by the lamp,
flits inside, and disappears.
Did I watch out of envy,
or out of pity?
Above us – in a blueberry sky,
a harvest moon shrugs off
a cloud, and I smile, recalling a book
I’d once read, ‘The Moon’s a Balloon’.
“So good to see you happy, for a change,”
she says, as in my mind imagination
runs wild, and I catch hold of its string
as it floats on by...
the wind through my hair – fresh air
on my face. Sounds corny I know,
but I’d forgotten what it felt like...
Like school-kids we giggle – mad
she calls me; both on a high, but then,
how high is high?
Roughly speaking, as much distance
as I can put between me, and these
shackles of mine.
I watch as the moth flies free.
Maybe ask it? Maybe it knows
how high the moon, as it makes
for its darker side, as she takes me
back inside.
Comments
fatboy74 | July 16, 2012 - 20:43
Brilliant read Tina and a wonderful, haunting ending. Isn't that David Niven's Biography? ATB fatboy
Florian | July 16, 2012 - 20:52
Flawless
Rhiannonw | July 16, 2012 - 21:39
A very thoughtful gathering of happy, wandering, dreamy thoughts. An encouraging read. regards, Rhiannon
hoalarg1 | July 16, 2012 - 21:45
Loved this. A wonderful read. Well done.
Cavalcaderl | July 16, 2012 - 22:06
new Silver-Spun-Sand
Hi! Tina, I was dragged in
by the marvellous title.
Well deserved cherries!
Loved it from beginnning to end.
Definitley flawless I agree too.
The last stanza.
I watch as he mothe flies free.
Maybe ask it? Maybe it knows
how high the moon,as it makes
for its darker side,as she takes me
back inside.
julie x
Silver Spun Sand | July 17, 2012 - 07:42
Thanks, fb...and yes, you are spot on. David Niven's biography it surely is;-)
Silver Spun Sand | July 17, 2012 - 07:43
Pleased you thought so, Florian;-) And thanks.
Silver Spun Sand | July 17, 2012 - 07:44
Much obliged to you, Rhiannon. You captured it in a nutshell.
Hope your Tuesday is a good one.
Tina;-)
Silver Spun Sand | July 17, 2012 - 07:45
hoalarg...pleased you thought it so. Many thanks.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 17, 2012 - 07:46
Good morning, Julie;-)
Pleased you enjoyed this one. It is indeed a poem close to my heart.
Have a sunny Tuesday.
Tina xx
bonzo | July 17, 2012 - 23:39
I love the way you hold all the different images together, giving each one its place and meaning. This repays reading over and over.
Denzella | July 18, 2012 - 07:33
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
Loved the title, loved the ending...loved everything in between too.
So much to enjoy in this.
MOya
Silver Spun Sand | July 18, 2012 - 07:37
Thanks, bonzo. Pleased you thought so;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 18, 2012 - 07:38
Good morning, Moya;-)
Much obliged to you for your lovely comment.
Tina
Highhat | July 18, 2012 - 07:57
I like this Tina- gives me the feeling of never quite getting away from the sorrow! Don't know much about David Niven's biography but this is well put into your own words..
;)Pia
Silver Spun Sand | July 18, 2012 - 10:59
Pia - it has cheered up this grey, rainy day - hearing from you. Hope you are OK;-)
Thanks, so much for your words. As always, you are spot on with that intuition of yours.
Tina;-)
Indrani Ananda | July 19, 2012 - 00:36
Indrani Ananda
A lovely wistful poem, Tina. Quite haunting, the more times it is read. The feeling of shackles is common to us all, too intangible sometimes to let us be completely happy.
Indrani.
Silver Spun Sand | July 19, 2012 - 08:58
Most certainly, Indrani. Wise words, indeed.
Tina
Shannan | July 19, 2012 - 10:23
Congrats on your cherry pick once again :-) Keep going girl!!! lovely stuff
MistakenMagic | July 19, 2012 - 16:17
Love that final stanza, Tina. You pulled me right in with this one and I was there with you. Well done on the cherries!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | July 19, 2012 - 18:27
Kind of you, Shannan. Appreciate it;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | July 19, 2012 - 18:28
Many thanks, Magic. A lovely thing to say;-)
Tina xxx
ScoZen | July 19, 2012 - 21:16
Nice to come back and read this one Sandlady.
Lots in there that I enjoyed.
Kind regards.
Silver Spun Sand | July 19, 2012 - 22:14
I'd missed you;-) And hey...thanks;-)
Sandlady
sue dinum | July 20, 2012 - 20:05
Lovely bewitching atmosphere, Tina, has a dreamlike quality. Lovely pictures. The Moon’s a Balloon... I think we still have that book somewhere... by David Niven?
Silver Spun Sand | July 21, 2012 - 09:10
We meet again, Trev;-) And might I add, thanks for taking time to read my stuff. I really do appreciate it.
It was interesting how you found this one 'bewitching'. This poem was based on a visit by my daughter Andrea's best friend, to the hospice...not long before she died. She wrote about it in her diary...and hence, the poem.
And yes, 'The Moon's a Balloon' is David Niven's autobiography. Andrea was always one for the 'old movies', and he was one of her favourite actors.
Thanks again, Trev.
Tina