No lasting memorial, she insisted,
and so, with no grave to visit,
at her expressed request, feel
I’m free-falling; adrift in a void,
midway between I and we.
‘Life would still go on without her’,
she said, and she was right. Everything
passes, given time; the hymns, sung...
the eulogy, recited – canapés eaten,
‘The Last Post’ done and dusted.
And so, I find myself brought here...
in the second twilight; the hour
when day melds with night,
by the Tuscan Olive we planted
that summer;
drank a toast to its fruitfulness,
when a falling leaf spiralled upward
and raindrops etched Rose-Rugosas
in our pink champagne.
Strange...I acquired no taste for olives;
she adored them, she said, but, never
will I know, if she really loved me.
A travesty, indeed, that in a climate
such as this, olives won’t ripen
on a tree.
Comments
Highhat | November 21, 2011 - 20:41
Oh how sad Tina that he was in doubt.. Beautiful poem and such a setting in your vividly described scenery!
;)Pia
Luly Whisper | November 21, 2011 - 21:19
Beautiful.
threeleafshamrock | November 21, 2011 - 21:48
Sad..but it's a beautiful sadness. The tree of your poetry, most definitely bears fruit in abundance Tina.
Chris XXX
Caldwell | November 21, 2011 - 21:56
Really wonderful, almost provoked a tear.
sue dinum | November 21, 2011 - 23:14
I have to say I thought this was beautiful, Tina. You continue to find new ways of describing things and this contributes to the constant freshness of your writing. I get very involved and intrigued as to who is (are) the objects of your reverences in some of your pieces. Very private I would suspect. Great stuff, moving as always.
sue
Dynamaso | November 22, 2011 - 03:06
Echoing previous words - sad, moving and beautiful.
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:53
Thanks so much, Pia. Pleased you got so much from it;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:53
Thank you, Luly;-)
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:54
What a beautiful thing to say, Chris. A poem in itself, no less;-) Many thanks.
Tina xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:55
Oh dear, Caldwell...I hope you had a tissue handy;-)
Many thanks for reading, and pleased you enjoyed.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:56
sue - you certainly do have a sixth sense, and more than that, I shall not say;-)
Except, thanks, so very much for your words. Always, more than appreciated.
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 09:59
Thank you, so very much;-)
Pleased you thought so, and I do hope that things are well with you. It's good to 'talk' to you again;-)
Tina;-)
Dark Fox | November 22, 2011 - 10:03
I love this poem. Sad yet beautiful.
Hope to see more soon.
xx
seashore | November 22, 2011 - 10:22
Beautiful and moving - you do these poems so well, Tina. I think the olive tree is a perfect tribute (not sure that's the right wording but you know what I mean). One day those olives might ripen and surprise you - you never know.
Coral x
skinner_jennifer | November 22, 2011 - 11:33
Hi Tina,
I really don't know how you do it, your writing
comes so naturally and the thoughts you write
about, so beautifully told.
I too agree with Coral hope those olives ripen
once again.
Another well written piece.
Jenny.
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 12:13
Really appreciate your comment, Dark Fox. Many thanks for reading, and for your words;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 12:15
Thanks, Coral.
I nearly lost said olive tree, last winter, but it fought back, and even did bear some tiny olives, which unfortunately stayed green until they finally gave up the ghost. Maybe next year;-)
Tina x
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 12:18
Pleased you enjoyed, Jenny. I guess poems that come from the heart write themselves, as you would know;-)
And maybe, one year those olives will ripen, but as long as the tree keeps surviving, I shan't complain;-)
Tina
MistakenMagic | November 22, 2011 - 18:07
"when a falling leaf spiralled upward
and raindrops etched Rose-Rugosas
in our pink champagne."
- such beautiful imagery, Tina! And that final stanza is especially poignant. Well done on the cherry :-)
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | November 22, 2011 - 19:52
Thanks, Magic, pleased you enjoyed.
Mentioning Rose-Rugosas, we have a short hedge of them in our field, red ones, and white ones. They are quite something else and we just leave them to do their own thing amongst the nettles and long-grass that borders it.
Have a lovely evening.
Tina xxx
Florian | November 23, 2011 - 21:55
Its all been said but I have to say that this is one of your finest.
Silver Spun Sand | November 24, 2011 - 20:06
Thank you, indeed, Florian;-)
Tina