Friday, May 24, 2013

MEDIUM SWEET, A poem by Jacqueline Howett

(c) photo of Jacqueline Howett.




An evening at the beach, we sit in the sand,
to finish quietly our expensive ice-creams.
I sigh, feeling my man’s tiredness tonight.
  I realize not to expect any romantic moments.
Your absence is not about me, but life,
Your career- taking all you’ve got.
The same old grind, I must bear to watch.
Should I show compassion?
Best to keep love in perspective, to get
me through this lonely, strangeness,
  luring about tonight.

Our souls know each other well,
like these distant stars.
We are worn out glue, holding up
the backdrop of these hazy, skies.
I could float off through a million galaxies,
But the empty void would not suffice,

You’ll return, when it suits you,
to play your part in my heart.
I’ll catch your love, as if it were
a precious butterfly, I must behold.
Once captured, I can do nothing
but smile, and look with wonder at
you, a tiny creature in my hand,
in a universe so much greater.
You represent time fleeting, amidst
feelings I know instinctively must
come to pass.

Maybe you are my test
in the infinite. Maybe not.
Sometimes the Gods make you blind of me,
in your many facets, when you
must play your arduous part.
I do not correct them. I watch with
my inner eye- like you,
to act out our roles, as if having
to submit to some duty. I know there
is a higher purpose to reflect,
but that, I cannot honor at this hour.
I feel the muses sitting within, watching.
Curious to how we shall act our parts;
especially when feeling contrary.

In the empty void, a weighty, single tear forms;
Bouncing off my cheek, it drops to my lap.
I question again what is real,
Is this the tear of the muse?
 or mine?
Then I find it funny how this tear, my man
could never see. I ponder with
some consolation; for it’s not so bitter.
In my wisdom, these reflections turn
a refine, medium sweet. But can it really be,
that all this ado, is but to condition the soul?



( Note: This poem I wrote some years ago!)

20 comments:

  1. Beautifully expressed, this poem really got to me emotionally amazing job

    ReplyDelete
  2. such a weighty loneliness and compassionate understanding as well... beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful and compassionate--I agree with the other comments here. The loneliness feels palpable to me

    ReplyDelete
  4. really like the interaction with the butterfly and what you draw from it as time fleeting...the questioning the reality of the tear and if it is yours as well...nice verse...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the so appropriate title, and the inner wisdom of the narrator's perspective and acceptance of the other. A poem of love and understanding.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You’ll return, when it suits you,
    to play your part in my heart.

    these are my favourite lines.a heart that knows this has already learnt wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your poem shows the complexities of love. So much to think about here.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! I love all your comments and how you bring up the positives. Its funny how we don't see what else is there in our own reflection. That's why I love reading feedback in poetry. Thank you everyone! I really appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I like the reflection on the waiting for the love that is tired and lonely ~ The butterfly image is a good metaphor to use ~

    ReplyDelete
  10. A Weighty Single Tear Forms...This Is Lovely And This Is Where the pollen started for me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I understand , I really do understand . I wrote a similar poem two years back 'REVEAL'. And even I wonder about the learning of the soul. Nice to come across

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you Jossina! Glad to know you picked up on the last line! :)

    ReplyDelete