Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry

Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry

In all probability

it was one

of two Helens,

that first

pointed me in

the very vague

direction

of the already

famous

Canadian Jew ..

And who, 

as it happened,

proved

both to be a

junkie and a poet ..

At that time,

I distinctly recall

how we

each huddled

around

an old gas stove ..

On what

must surely have

been a long

weekend, winter

evening ..

Listening to him,

first clear

his throat

of the nicotine

and the

thesaurus ..

Indeed, those

which both

seemed to be

lodged there

indefinitely ..

And which

in turn,

made his voice,

sound not

only coarse,

but also

correspondingly

sweet ..

Like Grandma’s

cold honey

oat cakes ..

What I try not

to remember

now though ..

Is just how many

times we

each failed to

notice time ..

And as always,

missed that

last bus home ..

But then,

the aftertaste

and the pull of it

began to

kick in and was

always too

good to resist

or leave behind us ..

And so

dear friend,

in truth ..

We would sleep

where

we could

and with whom ..

Because

back then

we were young ..

And would

dream only

of Janes and of

Mariannes,

Greek islands,

black olives,

goats cheeses

and honey ..

Oh’ and then

of course

Mastering yet

another,

handful of chords ..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[redd Brick Keshner]

Oh wow, powerful. For me it was Hesse and Goethe, Rilke and Bronte, Poe and Frost. And several others quite a few to mention. Most of my free time as a schoolboy was spent plowing through each tome and volume of the English Lit. section of libraries within reach. It has become more a mastery of heart and consciousness rather than that of mind or pedagogy. Thanks for sharing.

[Neville]

that figures .. thanks for the visit .. N :)

[Betty Hermelee]

The chords, the poetry, the chill of night around a fire, telling stories, listening to music and the voice of poetry, sung aloud...we were all young then and time meant nothing....if we missed the bus, so what we just slept together and had fun....oh, the good old days! Lovely!
Best, B

[Neville]

I am so glad you were passing Betty and bothered enough to check in and leave a little something of yourself to remember the visit by .. always appreciated my friend & Best back to you .. Neville

[Betty Hermelee]

My pleasure Neville, And you're very welcome!
Best, B

[Coyote Poetry]

Had the feel of music and life. The words and your thoughts took the reader in. I had to read again. Thank you Neville for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Neville]

Thank you so much Coyote, your visit here and the words you kindly left behind mean an awful lot to me sir and truly ... Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Neville and I enjoyed this poem.

[Beccy]

Both my father and my mother quite often recall those times and when they do, I always come away with a desire to have lived it all first hand.

Showed this to my dad and he loved it and straightaway recognised who you are referring to here; (which I confess I didn't.) He also said that as far as he was concerned, 'Dance me to the end of love,' is one of the most powerful and emotive songs ever written.

Beccy.

[Neville]

I am effervescing Beccy .. thank you so much and say cheers to your Dad from me would ya .. the man has bloomin good taste .. Neville

[JessyJacob]

Wow, do you think so Neev, I think you had better taste than him. Your eyes so adorable that sees deep inside heart which touches any woman, goat cheese I love it the goat milk too, you would love that. Pretty old days are those where you were just in preteens with light hair over lips voice changed and that hand bones so grown for the tall you are, just dreaming about that girl which made you not sleep in the nights, wow I miss those teenhood days.

[Ken Simm.]

How can I begin anything new with all of yesterday inside me? He said and we wholeheartedly agree. This was me as well which is the mark of great poetry when we can find ourselves.

[Neville]

a remarkable man, being quoted by another is indeed, a hard act to follow .. Halleluiah brother ..

[Chris Shaw]

Lovely nostalgic write. You took me there. I was wearing blue bell bottom jeans and a white kaftan top. You didn’t notice me. I always caught the last bus home:). Loved this write, the ambience of a different time and the voice of you know who.

Chris

[Neville]

Halleluiah .. ah' but I did .. I was just very shy .. and anyway we were pretty much wearing the same outfit .. so left early to go change and light a fresh joss stick .. Halleluiah our Chris and truly :)

[Silmara McGarry]

Such an amazing descriptive poem very well written and a great joy to the readers.
I hope all is well with you dear Neville 😊

[Neville]

thank you ever so much and so kindly my friend .. I am quite well and so shall thank you again ma'am

[Stella Armour]

Ah that Canadian Jew was a one off very special man ... i still miss him ♥

[Neville]

Me too Stella, me too ....... and bless you ..

[J.P.]

Holy Toledo! Damn, that middle part of clearing the throat of nicotine and thesaurus... spellbinding and descriptive! Masterful work.

[Neville]

you are far too generous J.P but boy, do I Like it :)