Practially Speaking

I tried to tell you how blue was the sky in my life

Because of you

But I think you maybe saw the danger of clouds

And when I invited you to walk in my forest,

You feared I would run and leave you lost

You met my heart with your head

And called the flowers I tried to plant at your door, impractical.

 

And so practicality trumps passion

And so I turn now from you

And this is what the world feels like without you

And this is how the world appears without you

And this is how my heart stops its yearning

And all this I claim as my own

The legacy of blue skies and trees

And  flowers that never grew.

 

I want to start another garden, but the ground is hard

It will take much time and effort

 to dig again the bed

And prepare the soil with care

And I will need to walk for a long time

Through forests to find new flowers

And there will hopefully be nothing practical

About any of the process-

But mostly I never want another house

To know the cruelty of feeling it was selected

Only because I was denied entry at yours.

 

Practically we are so close I can still feel you breathe

And I turn my passion towards life

Instead of giving it to you

And I hope one day, it will be enough

Simply enough.

But my dear, how I will always wish

That you had been able to believe me

When  I told you that the sky

In my world, with you, was practically always blue.

Author's Note

a simple goodbye piece inspired by a workshop I attended

Reviews

[Mary]

Oh my, what a powerful piece! I love the lines "But mostly I never want another house to know the cruelty of feeling it was selected only because I was denied entry at yours." It says so much, and brings back memories! Oh the sacrifices that must be made in the name of practicality! Excellent poem!

[Jack...]

Stunning even if sadness did rain a bit in this piece. You painted a very vivid picture in my mind and brought me to a different place, fortunately when I finished, once again I was sitting behind my desk dreaming of where I had just been. Very nice

[Marie Anzalone]

Thanks, Jack... I think maybe the styling on this is different than my others, since this is one of the very few I wrote first in Spanish (not my native tongue!) as a letter befroe translating it to English. Irt is more "hit you over the head" than most of my work in its message, and never has been one of my favorites for that reason. I usually try a lot more subtlety.

[gombeggar]

well said as always...embracing words...growing thoughts

[Leslie Philibert]

This is a very fine poem, written by an erudite and talented writer.I really like the last line of the first verse, the inverted adjective and the way Marie maintains the thematic energy right through the poem, and the simple strength of the subject, good work

[Larry Dyson]

Larry Dyson Es muy hermosa en espanol,,y es verdad en totalamente.Si sólo había volado el cometa tan alto en mi cielo como invitado a hacer...con preguntando si la cola es demasiado larga.
a few seconds ago · Like.

[Larry Dyson]

prejudging a personal situation always seems to turn out wrong...for how are we to know anothers heart and thinking without listening to their "voicings of the reality".

[Emily B]

sometimes I find words that feel like looking in a mirror, this poem fits my life and my heart so perfectly that I wonder if you haven't been peeking in my windows. The words, the images, all are close to what I feel.

[Patient Poet (Yos)]

and how can I tell you with my simple wors that come from my heart that this is so practically beautiful :-)... when it Comr to you the ground iwill not be hard for long ....your tears will practically wet it and it will be really for new love