Tuesday, December 18, 2012

DO TALK TO STRANGERS!

Cotton field in Southern New Mexico.  Looks like snow.


Christmas songs of peace played loudly,
disturbing inner serenity,
serving as reminders,
pressuring consumers to give,
give plenty of what matters.


I was firmly on the ground, when we met,
his eyes attracted my attention.
He flew high like a kite in the sky, waiting,
behind me, to pay on a line never-ending.

He talked a stream with unceasing flow,
of Lorca, Rilke,Whitman, many more.
The deeper my interest, the deeper he delved -
into words recited from memory of his own pen,
a poem of life's ambitions dissolved
in a coffee cup on some sad morning,
 memory of his past.
But it wasn't coffee that reeked on the line,
it was the fumes from the booze that drenched his sadness.

I listened gladly to his moment of pride,
before we parted, warmly
like friends.
And many must have wondered
about the connection between
a woman, normal(?) as I am,
and a guy so clearly on the fringe.

I didn't credit the season
for the reason of our encounter.
I thanked our rebellion, our disregard for caution
that allowed unlikely link to happen.

As I left, the store buzzing with Christmas distress,
I paid attention to the song that loudly played and said,
"Do you hear what I hear?"

(Submitted to Dverse Poets.)





 














23 comments:

  1. your heart has eyes and ears

    Aloha from Waikiki, my Friend
    Comfort Spiral
    ~ > < } } ( ° >
    > < } } ( ° >
    > < 3 3 3 ( ' >

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  2. woohoo...daring myrna...of course it made me smile...i love talking to people...and you would be surprised who you will meet...its a beautiful kinda rebellion...smiles.

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  3. This is simply LOVELY - as is your compassionate heart. His stream of consciousness, liberally dosed with classic poets, made me think of my son. He goes out into the world as open-hearted and expansive as a babe. Some people respond with discomfort - but most, after a starled moment or two, at least return his smile and cheery "HELL-LOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" You made his day, Myrna. And by writing about it, you made mine, too.

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  4. wow...what a cool encounter...it must have been so interesting to talk to him...always good to connect with people that are different to us...broadens the horizon and fills the heart...very cool

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  5. very creative the way you tied this together. Excellent images, very nicely done Myrna. Thanks

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  6. a lovely post here, myrna. loved the connections and the story. i wonder how the man felt after the meeting. touching souls like this is christmas in action.

    love your compassionate soul. glad to be your friend.

    joy always,
    susan

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  7. Wow, love that. Taking a moment to break habits and encounter others, no matter how different, can only open our eyes. Otherwise we build juggernauts of habits which take us to our deaths with no surprises.

    Very nicely done.

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  8. Now that's the Christmas spirit. And so beautifully told. I just love, 'a poem of life's ambitions dissolved/ in a coffee cup on some sad morning,' and then when you go from coffee to alcohol, that's so well done. Well, the whole thing is.

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  9. Wow, what a wonderful write about this unlikely encounter. I am sure that your meeting with him enriched both of you. One would like to know more of this man's backstory and how he came to the point in his existance where booze overtook his life! I'd say this is one of my favorite poems of yours.

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  10. This brought wonder and joy. Thank you for the holiday gift.

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  11. I love encounters where someone takes you in with their mind. Beautiful.

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  12. Love the idea of crediting rebellion instead of the season:

    "I didn't credit the season
    for the reason of our encounter.
    I thanked our rebellion, our disregard for caution
    that allowed unlikely link to happen."

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  13. An unlikely meet up can mean so many things, great write indeed at your wing.

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  14. Sometimes these unexpected encounters can proved to be most interesting ~

    Have a good week Myrna ~

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  15. And your common interest in poetry. Happy holidays, Myrna!

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  16. Dearestl Myrna...a connection soul to soul is a beautiful thing, no matter where or when.

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  17. Myrna, one of these days I'm going to try and persuade you to publish a book of your amazing poetry. Your words are much too breathtaking to not be shared with the entire world!

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  18. I'm with Becky--when is that book coming out?!

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  19. This totally speaks to my heart, Myrna. Thank you.

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  20. It could be so enriching to him. A lifeline to humanity! Nicely Myrna!

    Hank

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  21. Dear Myrna, just stopping by to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful Holidays with your loved ones. Thank you for all your lovely comments and visits in the past year and your wonderful friendship, looking forward to it continuing in the coming year.:))
    xoxo

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  22. That's a wonderful, provocative poem. It is so important to listen.

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  23. Gorgeous how you can find beauty in the most unexpected places :)

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