There is solace to be had
in solitude; I'm moved by your unmoving ways
alongside though go all those places left behind
traces of bitter-sweet backtracks
follow-ups of footsteps
so many memories we trod like grapes
an unreal wine in the present cask of time
for surely you have forged ahead, upriver
yet still your sojourn here persists, shadowing
neither sly spying spectre nor gesturing ghost
- in fact you hardly seek me out in dreams
aware that I am there
and we shall be again
When the call came was there the sound of wings?
a Passover unbloodied by the lamb?
I'm listening out now, keeping the faith
and though you've lost all flesh
lost the taste of it
even with this formlessness
I'm touched
In memory of Martin and the long ago anniversary of an August meeting. Title from the opening lines of Gabriella Mistral’s “Anniversary” as my Poetics Challenge is to select one of three given International poems and re-interpret it: Lost in Translation
PoetryPix 
This is an absolutely stellar use of the poem by Gabriella Mistral… and I think I can read a little bit of other poems of hers in your tribute to your husband.. I feel a lot of strength in coping and treasure the solitude you have.
thank you as I have barely read Mistral but felt what she was saying after a few readings of this poem – you have caught the paradox of solitude and eternity of spirit
As a matter of fact Grace had a prompt on her poetry on toads in 2014…. http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2014/08/sundays-mini-challenge-gabriela-mistral.html That is how I knew.
she did not come up when I searched :()
Not on dVerse but on realtoads… 🙂
ahh that explains it 🙂
Beautifully written, touching words.
many thanks Beverly – glad you were touched
A journey I don’t ever want to take.
yet still your sojourn here persists, shadowing
neither sly spying spectre nor gesturing ghost
but this is how I imagine it. Forging ahead, following behind.
that is how it is for me – I guess human grief has familiarity – only the particulars vary
There aren’t too many ways of being distraught.
Beautiful,sad, sincere and honest. I love the way you weaved the words of anniversary and loss together so seamlessly
hard to write the personal and keep it sincere and honest – I appreciate your appreciation!!
This brought tears to my eyes Laura, it is so poignant and wistful.
Thank you Linda -In many ways I’m glad – poetry is meant to move us.
Yes, it certainly is.
Your “unreal wine in the present cask of time” is so touching, like a memory that can no longer be experienced, only savored for what it meant.
how well seen and understood – thank you
In a clever way you tease death, like baiting a bull. Anniversary of a death, deep and profound.
In a way I know what you mean – perhaps I have removed some of its sting!!
I honestly have never been moved much by poetry, Laura, but you have a way that even touches my spirit ver honestly and moves my heart as well. Far more than deep and honest, thank you.
Your words mean a lot – thank you Sherwood – it has taken time for me to find a voice that goes beyond the effort of finding the most fitting, clever words in favour of the right ones – whatever they are. Martin always encouraged me in my poetry endeavours.
That is so good in every way. Especially liked “an unreal wine in the present cask of time”, which is amazing.
many thanks – that line came quite readily though it was changed from cast to cask – ‘and that has made all the difference’
This is a beautiful piece of writing here Laura. I followed enchanted where your verse lead — wonderful.
good to hear as often the saddest lines lead us to places we would prefer not to go
Really loved the line: “an unreal wine in the present cask of time.” Such beautiful imagery in this piece. Excellent work!
Many thanks and welcome Clara
Your nostalgic reflections are very touching images… I loved this …
a solstice marred by solemn loss
of what you’d fettered to your soul
yes Dwight these feelings are indeed fettered to my soul – some days solace, other days pain but all one grief
How beautifully the anniversary of your August meeting with your husband meets with Mistral’s ‘Anniversary’, Laura. Treasured memories and loving relationships stay with us for ever, the ‘solace to be had in solitude’. I love the ‘traces of bitter-sweet backtracks’ and ‘follow-ups of footsteps’. My favourite lines are:
‘yet still your sojourn here persists, shadowing
neither sly spying spectre nor gesturing ghost
– in fact you hardly seek me out in dreams’.
Mistral’s poem touched a nerve though not at first when I was choosing the poems for the prompt. Several reading later I heard her words as impetus for what I wanted to say – thank you Kim
Your beautiful verse touched me…such sweet sorrow. And thank you for the wonderful poetics prompt, Laura.
Yes ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’
Glad you joined & enjoyed the prompt Lara
I like the layers in this, and especially the climactic last verse.
Thank you ~ the ending brings some comforting continuity
It sure does Laura.
So much depth of emotion in your words. Mistral can get overwrought for my taste, but the poem you picked has the right balance of feeling, and you’ve taken it and enlarged it and made it both personal and true.(K)
I appreciate your comment not least because I did not know her poetry before this
I’m WOW’d, otherwise speechless, stunned…
thank you – I like that – somehow reminds me of Zelda Fitzgerald
Interesting that you should mention her…when I was in high school English class, there was a boy who sat beside me each day–he never spoke, except to call me “Zelda”.
ahh the coincidences – I love them!
Yes, one of the spices of life 🙂