Gone from my sight

Posted on 11 Aug 2020 by

33 Comments

I see an offshore rowboat
oars shipped, and seem to hear
a lap-tongued invitation
a whisper from the waters, to spirit away
to your side. And always I recall
our stolen escapade that day
over the Serpentine, beneath the bridge
passers-by imbibing our laughter.

One October you sailed, solo
a hurried crossing. No warning,
no time to map the nebulous way
towards the blue light. Gone from
my sight. I pray you did not linger
upon the Lethe, lulled into oblivion.
Nor felt the purgatorial pull of all
the left-behinds – but played them
as a cine film of someone else’s making.

But please do not forget to anchor there
and haul me safely up that farther shore.

Notes:
In Greek mythology, the Lethe flowed around the cave of Hypnos and through the Underworld where all those who drank from it experienced complete forgetfulness. 

Sarah invites us to take to the waters with her poetics prompt: Come Sail

Category: PoetryTags: , , , , ,

33 Comments on “Gone from my sight”

  3. {{{HUGS}}} to you. This could not have been an easy one to write.
    “But please do not forget to anchor there
    and haul me safely up that farther shore.”

    Like

  4. This is haunting and heartbreaking, and full of the poignancy of loss: stunning.

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  7. beneath the bridge
    passers-by imbibing our laughter

    That’s so cool, I could see it and hear it. There is such strong emotion throughout the poem, ending with such poignancy.

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  11. A beautiful post of love lost and memories held… I loved the image of you under the bridge….passers-by imbibing our laughter.
    Very well done, Laura!
    Dwight

    Like

  12. I want to hold on to that laughter, but know the meeting on that farther shore would bring smiles once more.

    Like

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