So far it’s the physical world that we speak of:
the red Frisbee, the sweet blackberry, the small pink ball.
She points to a tree. This, she says. Tree. I say. Well,
lilac bush. Already the world slips from its chain of syllables.
I want to speak with her about this filtered honey light
of a late April afternoon, and I do, but she brings me
a rock and says, This. And I say, Rock. Gray rock.
And even more, I want to speak of what comes next,
of the longing that this light begets—how it rouses in me
a deep wish to lose the physical world and be current,
be wave, be invisible flourish, to be warmth that drives flowers
to bloom. I want to tell her how sometimes the body
interferes, so material, so fleshsome, so brute in its hungers.
How beyond the red Frisbee there’s a pulse, a rhythm,
a tide that no words can touch, and it gathers us and connects
us to this all that is: one cosmos, one bloodstream, one river,
one art. How sometimes we get it—whatever it is—and all
that is concrete dissolves in the breath. How we’re twined
to this moment, and the next, and the next. Nest, I say,
as she brings me the small wreath of grass. Bird, I say,
as the small body wings past. She smiles and tries to fly—
half jump, half fall, all innocence. Yes, I say. That’s what
love is like. Oh golden light. Oh luminous task of losing
whatever we think we know: Tree. Rock. Nest.
the red Frisbee, the sweet blackberry, the small pink ball.
She points to a tree. This, she says. Tree. I say. Well,
lilac bush. Already the world slips from its chain of syllables.
I want to speak with her about this filtered honey light
of a late April afternoon, and I do, but she brings me
a rock and says, This. And I say, Rock. Gray rock.
And even more, I want to speak of what comes next,
of the longing that this light begets—how it rouses in me
a deep wish to lose the physical world and be current,
be wave, be invisible flourish, to be warmth that drives flowers
to bloom. I want to tell her how sometimes the body
interferes, so material, so fleshsome, so brute in its hungers.
How beyond the red Frisbee there’s a pulse, a rhythm,
a tide that no words can touch, and it gathers us and connects
us to this all that is: one cosmos, one bloodstream, one river,
one art. How sometimes we get it—whatever it is—and all
that is concrete dissolves in the breath. How we’re twined
to this moment, and the next, and the next. Nest, I say,
as she brings me the small wreath of grass. Bird, I say,
as the small body wings past. She smiles and tries to fly—
half jump, half fall, all innocence. Yes, I say. That’s what
love is like. Oh golden light. Oh luminous task of losing
whatever we think we know: Tree. Rock. Nest.
~~ Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer ~~
I find this so moving! Thank you for sharing ❤
Val x
🙂
a pulse, a rhythm, a tide, that no words can touch….yes. beautiful. Thanks Carol.
🙂
❤ so many pretty colours…and magic, oh yes the magic 🙂
🙂
Beautiful!
🙂
Reblogged this on Find Your Middle Ground and commented:
We are all teachers in life. These words from Rosemary Wahtola Trommer capture the depth of our insights and the lessons yet to be shared. The journey of exploration, recognition, and letting go continues for all of us. I find it very moving. Val x
Thanks for sharing… 🙂
Very beautiful and evocative; such great eloquence interlaced with profundity.
With many thanks, and respect.
Hariod.
Thanks you… 🙂
Thank you Val for reblogging this beautiful and provocative poem. and thank you Carol for feeling the words and setting them free to stir within me the ‘luminous task of losing / whatever we think we know: Tree. Rock. Nest.”
Thanks for stopping by and commenting… 🙂
Absolutely loved this piece.
🙂
Beautiful poem, and once we let go we find the oneness, the connection, the love. Thankyou.
Karen
Thanks for commenting… 🙂
So beautiful! I’d never heard of this poet, but now I need to go find more by her. 🙂
Thanks for commenting… 🙂