I would like to watch you sleeping,
which may not happen.
I would like to watch you,
sleeping. I would like to sleep
with you, to enter
your sleep as its smooth dark wave
slides over my head
and walk with you through that lucent
wavering forest of bluegreen leaves
with its watery sun & three moons
towards the cave where you must descend,
towards your worst fear
I would like to give you the silver
branch, the small white flower, the one
word that will protect you
from the grief at the center
of your dream, from the grief
at the center. I would like to follow
you up the long stairway
again & become
the boat that would row you back
carefully, a flame
in two cupped hands
to where your body lies
beside me, and you enter
it as easily as breathing in
I would like to be the air
that inhabits you for a moment
only. I would like to be that unnoticed
& that necessary.
Margaret Atwood
I would also like to wish you on your birthday, some day. Isn't it weird, how we've never been together on either of our birthdays, not even once...
Happy Birthday (belated) J! Someday I'll probably show you this blog. Until then, this is where I'm going to store all those funny, crazy, mixed little feelings and - that one big happy feeling I always have when I think of you :-)
5 comments:
This seems quite private and personal so I'll tip-toe out.
Oh no, Pat! You of all people shouldn't tip-toe out of this one. Think you, think MTL, think the years in between ;-)
But isn't this just the loveliest poem? It actually took my breath away and reading it made me go back to this one lazy summer day when I was 19!
I come by here ever so often...you have such a wonderful way with words and truly touch the heart. Thanks for sharing the poem too..
Hugs
C
Thank you Corinne! Coming from you, that's a huge compliment.
It's my life long dream to write a beautiful love poem that's not smarmy.
This one is amazing.
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