I smiled this morning when I read
the words you'd plucked from Rilke's garden,
brushed sugar and selfishness aside
and placed them in my finest vase
slightly left of center on the kitchen mantle.

I'm inside out today, a small fish uneasy
in the muffle of watered down silence.
I can ignore the phone, the church bell,
the neighbor's dog barking in the street,
everything but a heckle that whispers
in two languages, "Yo la deseo aquí.".

So I slip on the woolly itch of an oversized
red coat that warms me to the palms
of a second life, escaping to the seawall
where we rested the car on the late
October afternoon when we chased
that rainbow from Ayer to Portsmouth,
where you introduced me to the virtues
of Tripoli's pizza and the tide that
would carry me to the New World.

It was never a thought to deny you
the waves of the asphalt between here
and Jerusalem. Oliver told me you had
to go.

I simply couldn't stand one more goodbye.

DMT, this has wonderful pace, voice, images.
The Spanish? Not expert or native speaker either, but I read it as "I desire her here". Tom

That's it! That's what I was trying to say...and they said that yard sale dollar I spent on the little Spanish dictionary was a waste. Ha! Fooled them, didn't I? Thanks for the encouraging words, Tom and the time you've taken to read my postings here.

~dmt

great atmosphere!

dmt- delightful read this morning.  each word is crafted perfectly to fit context and style, this read very naturally.  i find the quirky lines (off-center mantle, wooly itch red coat) personify the narrator off the page and sits right next to me.  really enjoyed. -lawrence

Thanks for the look see, rashmi....I was just over in your blog, Lawrence. I'm trying to get familiar with the neighbors. lol Your style pushes bounds...I like that.

`d

Hello dmtimney:

One of the loveliest and most poetic things I've read here, or elsewhere, in a long while. Your poem has its very own unique and special voice. Wonderful images and I love the third stanza. It's superb.

Thank for sharing.

Best Always,
John 

DMT, off to Picks. Nice work. With your permission, I will strip off the Spanish disclaimer! -Tom

Thanks, Tom. Disclaimer not an issue....just for giggles, does anyone care to guess who inspired the poem??? (a clue...look close to home)

Oh, didn't mean to miss you, John. Thank you very much. This one is special to me and I'm glad that you found it to your liking.

~donna

The poem moves subtly to its clear, sharp end.  I like it a lot. 

Just wondering.  Did you mean "watered down silence"?

Rick

Holy typo, Rick! If anyone else caught it, they weren't saying a word...good eye! Thanks, much.

~donna

good to read you Donna, been a long time  . . .ty

Oh my, Nora. It has been a very long time and I am just pleased to see you. It was a real stunner to see your name in this thread.  Looking forward to sharing space with you here. :)

~donna

My week to front page the poem.  Loved this, although for me.....it could end at "New World".

Thanks and Congrats.

D

I'm sitting here wondering why this poem keeps popping up. I thought I was pushing my own buttons. ha! Time to put the pen down...me thinks I need a nap!

Thank you, Desiree for putting this out there. I've tried reading it with the end at "New World"...tough for me when the sum of the experience didn't stop there....but I'll step away and think on it some more.

No takers on the inspiration??? lol

~donna

It would be cheating for me to respond because I've been privy to events!

Great poem!  Great pick, D!  And great write, dm!

This is quite a compelling read.

I was hearing the music in the beginning of the poem, to the point that it was becoming seductively beautiful. But then this passage, for me, did not fit rhythmically:

---

where we rested the car on the late
October afternoon when we chased
that rainbow from Ayer to Portsmouth,
where you introduced me to the virtues
of Tripoli's pizza and the tide that
would carry me to the New World.

---

I will give it additional readings and see if I can better define my sense that something is off.

I fully agree with those who suggest ending it at New World, by the way. The additional information at the end just confuses the reader--and it detracts from what I assume should be considered the crescendo of the previous stanza.

I can't say I "understand" the end of the poem but I do not think "would carry me to the New World" is a good end at all. I relate "waves of the asphalt between here/and Jerusalem" to the ritual phrase "Next year in Jersusalem," signifying a promised land of some sort, so without necessarily going into specific geography, I read that sentence as "I didn't want to keep you from your dreams." So it is the last 2 sentences that hold a bit of mystery for me, but the feeling tone is strong and clear so I can live with the lack of details. Tom

congratulations!
a fine pick

Stella

I smiled this morning when I saw this poem on the front page.

Super pick!

I don't know if it's because I've read this a zillion times with that end, that it feels naked without it or if it's something more on a personal level. I see the validity of the suggestion and had even thought more than once to end it at "New World" myself. I'll endeavor to surgically separate the two over the weekend...honestly though, I'm still thinking it would lack a proper wrap.

Hi Jay, it's been a quite a while. I think the speed bump you're hearing is in the line...where you introduced me to the virtues....were I to edit to...where you introduced the virtues....I think it might clean it up a bit. Any thoughts on that???

Thank you all for the suggestions, they are most appreciated.

~donna

Donna, I'm so glad to see this here.  I love your style.

cheryl