I leave you my breath, cantankerous
bones, various organs; to sleep
in the shade of willows, in a warm bed
among ships.

I bequeath a blunt knife, threads
of unravelled string, nets, pointed
stakes, untended acres, the scent
of almonds.

I adjure you not to forget the picnic
basket, and when you come to me with full arms,
bring a sprig of thyme, a bell full of grapes,
a gentle horse.

milner -- I read this and loved this and could not do other than move this to editors' picks.  Your choices are perfect in this work.  Love the bell filled with grapes.  Love the variety throughout, the contrasts, how each word, line or image sparks the next.  the gentle horse at the end.  [I would have to list every word to cover all my best favorite places in this.]  lynn

Thanks, Lynn. So happy that you confirm what I think; that it is one of those rare poems that I can rest easy with.

milner

milner...man, i'm proud to know you.  you are indeed the real deal!

My! John - much thanks. That's raised a (most) modest blush to a nearly old man's cheeks.

milner

milner;
     this poem is simply magnificent.
simply.
magnificent.

and i will not
let it
disappear.
         john

and i have to thank john for bringing this one back, for not letting it disappear too far out of site.

Milner, I am so happy that Lynn lead me to your work.  I read this poem several times and took the time to savor each word. Such a gentle and warm poem. I love the sprig of thyme and it makes me think of time as if asking for more of it.  This is true poetry Milner.  Lovely work.

Sherry

I find this hauntingly beautiful, worthy of the front page.

Mmm, this is gorgeous. My second favorite in In A Rare Time of Rain, in fact. Your work's taught me how to better choose details-- this poem in particular's been a great influence on me in that area.

Worthy of the front page indeed.

-O 

O, which is your favorite in A Rare Time of Rain?  I have m's books and would find and read.  lynn

Lynn,

I should say, my second favorite of his shorter poems in that volume. My favorite is 'A Mountain In A Bare Room.' Love the title. Love the swirl. Love the ending. I'd love to go to a reading sometime, but the UK is a bit of a trek for me.

-O

let's start a fund to bring him here . . . the west coast, i'm thinking.

There is a voice saying always something else, different from what it says, in this poem, and this is one of the many things I like in your poetry.
Vasile

Milner, this poem is wonderful. A work of art. Gentle, peaceful, smiling with mature good humour, and very, very strong. This is the first poem I've read on this site. What a welcome! Thank you for warming my heart.

Been away to a wild west coast, not THE Wild West, to do a reading - poems about the sea. What a delight to find so many generous remarks on my Last will. Thank you all, very, very , much.

milner

I hope your cantankerous bones keep going for a few years yet. Great lines in this piece!

Thanks, Andrew, hope there's still some cantankering in the old cur yet.

milner

I agree with everyone, a very fine and moving piece, as I said before!

One Q though, if I may. Why "in the shade of willows, in a warm bed
among ships." not one or t'other?

Andrew

Because, Andrew, I lay in that bed among the sleeping ships when I wrote it. Thanks.

milner

This is the most beautiful and touching poem you have posted.  Each word, each line is perfectly crafted. Your great appreciation for life and your gentleness are portrayed eloquently

I hestitated for a bit to join in the applause, as you know I'm a fan anyway, but then wondered if it ever hurts to let someone know that the poem was enjoyed?  I suppose not, and so let me add that I liked it very much as well......xo Michelle

Ps. I'm still reading, just a bit busy being "Mom" at the moment and can't spend as much time as I'd like commenting....

Thanks, Michelle. Being a 'Mom' is surely the most creative and demanding of arts.

milner

i just had to put this up front again.  this is as good as it gets!

i think it's time this magnificent piece of literature is brought up for yet another run in the light.
john

Thanks, John. This was written an age ago, and when written I might have been amazed by the knowledge that it still hasn't been put to good use.

Cheers

milner

This is heart-breakingly beautiful.  My favorite of yours so far.
Lynne

In the gallery, I say not a word;
before a masterpiece, it is not
the painting being judged.


This is in your book
and I've read it many times.

Thanks, Lynne. This is one I've no inclination to play around with, which is rare.

And thank you, Scott. That you pick my book up from time to time is great to know, and warms the room.

milner

if he wrote nothing else, ever...this would qualify the man as a poet.
john

Thanks for pulling this up, John, and with such a compliment. Apart from anything else, I think it well expresses that curious admixture of realism and romanticism that's in the make-up of most, if not all of us. Living with our contradictions is one key to the door to contentment. (Ho, ho ho, it can be fun being pompous.)

milner