(no subject)

[itismeangied]

 

I wish I had known you

But you died last week
It sends an ache that shakes the root

We might have been at the same party in Santa Fe

Adobe-covered coops and wide tiled spaces

That housed wild-hearted waifs 

And the ones who stayed

They all create art

From insincere to staggering

And they have all touched each other 

Somewhere

Dust-coated beneficiaries and spangers who never had trust

Turquoise fingers pointing 

To the forest fire 

That lilts upon

The landscape

Behind The Cross of the Martyrs

Weed and sage smoke dance with the dead trees

But you seemed to distinguish yourself

Recreating your brain

And the places it took you

And made them real, touchable, walkable

You spared us the terrifying parts

You handed us beauty and we would have held pain, too

Voices, faces, bad thoughts, whatever you kept to yourself

Your mind’s colors decantered in double rainbows
And the dark places painted over

Pet Sounds, visions, dreams awake

You were hurting.

Many times broken

And lined with metal
Precious.

Gilded until you were made of gold

And said farewell.

Comments

[erulissedances]

Hmmm - Santa Fe, my old stomping ground. It was nice to revisit, even in short format. I think it's the last 11 lines that really comprise this poem.

- Erulisse (one L)

[itismeangied]

No way! Awesome that you can picture it. Thank you!

[bleodswean]

This requires a few readings to allow the image to begin to take shape and that is a wonderful experience! Layer upon layer upon layer until the picture is revealed. Fantastic work!

[itismeangied]

Thank you kindly! I'm glad you enjoyed reading :)

[gunwithoutmusic]

This is really beautiful and both immediate and begging for a second look. The last two lines shook me, but the whole poem really put me in that place and mindset for the ending to shake me as it did, I think. Great work!

[itismeangied]

I really appreciate it!

[marlawentmad]

I found myself reading this one over an over again. I don't know if it is the headache and fatigue, but I felt like I was meandering through a dreamscape with this one, wandering down lanes of memories and wishes in ephemeral colors. It's a beautiful poem that unfolds all the more after reading it again. It's beautiful.

[itismeangied]

Thank you so much. I don't know if you have ever heard of Meow Wolf, but it was based on one of the creators of the amazing art installations there. It's like you describe, nostalgia and bright colors and so much more.

[ofearthandstars]

The ache of grief is palpable here, though it's also full of lovely images and warmth. <3

[itismeangied]

Thank you so much!

[drippedonpaper]

I know you almost certainly had someone else in mind, but this made me think of Robin Williams. Man, I loved his work. I feel at least some of his creativity must have sprung from pain. I wish I had known him.

I also really liked your line about how "They have all touched each other / somewhere."

I think we do..some people we love, we hug, some people we hate or avoid. But often, in any given group or workplace, we all touch each other somewhere.

Such a beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing this!

[itismeangied]

Thank you! This person had the same charm and magnetism as Robin Williams, for sure.

[banana_galaxy]

I like that this captures one of the infinite ways that grief can impact a person, and that it can take hold no matter how well you knew the person lost.

[itismeangied]

Yes! You can gather so much from the experience other people have, an interesting form of empathy. Thank you!

[alycewilson]

A somber reflection of many layers.