Merril hosts Prosery Monday in the dVerse Poets Pub. She has chosen a line from Ada Limon's
"The Magnificent Frigatebird" to insert into our prose:
“I have no skills for flight or wings to skim the waves effortlessly, like the wind itself.”
I imagine him, a world away. We’ve never stood in the same room, heard each other’s laughter, yet I’ve known him deeper than many.
Ours is a friendship born of poetry, hearts laid bare through thousands of typed conversations.
And now, his body betrays him. His words have slowed, turned inward. He tells me gently, the time is near. And I sit here, oceans away, unable to reach across the vastness except with trembling words.
"I have no skills for flight or wings to skim the waves effortlessly, like the wind itself" he wrote, resigned to what comes. But I know better. He has soared all these years, in the space between us.
I won't know how to be in a world where he isn't a few keystrokes away. My ever-present friend, you will always be part of the poetry of my life.
Oh, this is so sad, Helen. If it's true, I'm so sorry for your imminent loss. May his memory be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteThe sadness in this is visceral. I am sorry if you are facing this with someone. I remember when Glenn died....he was a regular on dVerse, did you now him? I just couldn't believe how much I missed his words and his presence....and I never met the man....only here in the pub online.
ReplyDeleteA wonderfully sad poem, Helen. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThis is so moving, Helen. The friendships we have made through these many years are every bit as strong and important as our real life ones. Sometimes more, as they read the words from our heart and know us better. I have lost a few online friends too. The hardest is when a voice goes silent and you dont know what happened. I am glad he and you got to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteSuch a heartfelt piece, Helen, and so moving. Your Prosery resonates with me, having more friends in the international poetry community than in my actual life. This sentence rings so true: ‘Ours is a friendship born of poetry, hearts laid bare through thousands of typed conversations.’
ReplyDeleteHelen, you have taken this prompt in such a tender and unexpected direction with this tribute to long distance friendship...
ReplyDeleteSad poem, my condolences
ReplyDeleteMuch♡love
I have seen this happen so much from my side of the world, the poets fading and dissapearing. The loss to come is always there.
ReplyDeleteThis is very evocative, Helen. Beautiful. Robbie
ReplyDeleteYou shared your grief so beautifully, Helen. May his journey be painless. Sending you hugs...
ReplyDeleteYvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Helen I feel this. I’ve lost three writer friends, no 4 with Sarah Connor from dVerse since I became some ONE due to my writing. I can relate. I’ve readjusted but it’s not the same. What we do here when we engage with each other is real life. Hugs. Thanks for sharing this with me today. Xo, Selma.
ReplyDeleteWow, what heartfelt difficult thing. Words save us and remember.
ReplyDeleteThe sense of loss is palpable and evocative of the pain and discombobulation, powerful stuff Helen.
ReplyDelete