Thursday, January 21, 2010

Suppose: a poem




I remembered this girlhood poem of mine while thinking last evening about the children in Haiti. I'm posting it unedited, am keeping it as written by my 17-year-old self. Not that it couldn't benefit from much reworking, but it is simple and pure and I think should be allowed to remain that way.......


Suppose

Tonight
I could tell of the life and death
of a rose,
I suppose,
but outside my window
is a storm that would
kill a rose before it bloomed.
So I won't tell the story of
a rose.

Tonight
I could tell of the grandeur
of a mountain,
I suppose,
but the storm makes a mountain
no-man's land.
So I won't tell of the grandeur of
a mountain.

Tonight
I could compose a dictionary
of words with truth,
but truth may not exist.
So I won't compose a dictionary of
those words.

Tonight
I could cry bittersweet tears
of love,
I suppose,
but the storm might change them to ice.
So I won't cry bittersweet tears of
love.

Tonight
I could wrap every winter's child
in warm blankets,
I like to suppose,
but I haven't enough blankets
for a world of winter's children -
and when they die I will cry.
No I can't save every winter's child.

Tonight
I could write through the dark
'til the light,
I suppose,
but sleepiness I can't conquer
and I don't want to try -
when sleep brings such peace,
I suppose. I suppose.

© MLM "Lydia"

"No, I can't save every winter's child."
Then save one child. Click HERE to donate to  
Save the Children-Haiti Quake Disaster Fund

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15 comments:

Phivos Nicolaides said...

I like this touching and beautiful poem. Hugs my dear Lydia.

YogaforCynics said...

Wow-you wrote that at 17? At that stage, I was mostly writind odes about how much I hated my school...and loved marijuana...

Sage Ravenwood said...

Sweet friend, I'm so glad you didn't edit this. I find it perfect word for word just as it is.

If there were more people like you in the world it would indeed be blessed.

I suppose...

I'm honored to be blessed to know you. (Hugs)Indigo

Darlene said...

Don't even think of changing a word of that poem, Lydia. It is perfect the way it is. You had great insight for a 17 year old.

The photo of the sad, wounded child is heartrending, but goes so well with your poem.

Hattie said...

How nice that you are still the person who wrote that poem. Wonderful.

Looking to the Stars said...

Sheer beauty! What a beautiful soul you have :)

Lydia said...

Phivos: I am glad that you did. Hugs in return.

YogaforCynics: I wrote poems about how I hated my school, too, but didn't try marijuana until college and never wrote a thing about it. :)

Indigo: I am honored to know you! You are such an inspiration to me (and so many others) and I always love and appreciate your comments here. Hugs in return.

Darlene: You are so kind to say that. I think the poem is far from perfect, but it seemed a heartfelt expression.
When I first saw the photo of the girl child I thought she was wearing a patient number, perhaps. Then I realized it must have been the date she was processed through a care center. Poignant.

Hattie: Interesting. I have a fridge magnet that belonged to my mother that says: We are always the same age inside.
But what age would that be exactly?!

Looking to the Stars: You are very kind to write such a sweet comment. I'm touched. :)

Anonymous said...

This is touching, Lydia. I got angry when I read about the earth quake. I hope you are well. Sometimes, I feel powerless. I guess you feel the same whn seening this images.

Lydia said...

Jukka: I absolutely feel powerless and well understand what you said. There was a fine telethon on television tonight that brought donations; I wonder if it was telecast in Finland or Sweden (I'm not sure where you are right now).
Take good care of yourself.

j said...

Lydia -- Yes, this fits and is much better than anything I attempted at seventeen!

And I find that I have some very helpless feelings about this earthquake. We've given money and my heart has ached for much more than the fact of the earthquake, but because we have so much here and for no other reason but luck. There is a lot of injustice in the world and I often feel powerless against it.

Lydia said...

Jennifer- Nice of you to say, but I bet your early stuff is a foreshadowing of the excellent writer you are now.

We've donated also and I swear if I was ten years younger I would want to adopt one of the orphans in Haiti. The report of the group of orphans arriving at Miami airport, into the arms of their new parents, touched me so deeply.....

naomi dagen bloom said...

Agreeing with all who see your youthful poem as timely and enduring for our collective feelings about Haiti.

Lydia said...

naomi- I'm honored to read your words "timely and enduring" in reference to this old poem. Thank you.

Batteson.Ind said...

There is something very beautiful about this poem, the fact it captures a tortured soul (isn't every seventeen year old?) and hints at so many ambitions, expectations... and yet, that discovery that the world isn't what you thought it was just a few years previously.
I have sooo many poems like this written around these formative years.. God! I wish I still had that fight!
Cheers for sharing :-)

Lydia said...

the watercats- I hope you will consider posting some of your poems from your formative years; that would be fascinating! I hear ya about wishing you still had that fight, but truly, how long could one sustain that kind of intensity? Besides, girl, you are just full of fire!

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