Patterns

what love is

He knew the gesture so well, 

a shoe, momentarily dangling,

then slipping discarded to the floor.

He would smile, move in closer,

her barefoot laughter, light as air,

echoing in the otherwise silent room.

Soon then, they would engage, 

a murmuration of two; 

La petite mort, 

but that was before she flew,

like a frightened little bird, 

far, far away.

She knows he still thinks of her; mostly in the early morning when birdsong fills her heart with memory.

And in springtime, when the snowdrops she planted burst into  life.

And in summer, when the scent of freshly mown grass is all that assails her senses.

And in autumn, when the russet gold carpet of fallen leaves are stirred only by the wind.

And in the winter, when the first snowfall carries no trace of her footsteps, no trace at all.  

Reviews

[Jimmy Yetts]

"...no trace at all..." leaves a lingering emptiness.
Almost all of us have known the tragic loss of that one great love.
Mine haunts me, even now.

[Diamond]

This is extremely touching. Though I do not know the origin of this poem, It feels like a story next door. Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing.

[Will Neill]

Beccy, I think sometimes poetry and story writing go hand in hand for some and I feel that you maybe one of those who can do that with ease if you chose to. For so few lines you engaged me completely.
Will

[h d e rushin]

wonderfully written Beccy. Is it true that one can feel the location of a writer? If so, I felt
Northampton ....in all of it's birdsongs and snowdrops; in it's fallen leaves and the wind that
blows through it.

just awesome....dana

[A hare off]

Quite a sad and longing piece of writing. The missing, the desire and the need is felt strongly in your poem. Nicely written Beccy

[Philip Muls]

You can feel throughout that he has had no closure, no way to give a place to those lost feelings. He does not think only sometimes of her but throughout the year. No trace, no closure.

Very recognizable, very resonating. Love it.

[W.k.kortas]

"If ever I should leave you..." Wonderfully composed, a perfect combination of wistful and wit. Fine, fine writing.

[Woody]

sumptuous! as always. that's it. let's keep it simple.

[...]

This feels very personal to me, like it is written in recollection of memory, written from the reason of the fleeting bird. I love the way it seems, even if I'm wrong..aaah the beauty of poetry, and you write it so well :)

[CD Campbell]

I can't help but feel that our muse has flown away to where there is no return, but that just might be my darker nature. I think that a lot of people can relate to this. Everyone says that in a relationship that one of the two is more in love than the other. I can see it.
I love how you set up the scene of the two. In my mind I can picture the both of them and can see the poor fellow in each season "sometimes" remembering her. Very nice poetic storytelling! Each stanza is nice and tight and the language used is high without seeming to be academic. I liked it a lot. CD