Leila Pepper

An old poet from my hometown

Leila Pepper

 

 

Last night I read

your life old woman,

caught

in amber,

on black moss

press,

 

leaves between the pages.

 

Old friends

departed lovers

lie

discarded

beneath the covers,

lives touched lives,

unaffected

city

in ruins.

 

Tales of swimming

with dolphins watching

bubbles racing

for the surface,

aged friends waking

the dead, laughing,

dancing, fiddles

singing.

 

Young dead old,

old dead young,

young dead old,

old dead young,

 

All the same

dead

all the same.

Reviews

[Valentine]

This for some reason brought to mind my husband and also my brother-in-law as they both get the newspaper and the first thing they looked at was the obituaries. When I asked them why they read there first, their answer was," just looking to see if my name is in there." Your ending explains it all. Valentine

[Ted Kniffen]

Thanks for reading this, Kathie. Leila was an old poet here in Windsor who passed away a while ago and I wrote this as a kind of tribute.

[...]

Hi Ted, I really enjoyed this piece, the second and third stanzas are just lovely. I think Leila would have bee Ln a delight to shoot the breeze with. Starz

[Ted Kniffen]

Thanks for the review, Starz. I'm sure Leila would have been fun to shoot the breeze with and she probably would have enjoyed talking to a young poet.

[D Connolly]

I think I would have liked to meet Ms. Pepper and spend some time with her.

[Ted Kniffen]

I would have liked that as well, D. The only way now is to read her book "Caught in Amber"

[barleygirl]

I really love this poem even tho I'm not following some of it. I very much relate to the stanza starting with "tales of swimming" . . . not following the one starting with "Young dead old" . . . but I admire your originality & the richness of details.

[Ted Kniffen]

Thank you for the review. Perhaps I can help with that confusing bit. The old woman in the poem lived during WW2 and lost many friends - Young dead old. Yet, even at her age she recalls those friends - old dead young. Hope that helps.

[Lyn Anderson]

It is stunning, isn't it ? -- No matter how bright the light, it always ends in dark. And you, my friend, have inspired me. That is the thing I love about this place, warts be damned.

[Ted Kniffen]

Warts, warts, pretty little wart, let's give a little snort for the wart. A little ditty by John Hartford comes to mind. I'm glad I could inspire you. Thanks

[Lyn Anderson]

The poem inspired by this piece is up. It's called Visions of Light, and it is dedicated to you and this piece. Now, I am late for work ...:)

[Bacchus]

what a soft sound
to such a heavy thing...
i feel like i'm dealing with pressed leaves
between the pages of someone that has passed away.
so delicate, are apt to crumble if you even try to lift them...

the ending is so good.
and i think the first section is my favorite & the line about the leaves.

[Ted Kniffen]

Thanks for the review, I appreciate it. You are perceptive Bacchus, this is about an old poet from my hometown who passed away. She was a good writer.