Things I Must Keep

 

I cannot surrender my expectations

ringing through my head in bellness

and I cannot surrender bellness

because a golden purity rings

through the thick steel

And I cannot surrender anything green

that is another thing I have realized

so do not bother the canopy of trees

meeting in entanglements across

my driveway

I cannot surrender the coffee cup

or the broken chimes in the abyss

of memory's southern wind

And Dr Seuss - not the flowers

not the prayers

not the faithful river view

I must keep my feet bare

and my scarves flowing in the wind

from the window

and the stone ring from Nepal

that turns gentle on my finger

like a hard truth

I will keep kindness cupped

in the palm of my hand

hidden from the carelessness of man

and the tall shadow of blue

that once cast you

I will keep that too

　

Reviews

[Tara]

those last six lines...sorry.

[Tara]

sigh...this is SO beautiful...Especially that last six lines...so romantic.

[Chris]

We tie so much of lives and our sharing moments with associations to things, places... seasons, sounds ...people.

[Sel Whiteley]

What a fantastic poem, you paint so vividly all that is important to you, I love the way you write "do not bother the green canopy of trees/meeting in entanglements" and the line "the broken chimes of the abyss." And the line "I will keep kindness cupped/in the palm of my hand/hidden from the carelessness of man." Those are sensational lines and very inspiring too...

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Tough to get rid of those mementos that bring happy memories. Tough decisions have to be made when you have a full house.

[Emily B]

yes, yes, things we must keep

[Ed Hart]

i have it on good report that those expectations will have to go