week 632 ~ there lingers in a memory

there lingers in a memory
those far away now gone from here
as if they still are waiting near
the phone to catch up we can see
them hear their laughter now slowly
fading from our mind’s ear then gone
dim mixed with other voices drawn
from dusk who never will again
walk through our door we pause but then
remembering we carry on

week 601 ~ the freedoms of the past seem

the freedoms of the past seem
a far distant memory
lost possibilities scream
the freedoms of the past seem
painful to contemplate dream
-ing of futures we won’t see
the freedoms of the past seem
a far distant memory

week 381 ~ when time has run out for one more chapter

when time has run out for one more chapter
a final tune another slash of paint
across life’s canvas when we can’t defer
obligations or wishes with a faint
hope that there will always be tomorrow
what then how will it feel to reach the end
and slipping past human grasp or sorrow
enter a place unknown where we can’t bend
events to our will or count on love to
keep us safe or offer up forgiveness
for the times we stopped believing in who
we knew we could have been will someone bless
our memory then despite all we’ve done wrong
and smiling recollect our once brave song

week 370 ~ take the time to remember

take the time to remember
then pack those photos away
the sadness shouldn’t linger
they’re not part of you today

then pack those photos away
acknowledging what they took
they’re not part of you today
but they are who you were look

acknowledging what they took
the path you have traveled gone
but they are who you were look
try not to regret what’s drawn

the path you have traveled gone
but time has returned with grace
try not to regret what’s drawn
that’s important don’t erase

but time has returned with grace
the sadness shouldn’t linger
that’s important don’t erase
take the time to remember

week 320 ~ fleeting moments

fleeting moments
pack them away
experience
fleeting moments
when time relents
lost memories play
fleeting moments
pack them away

week 319 ~ why does the roof fly off the world

why does the roof fly off the world
from time to time leaving me bare
I reach out in the darkness where
will I find sustenance words hurled
in frustration fall broken curled
up in a ball at my feet they’ll
evaporate by morning sail
away even from memory
as my heart’s song no longer free
lies tattered trying to inhale

week 239 ~ time dissolving slowly

time dissolving slowly
stalls as the light should change
even then we can’t see
time dissolving slowly
sorted by memory
lost pieces rearrange
time dissolving slowly
stalls as the light should change

week 220 ~ hover wings drooped the sky is grey

hover wings drooped the sky is grey
as memories disengage time too
now when there’s nothing I can do
for all my tears won’t make her stay
Christmas Eve smiles then turns away
now as my heart truly broken
accepts it’s just a question when
she’ll disappear one final time
past walls too tall for us to climb
and we’ll never find now again

week 97 ~ like high tide in Tucson

like high tide in Tucson
instinct trumps geography
and landlocked or long gone
like high tide in Tucson
it’s time to put my shoes on
as autumn reaches back for me
like high tide in Tucson
instinct trumps geography

My rondeau is based on the true tale of a hermit crab, accidentally transported to landlocked Tucson, who maintained his frenetic dance for high tide, a memory embedded too deeply to be lost although rendered pointless by his relocation. Barbara Kingsolver wrote an essay on this and the concept intrigues me as it pertains to habits and schedules imprinted so indelibly they draw us back to what we would leave behind.

week 94 ~ in a country beyond dreaming

in a country beyond dreaming
I awake with sleepy pleasure
believing that I’ve found treasure
in a plot too strange for scheming
I don’t look for hidden meaning
all bets are off I’m lost or free
or one with everything I see
it just depends on point of view
for I’ve stashed all that I once knew
between regret and memory