Sunday, July 21, 2013

The Absence



I grip the banister,
touch each sleepless stair―
the door's salutation
sounds sadder in the dark.

Night swallows me,
one naked shoulder at a time.

I hear your voice in the crickets―
fireflies remind me of the distance,
how each nocturnal window twinkles
from counties to countries.

How stars scatter
differently across your sky.


tk/July 2013 


Thanks to R.A.D. Stainforth for this masterful reading.  

Man and The Moon, 1990 by Andrew Wyeth 
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39 comments:

  1. MargaretSun Jul 21, 09:06:00 AM

    Delicious with a backstory that leaves me thinking about it long after I've read it. :)

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  2. Arian TejanoSun Jul 21, 09:39:00 AM

    I love this. One of my new favorite of yours, Tess.

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  3. sukipoetSun Jul 21, 09:55:00 AM

    beautiful. quiet evocation of night's magic and unrequited love. Ronaldo looking spruce, freshly shaved and sport-shirted.

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    Replies
    1. Tess KincaidMon Jul 22, 01:58:00 PM

      Thanks Suki...he cleans up well, doesn't he?

      Delete
  4. brenda wSun Jul 21, 10:34:00 AM

    Lovely write. The second stanza is stunning.

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  5. HelenSun Jul 21, 10:42:00 AM

    I echo Margaret's comment ... the painting and your poem mesmerize.

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    1. HelenSun Jul 21, 05:08:00 PM

      Forgot to add ... Mr. Stainforth is looking quite attractive in that blue shirt.

      Delete
    2. Tess KincaidMon Jul 22, 01:58:00 PM

      Love when he steps out of his black-and-white world...

      Delete
  6. Anthony DuceSun Jul 21, 11:07:00 AM

    Enjoyed..

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  7. hyperCRYPTICalSun Jul 21, 11:21:00 AM

    "Night swallows me,
    one naked shoulder at a time."

    Lovely, lovely!

    Anna :o]

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  8. Magaly GuerreroSun Jul 21, 11:23:00 AM

    Distance... how it illuminates the face of that which we miss. And Nature, ever so sweet, reminding us that even across miles and miles we still share the same universe.

    This was lovely.

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  9. BerowneSun Jul 21, 03:11:00 PM

    Forgive the classical music reference, but your poem reminded me so much of Beethoven's "To the Far-Off Loved One" ("An die ferne Geliebte").

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    Replies
    1. Tess KincaidMon Jul 22, 01:59:00 PM

      A classical music reference never needs apology, Mr. B...

      Delete
  10. Susan LindquistSun Jul 21, 03:28:00 PM

    Oh Tess , I love this one. Such a melancholy mood ...

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  11. CatalystSun Jul 21, 04:00:00 PM

    A sad poem but a beautiful one, as well. Some day I'd like to hear "the rest of the story."

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  12. AnonymousSun Jul 21, 05:00:00 PM

    Really enjoyed your poem. Great sound as well as imagery

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  13. izzySun Jul 21, 05:08:00 PM

    Yup being apart is hard, love the last 2 lines.

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  14. the wild magnoliaSun Jul 21, 07:22:00 PM

    love andrew wyeth and the moon.

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  15. HelenaSun Jul 21, 08:17:00 PM

    WoW! I just love the swallowing of the shoulders. Astounding!

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  16. cheap jerseys 2013Sun Jul 21, 09:10:00 PM

    I can understand. It is a kind of art.

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  17. Maude LynnSun Jul 21, 11:45:00 PM

    Brilliant closing lines.

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  18. Kathe W.Mon Jul 22, 08:25:00 AM

    Tess- could you please remove my link as my Blogger is being naughty and I am trying to fix it! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kathe W.Mon Jul 22, 08:33:00 AM

    Tess- I fixed the problem= blog looks goofy, but it cn be read- so dont delete it- thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kathe W.Mon Jul 22, 08:36:00 AM

    Tess this poem is exquisite- lovely to read and hear.

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  21. AnonymousMon Jul 22, 10:02:00 AM

    very evocative.

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  22. kaykualaMon Jul 22, 06:21:00 PM

    How stars scatter
    differently across your sky

    The night is the same the world over, but still retains the difference. It takes the keen eye to detect it. Truly said Tess!

    Hank

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  23. TrellissimoTue Jul 23, 06:19:00 AM

    I can well imagine a man sans culottes being assailed by such thoughts as he contemplates his motor-bike.

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  24. UnknownTue Jul 23, 08:05:00 AM

    Oh, but are you just seeing the stars in a different same light?

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  25. TigerbriteTue Jul 23, 10:21:00 AM

    Lovely. Your nocturnal window inspired my portal:)

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  26. Sara McNultyTue Jul 23, 11:16:00 PM

    Love this one, Tess. I find it haunting, and thought-provoking.

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  27. UnknownWed Jul 24, 11:03:00 AM

    Lovely poem. Each sleepless stair... I hear your voice in crickets.

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  28. Other MaryWed Jul 24, 06:07:00 PM

    He's not black and white! Ok, sorry, now I'll go back and read/listen to the poem. :o)

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  29. Other MaryWed Jul 24, 06:08:00 PM

    Oh, I can taste the wistful in this one. Brilliant.

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  30. Silent Otto Thu Jul 25, 03:50:00 AM

    Nox she is so feminine !

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  31. Cro MagnonThu Jul 25, 11:43:00 AM

    Beautiful poem Tess; and RADS in colour too!!

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  32. Carrie Van HornThu Jul 25, 03:00:00 PM

    Oh how I have missed your words Tess....I love the way you have expressed absense and how great it grows in the dark of night.

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  33. AnonymousFri Jul 26, 03:07:00 AM

    This is stunning, I wish I could write like this! Wow

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  34. UnknownFri Jul 26, 01:31:00 PM

    Night swallows me,
    one naked shoulder at a time.....wonderful write!

    ReplyDelete

Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)

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