Saturday, 13 February 2016

Valentine





















She sits on the top step
Holding the key 
Lighting the match
Quietly singing
I stay silent
In the basement room
Wishing myself pleasant
Buttercup mints
Leaves
Trees
Gone

Think
Thank
Blank

We all go up in a big bad boom
She skips trips
Down the stairs

Who goes there
Friend or foe

Her fingertips smell like petrol
She is my lovely
My threat
My death 

The syllables come out
Quick fire gun range
Desert blank 
Urban cage

Screech
Squeal
Peal

Is any of this real

Close call
Hit fall

Cold hand 
Brick wall

I tally the cost of language lost

The wait 
The flow

Where are you
She asks
On the swing
In summer 
On the wooden porch
The wind blessing us with kisses
Brushing the hair on the apple tree
Sweet and still
Like the finest dream

Pack your case
Let’s go to that magic place

Happiness is an unexpected gift
I think
As we sink
Up from the basement
Down from the stairs

She is my love
My fortune
My breath

My shiny penny of despair.

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I may not be able to reply to your comments and posts this week - as ever always appreciate your visits.. thank you... 

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51 comments:

  1. Sanaa Rizvi13 February 2016 at 05:06

    Happiness is an unexpected gift
    I think as we sink
    Up from the basement
    Down from the stairs


    These lines are beautiful! No doubt happiness tends to creep up when we least expect it. Beautifully expressed. Thank you so much for participating Jae :D


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose13 February 2016 at 08:45

      Thank you Sanaa - much appreciated as is your :D

      Delete
  2. Sumana Roy13 February 2016 at 07:38

    "On the swing
    In summer
    On the wooden porch
    The wind blessing us with kisses
    Brushing the hair on the apple tree"...hope this world awaits all..for that, the mantra "Wishing myself pleasant" should be chanted in every breath...wishing you loads of happiness Jae :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose13 February 2016 at 11:39

      In your hands Sumana it feels like a chant of hopeful wishes..thank you kindly...wishing you happiness back :)

      Delete
  3. J.N.T.13 February 2016 at 11:03

    Pack your case
    Let’s go to that magic place

    Happiness is an unexpected gift
    I think
    As we sink
    Up from the basement
    Down from the stairs

    Through the storm, there's always that friend who wants to go somewhere more ideal and magical than the dreary current situation. I loved that you ended this poem of yours with those lines, giving it a happy kind of positive ending.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:09

      Thank you James - I am glad the ending was positive - that always helps!

      Delete
  4. Gillena Cox13 February 2016 at 11:53

    yes Jae, i agree one must love self, but oh, was i disappointed there were no chocolates in this poem

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:10

      May need to re-write Gillena - no sugar or chocolate :( thank you

      Delete
  5. Old Egg13 February 2016 at 12:50

    This is one of your saddest, most beautiful pieces of writing Jae. How gifted you are to be able to express yourself so graphically. All of are constantly searching, hoping and I hope that your dreams will come true too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:10

      Thank you for that wish Old Egg..much appreciated..it is a basement kind of time at the moment..hopefully we can climb the stairs again soon

      Delete
  6. brudberg13 February 2016 at 23:59

    Love can be such a tender pain... A shiny penny of despair. I always love how you use contrasts painting a passionate struggle. Love it.

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    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:11

      Thank you very much Bjorn - much appreciated

      Delete
  7. Kerry O'Connor14 February 2016 at 00:06

    This is a most haunting poem. I imagine the one in the basement to be lost in a depressed state of mind, needing the call of a loved one to relieve her pain.

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    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:11

      I think that's exactly so - thank you kindly Kerry

      Delete
  8. Anonymous14 February 2016 at 00:25

    Happiness is an unexpected gift... yes but is it only because we don't recognize its presence in all things..perhaps??

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    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 02:12

      You are right thotpurge - sometimes we can be are own worse enemies and not see it when it's there..however hard it is to find..thank you kindly

      Delete
  9. J Cosmo Newbery14 February 2016 at 02:05

    Happiness is truly an unexpected gift. But welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  10. rallentanda14 February 2016 at 04:48

    The wind blessing us with kisses
    Brushing the hair on the apple tree

    Lovely imagery.. the only sort of happiness we can really count on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 05:31

      I think you are right Rallentanda - maybe that is good because it is ours alone to treasure

      Delete
  11. Mary14 February 2016 at 05:33

    Yes, when happiness is the unexpected gift, it is the very best gift of all! And...if we wish ourselves 'pleasant,' we have a good chance of success, I think! Happy Valentines Day to you, Jae!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 05:38

      I do hope so - thank you kindly Mary and a happy St Valentines back to you

      Delete
  12. kaykuala14 February 2016 at 05:57

    Pack your case
    Let’s go to that magic place
    Happiness is an unexpected gift

    There's so much to anticipate when one decides to pursue joys and laughter at another location. A break is mandatory to rewind apparently. Wonderful take Jae!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 06:57

      Oh would very much like a break - even an imagination one! Thank you very much Hank

      Delete
  13. Magaly Guerrero14 February 2016 at 06:16

    Love is a complex real, indeed. I love the structure, the pauses, the way we can't be quite sure where we are going... not until we get there, not until we've lived through it all... just like love.


    And your last line? Perfect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 06:57

      Thank you for your insightful comment Magaly - explained a few thing to me too ;)

      Delete
  14. Donna14 February 2016 at 06:59

    Oh such sadness dwells here with the thoughts of despair, of language lost. Yes happiness can be unexpected, but truly is the key if we can but see it.

    Donna@LivingFromHappiness

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    Replies
    1. Jae Rose14 February 2016 at 07:05

      Perfectly put - thank you Donna.. appreciated greatly..and we hope for a key that opens more than a cupboard one day

      Delete
  15. dsnake114 February 2016 at 07:10

    "Happiness is an unexpected gift" : i so liked this line, but i think we can always try to hold on to it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Debi Swim14 February 2016 at 09:46

    During that basement time wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a magic place to be blown to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:09

      Yes - like Dorothy - thank you kindly Debi

      Delete
  17. De Jackson14 February 2016 at 10:03

    Oh, my. This is just a lovely, despairing spill of words. So often, the keys are hidden...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:11

      The right ones seem to be..struck me that i had a kitchen drawer full of keys and i din't know what they opened..has to be a metaphor in there somewhere - thank you kindly De..much appreciated

      Delete
  18. ScottlB14 February 2016 at 10:31

    Love the layout of this and how it takes you from one point to the other with so many images a superb writing.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sherry Blue Sky14 February 2016 at 11:30

    I'm with Old Egg, as I read, I thought this is your saddest most beautiful poem....I especially love the beautiful imagery in the stanza about being on the swing or porch in summer. Gorgeous writing. My friend, I am wrapping up your valentine's gift right now, so watch for it in the mail. Take good care of my friend, Jae Rose, wont you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:25

      Thank you Sherry - yes and you take care too..that swing has room for two when days are dark and we need a little respite xo

      Delete
  20. Truedessa14 February 2016 at 12:39

    We can always pack that case of imagination and soon we will be traveling finding little gifts to brighten the day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:26

      Yes imagination at least requires no money or planning - in that way it can be the best gift..thank you Truedessa

      Delete
  21. Misky14 February 2016 at 12:44

    I became concerned when I read " fingertips smell like petrol" ... and my concern just built and built as I read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:29

      Yes it's never good to have a match and a propellant to hand..i think for now the situation is diffused..thank you Marilyn

      Delete
  22. humbird14 February 2016 at 17:00

    Oh, dear, breathe deeply, somehow I felt the pain in my guts...happiness...in every breath we take, in every step, in summer memory 'On the swing
    In summer
    On the wooden porch'
    'The wind blessing us with kisses
    Brushing the hair on the apple tree
    Sweet and still
    Like the finest dream' ~ Happy Valentine's! Love to you! xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:29

      We will breathe thank you humbird - sometimes it's the only thing we can do..happy st valentines to you too xo

      Delete
  23. Anonymous15 February 2016 at 03:00

    you conjure the sweetest charming images to pepper the darker hints - "The wind blessing us with kisses
    Brushing the hair on the apple tree"

    and yet does it feel that you still can't say it:
    "I tally the cost of language lost"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 04:30

      I can't say what the last two sentences mean - (QED) - thank you for your insight telltale

      Delete
  24. Keith's Ramblings15 February 2016 at 03:08

    A depressing start but an uplifting conclusion. At least, I hope so. Poignant, powerful.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Jules15 February 2016 at 08:46

    To be there for each other...
    whatever pair on that stair...
    to share...

    Thank you for visiting the silly hippo post.
    Some squeals can be delightful.
    Hoping you always have room, especially for some cheer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose15 February 2016 at 11:46

      Is a good thing indeed - thank you Jules for the wishes and the visit to the hippos :)

      Delete
  26. ZQ16 February 2016 at 11:33

    Another "wild" and enjoyable ride with the ROSE :-)
    ZQ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose16 February 2016 at 11:50

      Thank you ZQ - feeling too old and tired to be wild mind :( thanks! :)

      Delete

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