Like a penny dropping
We are enough for ourselves
Time loops back and forth
Between young and old shadows
My teeth are crooked but wise
Hers are milk teeth waiting to play
I smoke stones in the bare light
There is no answer
No agent to call upon
Time is like a band around our waist
Tugging and tight
We try to reach the stars but fail
I keep a
few in my bag
Just in
case
We
reflect in the cool blue light
Laid bare
Empty
alone
She
pushes her brown hair back
Like a
penny droppingWe are enough for ourselves.
I think it is good to experience both the young and old shadows. For all the ups and downs in life we can then go back and relive what made us happy before and be content.
ReplyDeleteThank you Old Egg your insights are always appreciated
DeleteI love "we are enough for ourselves." That is a good way to feel. I love "we try to reach the stars but fail", and that you keep a few in your bag "just in case." Beautiful, Jae. Always such a pleasure to read your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sherry
DeleteThere are so many breathtaking lines in this Jae Rose! One of my favorites is: "Time is like a band around our waist
ReplyDeleteTugging and tight
We try to reach the stars but fail" There is so much wisdom and beauty of life's journey here. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to understand we are enough for ourselves. Always a pleasure to stop by and read your poetry!
Thanks so much Carrie - good to see you
DeleteTo each their own. huh Alice? (still on the theory that this poem is a continuation)
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin - I hope they join together in some way..Alice knows at least ;)
Delete"We are enough for ourselves....Good space to be for peace. I'm always in this mode. "Time loops back and forth / Between young and old shadows"...Love this.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sumana
DeleteTime loops back and forth
ReplyDeleteBetween young and old shadows... beautiful image there.
Thanks Thotpurge
Deletesome lovely images, Jae :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ladylee
DeleteI did enjoy your poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julian
Deleteit's all about knowing what and when is enough
ReplyDeleteI think so - thanks Suyash
DeleteTo be 'enough for ourselves' seems perfect to me. I love 'enough' because it is neither too much nor too little, and therefore not only 'as good as a feast' but in fact even better.
ReplyDeleteThank you just so Rosemary ;)
DeleteThe distance from the glass half empty and the one half full is measured from head to heart -- from getting what one wants to wanting what one has -- the sense of sufficiency and satiety brims here by saying "enough." It also allows the poem to be its own destination. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Brendan
Delete'Time is like a band around our waist tugging and tight' .. there is so much truth in this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanaa
DeleteWe are enough for ourselves....we need to hold that thought. We can hopefully always pull a few stars out of our bags.
ReplyDeleteI hope so - thanks Mary
DeleteI like that thought about self-empowering. It's truth we can't fali lower than we already done, i.e.
ReplyDelete'We try to reach the stars but fail
I keep a few in my bag
Just in case'.
Yes, you done it before. So, collecting more 'stars' just a matter of time. Believe in yourself! Much Love!
Thank you kindly humbird and best wishes back
DeleteWe try to reach the stars but fail
ReplyDeleteI keep a few in my bag
Just in case
This speaks volumes, it is about continuing the quest even though you fail a few times, there is still a bag of hope waiting ...
We will always try to seek it - thank you Truedessa
DeleteA super cool poem--I love the stars kept in the bag also--very memorable lines--the disconnect works just super well. Thanks much. k. (Manicddaily)
ReplyDeleteI wonder to say that also love the whole premise of the poem--the brown hair pushed back like the penny dropping, the time worn like a band around the waist, the sense of youth and a certain kind of burdened insouciance throughout is wonderful. k.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Outlawyer
DeleteBetween young and old shadows
ReplyDeleteMy teeth are crooked but wise
Hers are milk teeth waiting to play...
These lines perfectly capture the age gap, or the young girl inside the older person.
Thank you Kerry
DeleteExcellent poem. Very thought provoking. Really like the sixth line, but it is all good.
ReplyDeleteThank you Rob
DeleteI'm glad she keeps a few stars in her bag just in case. Sometimes when we shoot for the stars there's a misfire! This was an entertaining read.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Bev
DeleteThe beauty of true lasting connection is summed up in these wonderful words of yours dear Jae Rose...
ReplyDelete'We are enough for ourselves'
Donna@LivingFromHappiness
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLuv the stash of stars
ReplyDelete"We try to reach the stars but fail
I keep a few in my bag"
Truly what would life be with out the poets and painters
Happy Sunday Jae
Much love...
And happy Sunday back thanks Gillena
DeleteBeautiful poetry.I loved every moment of it...unique and intriguing..so many gems I love..(milk teeth/ hair, penny dropping)..and the last line so profound..we are enough for ourselves! deeply magical! so happy to have found your beautiful blog!
ReplyDeleteVictoria
Thanks so much Victoria
DeleteMy teeth are crooked but wise
ReplyDeleteHers are milk teeth waiting to play..... I love that though I'm not exactly sure why but it rings true to me.
Thank you Debi
Delete"We try to reach the stars but fail I keep a few in my bag Just in case" the younger person inside the older person, the fact that we are enough is excellent. I like the hope in this line about the stars. I wish I were wise enough to keep some spare stars in my bag.
ReplyDeleteI hope you gather some stars - thank you Toni
DeleteMy teeth are crooked but wise
ReplyDeleteHers are milk teeth waiting to play....so perfect. It captures it all....and being enough is a great thing.
Thank you so Ayala
DeleteI love the images and wistfulness in this poem. Keeping stars, just in case.... Perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah
DeleteI love the poetic circle you've crafted, the sound of that hair, the in-between of these lives... Just love it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful line choice.
Thank you Magaly
Delete'We try to reach the stars but fail
ReplyDeleteI keep a few in my bag
Just in case'
a strange wisdom in those lines, I think. I found them quite fascinating.
Thank you Wendy
DeleteI like the dropping penny (silence when her hair pushed back), the stars in her bag (her stash) and he using the smoking stone at twilight (never done that, illegal here).
ReplyDeleteBut of course the end is the best, great! (More to come)
.. (I posted this before on the last "Reply" window. Dumb me)
Loved the poem
ReplyDeleteClick Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
Thanks DeeDee
DeleteLove the idea of keeping some stars in your purse for later. We have to be enough for ourselves. The problem is we are always being pushed to be more.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rall
DeleteThe image of smoking stones sets my teeth on edge. It makes me think of crunching down on a stone with my teeth--another unpleasant image. But if we didn't have the unpleasant images to jar our sensibilities, we'd be in some sort of perpetual la-la land, wouldn't we? (Sorry, I'm rambling.)
ReplyDeleteNot rambling at all we love your thoughts thank you Magical
Delete