by Darryl Price
What you see us doing here is not so much, and
all we are not being there isn't either. Our kissing mouths may not
always be singing, but we are constantly praying for you, and for more rain or less rain, rivers as the situation warrants. Don't worry. We
don't believe in a god who hates
gay people or believes in slavery or
thinks of women as cattle. We only
play to strum into the ears of
the universe a new difference, a peace in our time
offering. One that proposes a love supreme act accordingly.
What we are actually doing is dancing
with everything. To dance is to mean
what you say, to feel what you
are, as it connects from body to
body throughout time, even bodies of water,
even bodies of stars, even bodies of
dreamers, dreaming in infinite space, even bodies
of texts. We do all this on
purpose. You must know this by now. It is
done for you, but not only for you.
Because it is in harmony with the
ancient trees on the arms and legs
of mother earth sending and receiving the
wisdom to care. Because it is an
act that can be carried out at
any time from any place by anyone.
It is not a religion. It is
not a joke. It is not anything
but people. I like to think of
it as poetry, but that's just me.
All That Exists, Perceived By This State of Mind, Is Wounded,Ruined, Killed or Just Absorbed
by Darryl Price
Time's a bent to hell postcard. Its meaning gets creased and
folded more each day. You've gotten yours
mailed too late. Can't help it if bad
weather got in the way. Call it
a solar flare. A fizzled failing star.
Your name was written on top of ice.
It melted way too fast on the way down. The one robber
wind we couldn't push hard enough against, sent
your way, be it by fallen tree or half-eaten moon,
heard out in the world's soft places where you
alone would notice its falling feathers, I swear,
in the sky in the water as
it flapped and swirled by like a scrawl
of blowing leaves.All for you. I never meant
those notes to disintegrate. Thought
you'd continue their strange flight straight back
to me again and again til
closing circles would bring us face
to face at last. Until one smile
could be pressed neatly onto another.
One hand would light a candle with
the heat between palms simply by
tipping to the other with real hot
intent. By now that smoke and ash
have melted into the landscape forever.
If there is new laughter among
the pines it stays clearly within
its own distance. But there are still unsaid
things to come. As you can see. There are these
small sad etchings just barely visible
on settled stones. Saying what I
can't fathom. We have not been found.
What I Want To Put To You
by Darryl Price
doesn't give up on new
seasons. I've tried to keep it
in pretty good shape, I'm only
one keeper of that next
eternal go-around. Oh let them
ride their watery horses to death,
sharpened on wheels of trophy
teeth, tearing the earth of its
most beautiful softly lumbering dreams. What
they don't know is it doesn't
matter if the music solidifies
in mid-air. It
will play on. This too shall flicker
and pass. This cannot stand the clock of doom. It's
written across their sun hurt eyes.
In the meantime here we are
and here we shall remain for
our love is in us. They shall
extinguish the sun and still
not kill that lighted reign. There's also
the story of their own hauntings.
Let's switch topics then and return
to see through sad meanings swathed between us.
I realize you have your
own weather conditions to
consider before thinking
about mine. This is simply
why I must address you so,
to speak your name without giving
away your sacrifice. I've
already packed my life back
into the collar of my
coat. It is done without remorse.
This is the closest I
may come to ever holding your hand again.
I do so gladly, with overwhelming
bliss. That's the catch,
if there is one, and if there
isn't, we need never mention
it. I've already seen
you next to me. I know the
beauty that stirs awake in
your presence. I have felt it
awaken all my senses
with a single jolt. It isn't
much, these words, for they won't
feed you, or clothe you, but please
know they also don't abandon you.
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First up at 52/250 A Year of Flash thanks to Walt and Michelle and John.
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Really nice, Darryl. It moves yet gathers together.
This is a good piece, DP. Especially like this phrasing in the middle:
"To dance is to mean
what you say, to feel what you
are as it connects from body to
body throughout time, even bodies of water,
even bodies of stars, even bodies of
dreamers dreaming in infinite space, even bodies
of texts."
Goodness. Wonderful phrasing.
Darryl, you know I know nothing about poetry, but I do appreciate and love to read it. And I think I get what Sam says about "phrasing"...and he's absolutely right here, about yours. Also, I've said this before I think, but your titles are amazing.
Everything there is to know about poetry is contained in every breath. It is
> the beauty of being alive, it's even in the awful beauty of our dying.But most
> importantly it is in the freedom to express a reaction to that beauty in all
> its wonder, pain, mystery and grace.Thanks for taking the time to read my work. It's
> much appreciated.
timely, DP. *
I love reading your poetry. You have 'the wisdom to care.'
Essential. Love this. *
"What we are actually doing is dancing / with everything."
So great.
Like Kathy, I know very little about poetry, but the work here transcends the art, speaks clearly about something universal in context. Faith, hope and love, and this above all - love.
Dancing with everything. Yes. Yes. And yes.
I'd give anything to have a title like this one cross my mind, even if I forgot it the next second.
Again, you've shown that rare ability to speak to the big theme with a sharpness that sinks fast to the heart without wasting the readers time with the unoriginal thought, the tired phrase.
I'm clapping over here, man. Can you hear it? Listen...
I ADORE this poem, D.
*!*!*!*!
I followed Marcelle over here and am glad I did. "It is not anything but people."
"To dance is to mean
what you say,"
The world needs more dancing! *
This is remarkable. Amazing piece, DP. Wow. Beautiful and good and right.
Loved this, Darryl, esp: To dance is to mean
what you say, to feel what you
are as it connects from body to
body throughout time, even bodies of water,
even bodies of stars, even bodies of
That connection of all things, Yes!
Fav.
DP, this is marvelous. Of course. The unseen is so crystal clear here: the connection, the dancing, the touching, the dreaming. Really wonderful. I love that middle part, too -- when you got to 'bodies of texts' I was delighted by the transitions and connections between all those things. But the ending is also great. After all that is said in this piece, I like how you go back to the understatement at the end:
"It is not a religion. It is
not a joke. It is not anything
but people. I like to think of
it as poetry but that's just me."
That is so very you, and so perfect.
*, my friend, *
"To dance is to mean
what you say". yes, darryl, outstanding. agree with michelle, that return to yourself at the end - i love it.
Love it, all. *