My drum corps family lost a member this week. He was support staff, someone I don’t think I had even met before. Last year, it was all I could do to hold myself together and survive the season–everyone else was kind of a blur.?But at rehearsal Wednesday, as people spoke about him, and we released a wish balloon into the night, and his widow and daughter and his friends in the corps cried together, I felt the loss of this person I didn’t know. He was on my mind as I chose this week’s poem.
To One Dead
A blackbird singing
On a moss-upholstered stone,
Bluebells swinging,
Shadows wildly blown,
A song in the wood,
A ship on the sea.
The song was for you
and the ship was for me.A blackbird singing
I hear in my troubled mind,
Bluebells swinging,
I see in a distant wind.
But sorrow and silence,
Are the wood’s threnody,
The silence for you
and the sorrow for me.
–Francis Ledwidge
It seems like there has been a procession of losses of various kinds this year. Beautiful poetry, giving me bluebells, blackbirds, and ships on the sea,?is always one place to find comfort.
Katya at Write. Sketch. Repeat.?has the Poetry Friday Roundup today!
Love it! Especially “moss-upholstered stone.” And how tidy, parallel, and complete it is.
Somehow tidy is so comforting, isn’t it, when the topic is devastating?
Love it! Especially “moss-upholstered stone.” And how tidy, parallel, and complete it is.
Somehow tidy is so comforting, isn’t it, when the topic is devastating?
I’d never read that one before, it made me all verklempt. It is simply beautiful.
Verklempt. Perfect!
I’d never read that one before, it made me all verklempt. It is simply beautiful.
Verklempt. Perfect!
Beautiful poem. A new-to-me poet. Sorry to hear about the loss.
New to me, too, Jama. Isn’t it lovely. I’ll have to look for more by him.
Beautiful poem. A new-to-me poet. Sorry to hear about the loss.
New to me, too, Jama. Isn’t it lovely. I’ll have to look for more by him.
That’s a beautiful poem, I’m sorry you’ve had a bad year this year. I hope the poetry is uplifting somehow.
It is! At least my sister, who had a stroke in February, is making slow, steady progress. Thanks, Catherine.
That’s a beautiful poem, I’m sorry you’ve had a bad year this year. I hope the poetry is uplifting somehow.
It is! At least my sister, who had a stroke in February, is making slow, steady progress. Thanks, Catherine.
I’m sorry for any loss, Laura, as you seem to be, knowing or not. This is a beautiful poem of parting. Thank you.
I’m glad you liked it, Linda. Something so comforting about it…
I’m sorry for any loss, Laura, as you seem to be, knowing or not. This is a beautiful poem of parting. Thank you.
I’m glad you liked it, Linda. Something so comforting about it…
A beautiful, sad poem. Isn’t it amazing how we are tied to the people around us by the things we do, even when we don’t realize the connections. And the sadness somehow enriches the love for the ones we do realize.
So true, Dori…
A beautiful, sad poem. Isn’t it amazing how we are tied to the people around us by the things we do, even when we don’t realize the connections. And the sadness somehow enriches the love for the ones we do realize.
So true, Dori…
I’m sorry about your drum corps family’s loss. There’s a soothing, sorrowful rhythm to that poem, Laura. I’m saving it. Thanks.
I’m glad you liked it, Tabatha. I agree about the rhythm…something about the cycle/rhythm of life and death, maybe.
I’m sorry about your drum corps family’s loss. There’s a soothing, sorrowful rhythm to that poem, Laura. I’m saving it. Thanks.
I’m glad you liked it, Tabatha. I agree about the rhythm…something about the cycle/rhythm of life and death, maybe.
Sending condolences to your band-family, Laura. The poem reminded me of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” which also feels like an elegy.
Oh, it does–this would be beautiful set to haunting music…
Sending condolences to your band-family, Laura. The poem reminded me of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” which also feels like an elegy.
Oh, it does–this would be beautiful set to haunting music…
The ship makes me think of Rupa and the April Fishes’ song “Wishful Thinking.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGcAp3GBk6k
Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem.
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I’ll have to come back and watch that video, Ruth (when I can have the sound on). I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!
The ship makes me think of Rupa and the April Fishes’ song “Wishful Thinking.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGcAp3GBk6k
Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem.
Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
I’ll have to come back and watch that video, Ruth (when I can have the sound on). I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!
Such a moving and heartfelt post, Laura. And yes, poetry always provides a certain kind of … cleansing after experiencing or witnessing such profound sadness and pain.
Thanks, Myra–your comment makes me think of poetry itself as a witness. A sign that someone is paying attention, someone cares. I like that!
Such a moving and heartfelt post, Laura. And yes, poetry always provides a certain kind of … cleansing after experiencing or witnessing such profound sadness and pain.
Thanks, Myra–your comment makes me think of poetry itself as a witness. A sign that someone is paying attention, someone cares. I like that!
It’s a very calming poem, somehow.
Isn’t it? Contemplative about grief, but not a dramatic kind of thing.
It’s a very calming poem, somehow.
Isn’t it? Contemplative about grief, but not a dramatic kind of thing.
Nice poem. I love the imagery.
Me, too!
Nice poem. I love the imagery.
Me, too!
Such a sweet, sad poem Laura. I am sorry for the loss of your drum corp family. But glad to hear your sister is doing better!
Thanks, Andi! And, sadly, I just found out my sister is not doing quite as well as I thought at her new place:>(
Such a sweet, sad poem Laura. I am sorry for the loss of your drum corp family. But glad to hear your sister is doing better!
Thanks, Andi! And, sadly, I just found out my sister is not doing quite as well as I thought at her new place:>(