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A growing abstraction of gratitude
by Julie AdamsFor Ms. Rissa
that feeling of finding
the rightful place of a jigsaw piece
is how she fits into my life;
not the inevitable fit of the last piece
or the security of the flat edges at the outset
where little is ventured or gained;
but in the muddy middle, the many
fields or flowers or shadows
in some leafy jungle scene, where we—wild
women of the world—unite
to become something greater than ourselves
*
with the room to breathe, she exhales all
I long to say, and we recycle ideas this way
and back, with the arc of a waning and waxing moon,
thought patterns flurry like summer fans, blowing
each other into our own infinite potential sphere pools
knowing we are sister galaxies, ever connected
electrons, explosive nuclei power, we balance
and build up one another at once
and the sea of energy around us ripples
in our wake, a function of the many waves
that brought us here, together, now, eternal
*
of many there are few who see you
with more than eyes
with more than supposition
with more than their own jades of living—
the emotional scarification that raises up
over reason, and reminds more than it heals;
and fewer still who see and don't judge
but rather seek to understand, to know,
to feel the humanity of your experience
and come to know it as you do theirs;
and in that overwhelming minority, with you
I reside and rest on the porch of gratitude,
rocking chairs creeking in infinite unison
02/01/2009 Author's Note: (wtg workshop with Jon)
Posted on 02/01/2009
Copyright © 2024 Julie Adams
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Joe Cramer on 02/01/09 at 03:21 PM Jewels... this is exceptional..... |
| Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 02/01/09 at 04:21 PM Julie, this is just so comforting, a bold yet quiet confidence in this friendship.
This, "thought patterns flurry like summer fans" is wonderful. Delighted. Thanks. |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 02/01/09 at 04:26 PM Exceptional is right. This is incredible work. |
| Posted by Michelle Angelini on 02/01/09 at 09:31 PM Simply beautiful Julie. Gratitude may be abstract, but when one person displays it to another, the feeling becomes very real, and, it is related to love. |
| Posted by Lacy D Phillips on 02/01/09 at 11:32 PM I simply adore this piece. It is exquisitely crafted, polished to a glossy sheen. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 02/02/09 at 04:38 AM Wow! The first stanza is smooth as silk - love the images there. This is a fine, fine piece. My words cannot do it justice. Thank you! |
| Posted by Ken Harnisch on 02/03/09 at 01:47 PM A tour de force of language and feeling entwined into one lovely ball of poetry, pure and amazing! So rare, and for that, made even more wonderful to read, Jewels! |
| Posted by Sandy M. Humphrey on 02/03/09 at 04:34 PM I love tributes that are descriptive and explanatory in nature. Vivid imagery lets the reader into the friendship and leaves me smiling. For I too have friends like this, lucky are we. smh |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 02/03/09 at 07:45 PM I'm not familiar with Ms. Rissa, but you've clearly put a lot of work into penning this tribute to her, and that's admirable in itself. |
| Posted by Olivia Martin on 02/04/09 at 04:12 PM For me, this piece extends far beyond words can admit. Not only can I relate, on several levels, but the way you crafted this piece is absolutely stunning. There is a greater picture here, greater than even poetry can provide at times, and you managed to capture it beautiful. Great job! |
| Posted by Olivia Martin on 02/04/09 at 04:12 PM For me, this piece extends far beyond words can admit. Not only can I relate, on several levels, but the way you crafted this piece is absolutely stunning. There is a greater picture here, greater than even poetry can provide at times, and you managed to capture it beautiful. Great job! |
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