Those Peaceful Moments
Those Peaceful Moments
July 7, 2015
For once, it didn't matter, that I couldn't
communicate. I decided to let it go.
You sat nearby and played piano, I
dallied on the computer, typing away.
Your song sang through the house. It didn't matter,
the landlords were quiet, they let it go on.
We sat nearby the westward window, the sun
dallied on the horizon, dying away.
And my heart's burning desire? it didn't matter,
I had to let it go out (where I was,
sitting nearby you). I leaned over closer,
and dallied on your shoulder, sighing away.
But it didn't matter, your mind was already made.
Perhaps the time before, when you let it go,
my hand, which sat nearby yours, but empty,
dallying on the armrest, lying away.
It doesn't matter, you have your concerns,
just as valid as my desire. I’ll let it go,
and sit nearby those peaceful moments. My heart’ll
dally on the wind, flying away.
It won't matter, I can wait for you, 'twould
be worth it- my heart can let it go and return
and sit nearby. But like a dried brown leaf
it dallies on the air, idling away.
And if another chance happens, it will matter.
I can't let it go. And these peaceful moments,
soon standing faraway, will be all that's left, as time
hurries off, prying away
our memories of each other. And that's ok.
Some souls forever stay holding on, and some dance
endlessly, never in one place for long. And we at least
enjoyed the company, finding a way
to love. It didn't matter, how few, the days,
they numbered. We let them go, one by one.
We sat nearby and laid in the grass and
dallied in those peaceful moments, whiling away …
Behind the Poem:
As a fun addition to this blog, I want to try these Behind the Poem segments, where I share a previously published poem and give some background and/or insights.
Today’s subject is Those Peaceful Moments. This poem began as a real-time account of my surroundings on that day. I typed it into a computer while the addressee played the piano across the room. The sun was going down. I had developed quite a crush on her, and she was balking at my advances.
The poem continues as a discussion where the narrator claims he can curb his feelings and enjoy the moments, but it won’t be like that forever. Someone else will catch his heart and he’ll have to move on. He decides that this end is ok, and to be thankful for these moments instead.
The form of the poem came about quite organically while I was writing. The idea of repeating motifs for each line in the stanza (it didn’t matter—let it go—sit nearby— … away) was only solidified after the sixth or seventh line. For the climax, I used the antonym of each motif to turn the poem on its head, and enjambments to upset the rhythm of the stanzas. The final stanza is a return to the beginning, it’s calmness, but in a new found acceptance.
This poem has always been a favorite of mine, especially for reading. I have a tendency towards run-on sentences that can leave a reader out of breath, but here the language is very crisp and clean. I hope you enjoyed this entry of Behind the Poem!
Killingworth, CT