Friday, November 14, 2008

"Still" ... A Love Poem

I'd like to share one of the most beautiful love poems I've ever read. It was written by Jo Anzalone for her friend, inspirational writer Marjorie Holmes, when Mrs. Holmes' husband died.

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"Still"

His love was sunlight on the uplifted daffodil of her being,
Turning all her yellows into gold.

It swirled, cape-like, before her
atop the puddles of her life.

As cashmere, draping on her shoulders,
his love was warm ... and soft.

He brought her flowers, not just petaled blossoms,

but whole fields of flowers in his blue, blue eyes,

High mountain meadows of them in his song,
Secret gardens as his fingers touched her hand.

He loved her fiercely, privately,
in his lion-hearted way.
Yet loved her freely, openly, wanting
all to know THIS woman was his love.

The rivers of his words brought peace.
The fountains of his song gave joy.

His very "oakness" sheltered all her life,
as hand-in-hand they climbed the mountain paths together.

And even when the oak of him was felled,
Roots torn from the yielding earth ...

An empty place on her life's horizon,
where once were stoutest branches lifted to the sky.

And all her soul became a single teardrop
sliding down the hole where he had grown;

Her fountains stilled,
Her rivers running dry,
Her shoulders cold,
Her puddles wide,
Her meadows deep in snow;

But God, smiling on their love in life,
Smiled still.

For what had been the ageless question:
IF God choose ...?"

And on a silent, lonely evening ...

Easter morning wrapped her in its sudden light,
And she KNEW,
with all that lay within her ...

He DOES but love me better ... after death!"

6 comments:

Picket said...

Oh girl..that is such a deep beautiful heart touching poem...you need a box of kleenex here for that one! Hope you are having a great week girl and that you have an even greater weekend!

Bo said...

Oh my goodness...that is going in my favorites file...at my and my husband's ages, it is hitting close to home. Thank you for sharing it! ;-) BO

The Quintessential Magpie said...

How beautiful, Janie! I particularly love the romantic imagery in this verse:

"It swirled, cape-like, before her
atop the puddles of her life."

How sweet you were to share this, and I love the new romantic look of your blog with the soft blue here and as always, the magnolia. Very pretty.

XO,

Sheila

Lindah said...

Oh, that is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

Salmagundi said...

Beautiful words! Have a great weekend. Sally

nikkicrumpet said...

Oh nice...you post this totally lovely and impressive poem...at the same time I post my first original poem...way to make me look bad lol...hey but at least mine had pictures! hehe