Samsara Song for Emily
“Since then–’tis centuries–and yet each
feels shorter than the day…”
Emily Dickinson
An old man touches the ground.
Stone and dust, laced to tradition.
Where no–unlit–word is allowed,
an old man touches the ground.
Slow trace of a symbol for sound.
He is–only breath–a low vibration.
An old man touches the ground.
Stone and dust laced to tradition.
An old woman touches the sky.
Mist and wind, steeped in tradition.
Where no–unsung–word takes flight,
an old woman touches the sky.
Slow trace of a symbol for sight.
She is–only breath–a high vibration.
An old woman touches the sky.
Mist and wind, steeped in tradition.
The old couple, deaf and blind
receive no compensation.
bound work and bound in mind
an old couple, deaf and blind.
A slow pace–new–unbending kind.
No reward for labor, no transaction
The old couple, deaf and blind
receive no compensation.
Arriving together again
young and again and again
then leaving again
14 thoughts on "Samsara Song for Emily"
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I don’t completely understand but it doesn’t really matter that much because this poem has beauty, heft, mystery and music. I love many of the lines. I particularly love:
“She is–only breath–a high vibration”
Masterful. That ending, wow.
Thanks for saying that Bill,
That last stanza took some work to get right. I was wondering whether it would work.
Was worth the work.
emily would prob. say the final stanza stands on it own!
but i agree with bill. worth every word here.
earth magic stitched together with a dash of time.
reminds me also of the opening lines of ‘popol vuh’
THIS IS THE ACCOUNT
of when
all is still silent
and placid.
All is silent
and calm.
Hushed
and empty is the womb of the sky.
I love that <3
I felt like I was being reincarnated over and over again whilst reading this…interesting!
Yes !!!
Love the villanelle-like structure and the repetitions. Like Linda I don’t quite follow it on the level of meaning but I dig its music.
🙂 if you can feel the music in it
That’s all.
Lolol…….” its not neccesary we understand the wheel, the wheel understands us “..
Thanks for commenting on the music
This one was difficult to put to form.
Kevin, I didn’t realize that was gonna sound as snarky as it did until I read it.
It wasn’t intended to be and I’ll take all but the last part and stick it in my ear. 🙂
I understood a cycle was in place Coleman, and it was well played. Samsara. The wheel.
I love the recycling and changing of lines.