Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The Road


upon the road
I came across a paper
written, typed – some parts, illegible
the paragraphs and incomplete sentences
indicating someone
had passed away
where, now –
that was all unclear
the part that was clear
was the grief -the pangs of loneliness
left behind for the bearer
this torch fate now handed to me—
why me?
clutching the words as if
an orphaned child
I ran and ran
the torch burning
I repeating, “don’t cry, don’t cry”
to who?
a piece of paper
there was no one - just me -
and the road - and the words -
we cried together

bkmackenzie
copyrighted

17 comments:

  1. This is beautiful...from such a simple premise you have written something with a deeper meaning.
    Wonderful poem.

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  2. The universal pangs of grief in a broken world.
    A road weeps with all of us at times.

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  3. that you weep for one you do not even know speaks volumes...smiles.

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  4. Very beautiful, revealing a tender heart of compassion. Love it!

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  5. Barbara,
    This is wonderful and the ending is so powerful.
    Pamela

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  6. thanks Sherry and Pam...this is an older piece but I have always liked it....glad you did too...blessings...bkm

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  7. "Just me - and the road - and the words - we cried together." A strong image, so filled with feeling. Beautifully crafted!

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  8. I like to look at paper I find when I walk, but haven't found anything quite like this. Strong poem, entering into someone else's sadness, not knowing whose...

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  9. This is more than a poem, it's a poetic cry from the heart. Extraordinary work.

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  10. This is really finely written. You continue to impress.

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  11. That's beautifully expressed. Grief knows no boundaries, no borders.. it's just the same language.

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  12. Dearest bkm,

    In my state of mind, your poem sings to me. And the note from my heart to yours.

    I have not cried once, perhaps it is time to cry now.

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  13. Great poem - I'm there on that road.

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  14. I like the part about passing the torch - I wish more people could feel those ties to the past, even those not of our personal history. Nice piece, BKM!

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  15. Oh this is just so beautiful. That universal empathy that joins us if we allow ourself to feel. This was a really wonderful piece of writing and it 'touched' me.

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  16. I think I have a new favorite of yours...this is amazing Bkm!! :-)

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