Saturday, April 23, 2011

i have lived




i can tell you
i have lived, i can tell you
i have loved
i can tell you to live
and to love - but not as i
for age to age we
gather different seeds
and walk unfamiliar roads
yours may be a little harder, or shorter
mine fading as the sound of my voice
but i have loved, and lived
and traveled enough
for one lifetime, and i am tired
and well enough
the rain falls today, and well enough
i have loved, and lived

bkmackenzie
copyrighted 2011

One Shoot Sunday at One Stop Poetry Greg Laychak

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32 comments:

  1. dustusApril 23, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    "for age to age we
    gather different seeds
    and walk unfamiliar roads"

    How true and stated eloquently. A great challenge response that takes into account individual differences.

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  2. Kerry O'ConnorApril 23, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    ....and that says it all: I have lived and loved... What more can one ask for?

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  3. TrulyfoolApril 24, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    Barbara,

    I've been spending this many years trying to learn how to do both.

    Trulyfool

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  4. Lorenzo — Alchemist's PillowApril 24, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    This poems gets very much across to the reader in a few deceptively simple lines, wisdom and humility, sorrow and beauty, a tender confluence of a fading voice, the cycle of life and the coming and going of rains.

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  5. RuthApril 24, 2011 at 2:29 AM

    Beautifully written and felt. More than well enough.

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  6. ayalaApril 24, 2011 at 3:07 AM

    This touched me because it made me think of my parents. They are both gone now but I am happy that they lived their life to the fullest- most of the time.

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  7. BrendanApril 24, 2011 at 4:11 AM

    No matter to what age one gets to survive to, to have, as you say, lived and loved in full measure is enough to call it a life. That image of an antiseptic cold hospital/hospice hallway must have stirred all sorts of recent memories for you. - Brendan

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  8. UnknownApril 24, 2011 at 4:54 AM

    thank you ...loved it

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  9. Coloring Outside the LinesApril 24, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    Very touching! At the end, I hope I am satisfied that I lived my life to the fullest, with no regrets.

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  10. GlynnApril 24, 2011 at 5:57 AM

    This sounds like my mother, and her mother before her. She's 87, growing more frail each day, still with a bit of spirit but feeling more and more tired.

    Well done, B.K.

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  11. ClaudiaApril 24, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    i love the gathering of seeds and walking unfamiliar roads in your poem barbara - and the i have loved and lived..so true..and hope i can say this as well when i finally get there

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  12. BeachannyApril 24, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Yes, she lived and loved..but unfortunately this one did not get to do it "her way". God bless her and all who did. Very well written and hopeful. Thank you, Gay

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  13. SheilaApril 24, 2011 at 7:30 AM

    mmmm...I like the confidence is her voice - I have worked with the elderly for a long time and you've captured their thoughts and strong will perfectly.

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  14. AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 7:50 AM

    We each greet the road to life a different way - what is mine may not be yours, but enjoy it for what it is. Enjoy the experience of being, of walking that unique path...a strong, confident characterization, and nice to see a life lived without regret. Beautiful.

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  15. rmpWritingsApril 24, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    a touching and beautiful message...if only everyone was as lucky to know what it means to live one's life and to know love--both given and received...

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  16. Jenne' R. Andrews April 24, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    A lovely and deceptively simple take on the prompt-- thanks. xxxj

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  17. hedgewitchApril 24, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    "..and well enough..." deep and true insights here, barbara, strongly in touch with the human in us that over-rides the external, and the acceptance and calm that can come when the storm is past.

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  18. PennyApril 24, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Lovely piece.

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  19. ReflectionsApril 24, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Simply beautiful!

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  20. Jhon BakerApril 24, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    your opening lines swallowed me right in.

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  21. AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Nice advice to pass on.

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  22. AnonymousApril 24, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    to have lived and loved..what we all hope to say when reflecting...beautifully done ~

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  23. Sherry Blue SkyApril 24, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    I've worked with the elderly too, still do, a bit........and each single person sitting in their wheelchair, or recliner, has such an amazing story to tell. I love this poem, it is very touching.

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  24. signed...bkmApril 24, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    I admit this was a hard prompt...almost did not do it...but there are all aspects to life and aging is one of them...thank for stopping everyone to read, I truly appreciate your time...bkm

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  25. gautami tripathyApril 24, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    So much to share and so much to learn from them....Yet we don't have time for them...

    Such a moving piece...

    a statement

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  26. ninotazizApril 24, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    Dear bkm,

    I feel a sigh at the end of your pen...I too have lived and loved.

    But perhaps not like you.

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  27. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 7:02 AM

    Live and let love.

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  28. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 7:02 AM

    I'm following your blog.

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  29. lorelyApril 25, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Rich!

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  30. Carrie Van HornApril 25, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    A lovely life indeed Bkm....love this!! :-)

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  31. Steve IsaakApril 26, 2011 at 8:37 AM

    Good, relatable.

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  32. steveroniApril 26, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Well, Barbara...me, too! Just about everything I hear from others--I been there, etc.
    PEACE!

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