•
the hands of time swing round faster and faster
life has carved his journey in his face
the pendulum beats steady its insistence
he wonders how long can he keep this pace
he sits here four years looking back at 60
he’s known tragedy and triumph both the same
borrowed bought and sold his way to this place
leveraging his soul to play the game
an older man now gazing out his window
trying to remember how long it’s rained
alone here by the fire in contemplation
was all he lost worth what it was he gained
but sweet memories like candles softly flicker
friends and lovers cherished come and gone
held in warm embrace wrapped in his heartstrings
in his dimming years he prays they still shine on
• • •
rob kistner © 2011
Congratulations!
Thank you Tilly…. 🙂
This is powerful. I sure relate to the guy in the poem. I think this part is so cool: life has carved his journey in his face
.
Thank you Judy, I’m pleased it resonated for you…
This poem made me ache inside: though your tone is positive, behind the words lies sadness.
Happy birthday, Rob
Its the Yin & Yang of life Viv, the circle game, the polarity of reality — nothing can be positive without the negative… Thank you for the birthday wishes my friend… 🙂
A bittersweet treat… sad and reflective, yet happy and grateful. Happy Birthday!
It’s the duality of our temporal plane… Thank you for the wishes Laurie… 🙂
Have missed your posts, Rob.
Happy 64th!
Had some struggles Maureen, but just more fodder for my writing — thank you for the good wishes… 🙂
I love the line, “trying to remember how long it’s rained” feels very meaningful…beautiful poem.
Happy Birthday!
Thank you Jeanne, welcome to Image & Verse, pleased you visited… that line holds a number of meanings for me…
Rob, I just love that second stanza.
It is indeed the Yin and Yang of life,
happiness and sadness.
Have a wonderful birthday and
many more.
Thank you Pamela for your kind words and well wishes… 😉
…rob
Rob,
I love your work, especially Celebratory Blues. I look forward to reading more of your life, reflections mixed in with the sweet and sorrow.
I’m pleased you liked this Monica — thank you… 🙂
I don’t usually write poems of rhyme, preferring the intimacy of free verse – but I had been in an, as-of-late, not-so-unfamiliar melancholy, introspective mood, and chose to listen to Joni Mitchel. Her song “Circle Game” began to play and inspired this poem. I envisioned it as a lyrical continuation to Joni’s melody, so the rhyme scheme fell in naturally. Upon re-reading it, I felt the the rhyme was appropriate — so here is “Celebratory Blues” one on my infrequent works of rhyme.
Beautiful! I’ve heard a common thread for people living over one hundred is how graciously they deal with loss, along with having a daily purpose!
Cheers Giggles
Thank you giggles — and remaining regular goes a long way toward longevity… 😉
Rob, awwwww, it’s your birthday! Does she still need you, does she still feed you, now that you’re 64?
As for the poem, wistful and yet hopeful. Bittersweet and a very pleasant poem to read aloud, which is how I read everyone’s poems. Bless you! Amy
Here’s mine: http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/honeymoon-and-garlic-writers-isle-sun-scribs/
Yes Amy, she enriches my life in so many ways — pleased you enjoyed the read… 😉
Simply perfect!
and hope you had a wonderful birthday too!
Thank you Cathy, I had a splendid birthday…!!! 🙂
I love the image of ‘life has carved his journey on his face’..so true that that pendulum catches up with our body even if our mind isn’t ready..It really was a heartfelt piece of reflection and hope…Jae (and congrats on your birthday..)
Thank you Jae for the kind words and wishes… 😉
Well, memories..they keepone going.. when one is not able to create happier ones..in the present moment..
Yes they do Ramesh, but bittersweet memories can still be fond, because they are ours… 😉
i go for that sweet flicker of beautiful memories!
poignant!
And intoxicating deLi… 😉
Happy Birthday to you! What a deep reflection on wisdom and the journey of living. Nicely written.
Thank you WriteGirl… 😉
Remembering. Beautiful. I have often felt this way, wondering how the past has shaped or has come to inhabit the present.
Our past, and our reaction to it, wholly inform our now Sandy — we are the self-interpreted manifestation of what has been for us… 😉