Aging Star
(for Vincent, Robin, and me)
I pour out
my heart’s fire
Like water
in the bird bath,
Sustenance
for each of you.
I serve up
cracked corn,
Simple seeds
of wisdom,
Nutty,
crunchy knowledge.
My spilled
blood nurtures,
Fertile seed
beds flourish,
Sprouts
rise, buds bloom.
Some birds
take flight, soar;
A tidy
garden grows, thrives,
But my light
wanes, steadily.
You shine,
my young friends,
My spirit
flows through you,
But my soul
is growing dim.
If a wick,
I, me would trim,
Shed the
excess, diminish,
Lose light,
gain longevity.
But I am not
a wick—
Enjoy my
light, bask,
It will not
last for long.
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Wow! What an amazing write. Now I feel bad about my tongue-in-cheek take on it...not! LOL! Greetings from a Louisiana belle. xo
ReplyDeleteThe cycle of maintaining your garden ecosystem is finite for sure and will not endure forever. Mine ended when I sold my house. Unless you are planning to relocate, I am hoping a few years remain. Of course the animals have shorter life spans, so you have nurtured several generations already. My mother-in-law hung in with her maintenance until she was 80. We are not all so fortunate, plus she had lots of help. Having said all this, I love your poem. I love the topic, the metaphor at the start, the adjectives throughout, the comparisons especially to the wick, the gritty descriptors, cracked, nutty crunchy in the beginning transitioning to the soulful tired feelings waning at the end. Thanks for sharing. Your writing is brilliant and succinct here Michael in my opinion.
ReplyDeletePerfect poem, my friend! Your light burns brighter than you know, by the way.
ReplyDelete(I me would trim...
I hit send before I should have. I meant to say, "I, me, would trim..." is exquisite!
ReplyDeletebeautiful... i loved the last line..
ReplyDeleteLove the "simple seeds of wisdom"!
ReplyDelete"Enjoy my light, bask,
ReplyDeleteIt will not last for long."
"But oh my foes and oh my friends, it casts a lovely light."
Oh my...I am remiss in not referencing Edna St. V! I knew when I wrote it I was playing off her metaphor, but that was awhile back. It seemed perfect for this prompt, and given the passing of Robin Williams.
ReplyDeletenutty crunchy knowledge I really enjoyed that line and you capped it with a great ending.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful tribute and amazing use of metaphors here...a lovely write :)
ReplyDeleteYet you have left your mark, Linthead friend , for you have expressed your words and at least one other person in this world ( me) has read them ...mission accomplished
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and thought-provoking. I really like this one.
ReplyDeleteSuch a ring to this, lovely images through fresh words, If a wich, I me, would trim, shed the excess, diminish, lose light, gain in every line, from start to close. Nice magpie.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautifully written...and I love the way the first stanza and the last act as perfect capstones for this lovely write.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery and message in this are amazing....a truly beautiful write!
ReplyDeleteNicely written...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. The last stanza especially.
ReplyDeleteThis hit me in ways I don't even want to mention.
ReplyDeleteThan you. Nice Mag. Love and Light, S
My dear Edna St. Vee would love this...I certainly did...a special treat to see you at Magpie Tales Dr. L...
ReplyDeleteLovely! Perfect capture for those of us who have matured into wisdom.
ReplyDelete