Wednesday, February 13, 2008

valentine

again today no new snow
to cover up our sins
the world comes
seeping through
the black ice
harder and more dangerous

the ghost carriers scurry
across the solid sea
of brown stained white
how many times must I see it
before I can say it is true
they spend their ghost faces
on dreams they may have
while waking

some of their dreams are of you
some of your dreams flow back
that is a more fluid ocean
than the sky
with its racing thin water
sailing faster than any ship
trapped narrowly between
freezing cold and frozen solid

this water doesn’t betray our water
this water sends its love
without the tyranny of feeling
every day is valentine’s day

12 comments:

S.L. Corsua said...

I find myself connecting to the first two stanzas, with the way longing is conveyed. :) (Yeah, I do have a soft spot for sad lines.)

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi sweet Soulless! Yeah those stanzas carry some heavy burdens. I hope I get some riders on the last stanzas, too. You may have a soft spot for sad lines but it is not as big a soft spot as I have for your wonderful comments, sweet one. Thanks!

Cecilia said...

...and this one here from many waters wishes you a happy one every single day, indeed. You never fail to paint haunting images of what...is.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hey there Cecilia! Thanks for that fabulous comment! You are indeed the one from many waters and I hope happiness for you every single day, too! Here's to wish you the best in life, sweet lady!

CANDLELIZARDEGG said...

this water doesn’t betray our water
this water sends its love

Im dont understand sir, what is the water?

tnx.,

An apprentice, gerald

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Gerald! Water is one of our critically important factors in this fragile existance. Humans are in fact 70% water. Above us in the sky just over our heads is a bunch water which provides us with salt-free life support. The earth very much requires this water for the plant growth cycles and gas exchange cycles. This water that races over our heads, carried by strong winds in the upper atmosphere, is very faithful indeed, for without its participation in the cycle of life, we would surely perish.

Welcome, and thanks for asking the question!

Ruela said...

pure water
and a stunning poem

Pat Paulk said...

Russell send some of that beautiful water my way. Awful dry here.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Ruela! Glad you enjoyed this, my friend.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Pat! I'd be happy to send you some beautiful water. We're up to our ankles in it here. The snow has been melting. Thanks for the comment, my old friend!

The Phantom said...

Love the imagery and the lack of punctuation is perfect. Sometimes I seem to spend as much time on punctuation as on wording so I appreciate when I can see that thought has gone into it...even when it's not there!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi phantom, glad you liked this! I write to an inherent understanding of syntax that I find to be part of the English language. This understanding seems independent of virtually all punctuation. I like to refer to it as meaning without props. It goes along nicely with my neo-objectivism. I enjoyed your Pleiades (without punctuation), BTW!