Sometimes we come across something
that speaks to us as though it were our own…
This happened for me when I read “When You
Are Old” by William Butler Yeats. It reminded me of the life I’ve shared with
my husband of almost 32 years. In
that time we have certainly weathered many storms; yet we survive, our bond even
stronger.
I decided to use the words of Yeats to weave a Glosa.
A Glosa is a very old form
of poetry that begins with a quote of four lines from a
well-known poet, in this case Yeats, and expands the theme into four ten-line
stanzas, the lines of the poet used to conclude each stanza.
Since this form of poetry is
often used to pay tribute, here I pay tribute to my best friend, my soulmate, my
husband; and to the life we share together.
Yet Love Remains
When you are old and grey and full of
sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft
look
Your eyes had once, and of their
shadows deep;
William Butler Yeats
(Click here for complete poem by William Butler Yeats)
I
think about the sweet days our youth,
the
world was spread before us for the taking--
invincible,
we weathered many storms
safety
found inside each other’s arms.
Discovered
life together, you and I…
rappelling
over cliffs and chasms deep;
wary
of the monsters in the darkness--
learning
that my strength resides in you.
Will
love remain inside where memories steep,
when
you are old and gray and full of sleep?
So
many years between have come and gone
the
passion found in youth not often held;
yet on
occasion universe aligns,
amazing
how a kindred spirit bonds
once
it finds the niche where it belongs.
We
couldn’t know this when we undertook
to
forge a life together, you and I.
Yet
over time, my love for you remains.
I hear
you breathing softly while I look,
and
nodding by the fire, take down this book.
The
one that holds the stories that we’ve shared
well-chronicled
and inked to stave our memory;
each
page presents an instant froze in time,
designed
to be reviewed in quiet moments…
a
lifetime kept in images we’ve saved.
I scan
the scraps and photos that we took,
and
settle once again on favorite image--
given
to me after we first met.
On
cushions soft, I settle in this nook,
and
slowly read and dream of the soft look…
in
contemplative moment it was captured--
in
graying sky your eyes shown cobalt blue;
from
that moment, I was captured too.
And so
we came to know each other well;
to
compliment the other; to complete.
I turn
the page, and now it seems that sleep
beckons
me to close and come to bed.
I
stretch out in the hollow of your arm
to
slip away and dream of white-hot heat
Ginny Brannan: Residing in New England with husband of nearly 32 years, son and two cats, Ginny Brannan took poetry and creative writing courses in both high school and college. Foregoing degree, she headed directly into the workforce. In 2009, Ginny found herself out of work and facing the ominous task of finding employment in a cyber world and declining job market. Struggling to keep afloat, a long-time friend suggested she tap back into her creative side and pick up a pen and write (or Macbook and type as case may be). She credits the therapeutic effects of writing to getting her through this stressful time. Ginny writes both traditional poetry and free verse. She has been published in The River Muse, an on-line Art & Literary Journal. You may read more of her poetry on her website here, listen to her recite her poems here or connect with her Ginny on twitter.
~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~
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