Déjà Vu
'Traces of Deja Vu' Image reproduced by kind permission of ~2Mino Click on photo to view this incredible image in large format. |
In Memoriam for Betty Hardy
She wasn’t you
Standing at a strange bar
In a Carmarthen pub.
This smiling girl, living in your mask
Laughed with another voice.
Surrounded, as you once were
By boys, futureless as memory,
Young as immortality.
No. She wasn’t you.
But, only time, and place, and death,
Disproved her face was yours.
And only growing with regret
Kept me from foolishness.
Allowing me to bear the unexpected pain
Of seeing once again, your stunning face
Enthused with life.
No, she wasn’t you.
You were three hundred miles
And twenty years away.
And not alive, to hear me say
I saw your lovely image
Laugh again today.
©James Rainsford
Note to readers:
This poem means a very great deal to me. When I discovered this wonderful piece of photo manipulation by ~2Mino on http://www.deviantart.com I knew I could finally share this with others. Not only did ~2Mino's work carry the same title as my poem, but his brilliantly decorated girl bears a heart stopping resemblance to the poem's subject. I feel as though this amazing image, has in some strange way, made her immortal.
Coincidence is occasionally beyond our understanding.
absolutely beautiful James
ReplyDeletewow james...this is a beautiful moment...makes my heart a bit heavy fo rthe loss even though it has been years but to see her again...smiles.
ReplyDeleteLovely, interesting specifics in this poem-- we each surely know of this aching sort of deja vu. xxxj
ReplyDeleteWow... the poem is amazing overall. The final stanza is superb.
ReplyDeleteWoah. I must admit I caught myself staring at that image for a goodly moment - enthralling thing, isn't it? It provides a good backdrop/set-up for the poem too - it breathes life, that curious sort of power that stops a person in the midst of deja vu. She wasn't you, for you were twenty years away...now that's a powerful description, and one that really scratches at the emotional quality of the piece as well. Lovely.
ReplyDelete...She wasn’t you
ReplyDeleteStanding at a strange bar
In a Carmarthen pub...
Wonderful.
welcome to JP..
ReplyDeletesuperb piece.
A++
its a deja vu isnt it? nice write james! thank you for sharing this.. my potluck- http://fiveloaf.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/nectar-from-heaven/
ReplyDeleteVery good sir!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a really great poem.
ReplyDeleteThe girl, her age, her likeness. All really well described.
Thank you for sharing.
Like the theme idea too! Perfect poem for the picture!
ReplyDeleteWow! In my mind, there has never been such a thing as coincidence, and this piece is just another testament to this belief. When two amazing things come together such as the photo and the poem, amazing reactions can't help but follow. You have entered the realm of pure potentiality, and this is the place miracles happen. I remain endebted to you for sharing this with us...we all do. :)
ReplyDeleteJames, I have chosen your poem, Deja vu, to feature as Poem of the Week on Poetry Potluck. You are incredibly talented and I look forward to reading more of your work. I will post it at about 4 PM PST, which I believe is midnight UT. I am linking the post to your blog so that readers can see the image and read more of your work. Thank you. Victoria
ReplyDeleteJames, the post is up and if you would like to see it you will find it at http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHope it meets with your approval.Thank you for sharing with us.
Victoria
Thank you so much for sharing this with such an outclassed-by-you poet as I! I am particularly humbled by the simple language that creates such complex feeling and thought! I'd give you a link to my site, but will wait until I have something at least 1/2 as good as this!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, and I will be back frequently to be nourished by your wonderful work.
A gorgeous piece. Wonderfully written.
ReplyDeletei ache james
ReplyDeletesomewhere north of my gut --
beautiful piece
later my brother
este
That was a wonderful poem .The ending was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMoving, moving work. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePowerful and so relatable, hearing that voice, seeing that inflection and remembering grief. Excellent poetry.
ReplyDeleteBeth
Oh, yes...I remember this and I'm so glad you re-posted this. This is the first poem of yours I read and remember choosing it for Poem of the Week. Can't suggest anything with this one, James.
ReplyDeleteA very touching tribute to a lost love. I only wish you'd removed capital from the beginning of lines which didn't warrant them grammatically - they interrupted the flow of the eyes/brain/understanding...Thanks for sharing a personal emotion - it's a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteVery moving piece!
ReplyDeleteonly time, and place, and death. This burst of feelings was penned down right there at the bar and I could feel all the sights and sounds and your heart and her face, present, and past.
ReplyDeleteThis lovely girl, living in your mask
ReplyDeleteLaughed with another voice.
Surrounded, as you once were
By boys, futureless as memory,
Young as immortality.
An affecting tribute clearly imbued with your emotions.
I think this is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThis is stunningly beautiful and felt so so sad. So intense and heartfelt. Actually- this is one of the best pieces I have read in a long time. I think it is perfectly legitimate to present such personal subject matter in poetry- for me- it's what it's all about. It's about putting your guts into it, your heart- and this does just that. I want to feel the words I read- and man- now I ache. This superb
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking. I'm not normally one for the flood of poems that come with Valentine's, but this...this is a beautiful tribute, and a wonderfully emotional poem, James. Wondrous work.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how a voice, a laugh, a circumstance can shoot us back through time and space and wrap us in a memory. Though bittersweet, this was very thoughtful and lovely. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI've been here before, both immersed in the poem and living a memory. In fact, I don't think I could have read a more perfect poem to fit my today. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, James. What an experience that must have been to see someone who looked so much like the person who had passed away. I have glimpses like this occasionally, but only quick glimpses, and then I realized my mistake....but this sounds as if it was more than a momentary glimpse. It is a powerful poem, heartfelt, one which will stay with me.
ReplyDeleteAnd only growing with regret
ReplyDeleteKept me from foolishness...smiles...understood....seeing someone again is hard...heavy with emotion...i think sharing those intimate / difficult memories frees us a bit but allows us to connect as well...
I love this James, specially the last stanza ~
ReplyDeleteoh heck...can imagine how painful it was to see someone who reminded her so much of her and brought back all the emotions and memories...a deeply felt and emotional write james
ReplyDeleteOmg. This is more deeper than it portrays itself.
ReplyDeleteSo personal and intimate. Can I see a longing for those olden days and desires. Yes. Very much.
Wonderful. Deserves an encore.
Beautiful and breathtaking - futureless as memories, excellent.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, James... made me teary-eyed. I agree with Brian in that it does help free us when we write about things weighing us down. She was lovely, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteHeart-stopping, James. There is someone I used to see everywhere, like this, knowing it couldn't be, for quite awhile--you describe the sensation with intensity, and that clarity that comes when the emotions have been boiled down through pain to their essence. A fine piece of writing(and an incredible photo-manipulation.)
ReplyDeleteI've had that similar deja vu feeling, seeing someone somewhere I thought I knew... but it was never about someone who'd passed away, as you have put here. Somehow, there will be parts of this poem that will haunt me in my dreams tonight.
ReplyDelete"You were three hundred miles
ReplyDeleteAnd twenty years away." == wow. That line hit me like a brick wall.
so liked how you captured the pain and hope that comes later
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful..deja vu does stir up memories.
ReplyDeleteI have worn similar shoes while walking on a familiar path...This is absolutely lovely.
ReplyDeleteFull of poignancy and oh so strong sentiment. It is memorable, to say the least, James. Well written.
ReplyDeletebreathtakingly stunning
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt and beautiful, James.
ReplyDelete