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Tuesday 8 November 2011

To my wife on our move to a new home in the country


Have we now found Utopia, Shangri-La?
Call it what you will
It still,
Is just a state of mind,
Where we will find
But what we make.

Take our new view
Of undulating pastures green
And of trees seen, and loved.

Horizons far and space to run;
Where fun is rediscovered,
And the sun,
Whose cloud tossed light
Makes landscapes flow
With bright
And sometimes darker hues.

Will blues pursue us here?
Will fears,
Of what has been
Or what’s to come
Create fresh landscapes
for our desperate tears?

For I doubt if the mere presence of a view
Can be the instrument to build our life anew,
And kinship with the earth
Means no rebirth
Of feelings dead or dying.

But as the sighing wind can welcome sunshine,
Or betoken calm before the storm,
So can our love, both cool and warm
Find here a new beginning,
Or an end.

© James Rainsford 2011



Note to readers: Posted as my contribution to Open Link Night at dVerse Poets.
The above was written at a pivotal point in my marriage when the relationship was in a precarious and uncertain balance. 
The line dividing those relationships which succeed and those which fail are frequently thinner than a razor. I hope I've managed to capture something of the frailty and regret which can characterise the death of love. 
Your comments are very welcome. Please click on the comments tab below to record your views.
Kind regards to all who visit here. James.

20 comments:

  1. James! This is powerful...no explanation was needed as your words summed up the hope of what might be, and the fear of what may come. A wonderful telling, but was it new life...or death? I am assuming the not so happy ending, based on comment...but new adventures ensued!

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  2. On similar wavelengths today James. What a bursting joy of a love song and the journey of living.

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  3. no i think you did well..a fresh start in a move is a great jump off point for a relationship as well...i hope that it only enriches and allays any fears...

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  4. A view can melt stress... for a moment anyway

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  5. One can feel two lives teetering on the brink of....something. Nicely written, James.

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  6. James, I hope that the razor's edge turned to be dull and that romance and love are the flavor of the day. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. A not so happy ending or was it? Like how you let the reader come to their own conclusion either way with every beginning there is an end adn end there is a beginning.

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  9. James what a great capture when love transforms from the wonderful thing that it is. A beautiful write.

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  10. Funny, My wife and I just moved to the country...You calmed me down a bit with this. We have a wonderful view but again, it is the richness of soul that makes beautiful scenery...well done.

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  11. The second to last stanza sums up what I was thinking as I read the piece. The country has it's own magic for sure, but the most magic of all is contained within the connection of two hearts. Enjoyed the piece. Thanks for sharing

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  12. This was quite the roller coaster ride. Though I am left without the thrill, but we can always ride again another roller coaster right?

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  13. A beautiful, if subtly somber piece. The picture is apt - for the way you peel away the images we build ourselves, in hope. Not the happiest of endings, but surely a real one: we all must ask, can location alone really change the statues of the heart? The pains? The beauties? There is hope, afoot, surely, but there is fear as well. An altogether human work, splendidly rendered.

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  14. We moved to the country six years ago, and the change of scenery isn't enough to mend things. Best of wishes to you.

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  15. Oh the fraility of the most strong emotion - Love. But some of the times, I think its frail only because we do not love unconditionally, or we love with expectations ... etc...
    I liked the tentative appraoch to your time with your self... and love... and in the end, you summed it up rather well with lines...

    'Will blues pursue us here?
    Will fears,
    Of what has been
    Or what’s to come
    Create fresh landscapes
    for our desperate tears?'

    Who knows what will happen, when you love... and then also expect to be loved back... its in our power to love.. but not in our power to make some one else to reciprocate... as then that is not love.. but a deal... well these are my thoughts...

    I enjoyed your words that you have shared... thanks.

    Shashi
    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/whispers-tears-in-rain.html

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  16. I like the balancing act you've created in this poem. When a relationship is on the verge of ending it seems that either outcome is possible for a moment. Mostly because we often wish it not to end. Big changes are difficult and I've found best done in slow motion...at least at first. It's much easier to find closure that way.

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  17. A well-worded lesson. Locations can help change our mood, behaviors, and thoughts, but they aren't the only thing which influences our thoughts. I think you did a lovely job showing the hope of a new place mixed with the apprehension of old habits.

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  18. No matter where we go, we all

    "will find
    But what we make"

    We had a mountain cabin for awhile, but would never move there due to the distance to a good hospital in case of emergency. City folks!

    But I also recall being at a breakfast benefit for a Food Bank in Nova Scotia and overhearing the local good ol' boys chewing over with some puzzlement why the new folks had just moved there in retirement, since they didn't know anyone locally. It seemed very peculiar to them. Guess they were accustomed to the support network they had in their families and long-time locals.

    But we WILL do anything for love and a little fresh scenery, now won't we?!? (;0=}

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  19. there is a sadness in this, but also much of beauty. I hope your new view brings healing.

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  20. love the image you choose,
    and your words are simply perfectly balanced and lovely!

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If you wish your views and opinions to be published here, please be polite and respectful. I welcome feedback on my work and will try to respond if you take the trouble to post a comment. Thanks for visiting 'The Sanctum of Sanity.' Hope you enjoyed the experience, James.