September Meeting
It was you,
stranger in a strange land;
possessed with eyes blue as hyacinths,
innocent as birth,
blameless as death’s cold love
for all our brief imaginings.
You, who called from hibernation
all those great and sad perspectives
sharp with joy and desolation.
You, who faced me with such instant love,
that I, caught in the slowness
of low expectation,
almost failed to perceive
how in your voice “forever” breathed.
And through your life lost kingdoms moved,
and were restored for me.
That you should be the catalyst for this.
The last great journey of the mind,
where separation from the sound
of solar wind was healed.
Where I became the stuff of stars,
and knew myself to be at home
in strange unconscious streets, whose
temporal testament to many gods
flowed stoney through my blood.
That you, though unaware, should
see the supernova of my heart’s
last true and guileless grief,
to leave a pulsar at my soul
so black, that life itself
is captive at my core.
That I should be made whole
for just one moment by your touch,
and meet again the Angel of the Elegies,
who at Duino had vouchsafed
a vision to a fellow mind
which would have understood
how through your eyes
infinity surprised my soul,
and startled me from sleep.
©James Rainsford 2011
Note to readers: This was written to mark an unexpected meeting between two, who became lovers, soul-mates and ultimately, strangers. It marked a very significant period in my life which I remember with an intense longing and infinite gratitude. It also echos my love for the poetry of the incredible Rainer Maria Rilke, who was my inspiration at the time of my love for the subject of this poetic token.
Re-posted as my entry to dVersePoets on September 27th. First posted back May, but reproduced now as I feel it's probably my most authentic and meaningful love poem, and it is, still September.
To leave a response please click the comments tab below.I'll try to respond to all who visit and comment. Kind regards to all at dVersePoets, James.
Wow you sure set a captivating scene. A vision indeed, this was masterfully done!
ReplyDeleteI can feel your longing for the past here, James. And anyone who can tie-in a Robert Heinlein reference is okay in my book. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yes. My favorite part, or at least the part I identified most strongly with, was that you almost missed the signs.
ReplyDelete'You, who called from hibernation
ReplyDeleteall those great and sad perspectives
sharp with love and desolation.'
I have missed your work the last couple of weeks James as I have been involved with the tyranny of the urgent. As I came here again today I have been oh so richly rewarded. This is a masterpiece for all time.
It is beautiful. Every line goes extreme deep, but I can still follow.
ReplyDeleteSounds as if this relationship was a wonderful gift to you.
ReplyDelete"That I should be made whole
for just one moment by your touch,"
Pretty amazing :)
how through your eyes
ReplyDeleteinfinity surprised my soul,
and startled me from sleep.
I love those lines. It is such a gift when someone does that to us. Beautiful writing!
wow...sounds like a rather intense relationship that touched you deeply...restoring lost kingdoms...perhaps even though it was fleeting it served it purpose to reawaken you....
ReplyDeleteThe last great journey of the mind,
ReplyDeletewhere separation from the sound
of solar wind was healed.
Nothing can beat the true meeting of minds - and bodies.
Wow ... Such a gift to have that in your life.... Beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteTo have such a relationship, to know these feelings, it`s really what we all long for. A wonderful testament to a time that will forever be cherished...beautiful and authenticate! What more can a poetry lover want!
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible love that must have been sir! Oh my! I am guilty of having written many pieces of incomparable garbage, illegitimate attempts at stringing the hearts of young lovers who fled away as fast as my words could dissolve. I can't help but think that if I had just a shred of this talent I would not have lost the very first one, who undoubtedly would still be with me today, all the others unnecessary. Your poems just brought to me the smell of her perfume, sprinkled on her poems to me, a scent safely sealed in their envelopes as they traveled across the world to find me, a lifetime ago. Simply beautiful.....
ReplyDelete