Too Long Out Of Eden
Too Long Out of Eden
Increasingly, when I come to joy,
my heart breaks,
aching for those
who’ve gone ahead too soon.
I’ve grieved already–
that nothing could make them stay,
spirit them away
from what would take them.
But good ongoing
brings fresh loss–even the sweetest fruit
of the tree of knowledge
hard to swallow
in such shadows.
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55 sad ones for Real Toads. (Sorry! I’ve been meaning to post something humorous, but you write what you write.) (Photograph, mine, is of some kind of apple-pear in a very poor fruit year.)
Also, the original title of this was “In Age” — this may have been a better title but I wanted to give more of a hint to the tree of knowledge metaphor–I am thinking of the understanding of the distinction between good and evil that the bite of the forbidden fruit gave. K. (Obscure– I admit it.)
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: how could they go so soon, knowledge of good and evil doesn't allow for much choice, manicddaily, poem about loss, something missing poem
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ManicDDaily 
October 5, 2014 at 9:15 am
Yes, the tree of knowledge has tempting fruit indeed, but somehow it is never as sweet as it looks before we pick it. The title of this fits the somber but lso enduring message–that joy is still there for those of us who remain, even if diminished by the absence of the ones with whom we wish to share it. (I have never seen an apple-pear before, either–is it grafted with branches of both fruits?–it seems a bit more pear-like in structure to me, but telling trees by their shape –or without their leaves–was one of the hardest parts of my plant materials class.)
October 5, 2014 at 10:53 am
I’m sure it is classified as a pear but the fruit is like those pear apples or apple pears that the Chinese seem to cultivate– at least they used to have them in Chinatown– but this is a rather old tree.
Thanks– this poem went through a few iterations– perhaps the earlier rawer versions were better but I felt even more sentimental so drew back at bit. Who knows? I cannot always tell when I am moving in the right direction with something. K.
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October 6, 2014 at 9:52 am
Who can? Not me, anyway. I know the fruit you mean—it has its own name, but can’t think of it now.
October 5, 2014 at 9:47 am
The one that leave to early.. There is nothing sadder (and maybe more to be left behind) the connection to the fruit of knowledge is very interesting and have me pondering..
October 5, 2014 at 11:24 am
Thanks, Bjorn. I’ve changed the title to try to make that clearer. K.
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October 5, 2014 at 9:55 am
The shadows come from all Light except that of high noon. I love your poem.
October 5, 2014 at 10:13 am
*sigh* I have nothing to say, because this poem is complete, affecting, satisfying in its universality and melancholy.
October 5, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Thanks. K.
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October 5, 2014 at 10:31 am
There are too many losses we have to weather along the way. It never gets easier.
October 5, 2014 at 12:10 pm
Obscure becomes you, Ms. Karin!
October 5, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Ha! Thanks, Helen. K.
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October 5, 2014 at 3:19 pm
I love the title and that ending K ~
October 5, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Hmmmm I liked what was going on…
October 5, 2014 at 11:31 pm
Loss stays with us … Beautiful piece
October 6, 2014 at 6:05 am
increasingly, as you say, i certainly experience October like this. sigh, for sure.
October 6, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Bitter-sweet and poignant, K.
October 9, 2014 at 9:30 am
Very deep. We always learn from loss. Sometimes the alternative is not living a life. Which would be our greatest loss. Beautiful writing. Peace.