In An Instant
In an instant–
In an instant
all I can remember are the shapes
of his fingers pulled
from the water, digits big
as cigars, and, though they curved
as I caught the arm, sodden under the shirt cuff, streaming
sleeve of suit,
the effect was of someone raising his hand
to ask a question–
I can only think of the one I had been calling out
the long blue minutes before, which still rebounded
about the floating surfaces, a stone caught
in a single skip–
where are you?
******************
A rather enigmatic poem.
The pic, such as it is, is mine; as with the poem, all rights reserved.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, Uncategorized
Tags: dream poem, in an instant poem, in some kind of pool poem, manicddaily, someone drowned poem
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ManicDDaily 
June 10, 2015 at 5:56 am
My first read, I was thinking of a drowned me. Still not sure I am off that interestation – between the looking for them, and them being all wet. Made me think of the feeling of being lost as a kid. Such panic in the heart. And of course if the dead person was a parent, the loss of them in their lives going forward.
June 10, 2015 at 7:46 am
How we can rescue the drowned of our pasts, yet they still are mute, except for …the raised hand, the acquiescence to our fantasy? Enigmatic and full of a dark but contemplative sort of feel–forgive me for not being able to see clearer today into what is really salvaged from that river of dreams…it can be so many things.
June 10, 2015 at 7:48 am
I couldn’t see what to do to make it clearer either! I usually like to go an extra step– you know try to give a pretty clear hint or tie something up a bit with a bow, I guess, but just left as is. Maybe should think of something to add. But was in a bit of a 55 mode in writing it so just left. Thanks as always. K.
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June 10, 2015 at 9:39 am
It’s very powerful as it is, Karin. I read it as someone searching frantically for someone who was drowning,. who found him too late. I love Joy’s interpretation, so deep. Either way, it has great impact. The hand,like one raised to ask a question, is especially good.
June 10, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Enigmatic it is, but it also reads like a dream and like a premonition. I quite enjoyed it. Thanks.
Greetings from London.
June 10, 2015 at 11:28 pm
Scary! The lifting of a hand with no life in it–I can see the hand curving–I can imagine the wish that the hand was still raisable! Gosh. I have lifted a person’s hand in sleep, and it curved, and I checked twice to be sure it was sleep and not death. Where are you!? might speak of a very different kind of absence.
June 12, 2015 at 6:20 am
One wonders sometimes why they are not there. The memory of someone dear is difficult to erase. Great lines K!
Hank
June 21, 2015 at 8:06 pm
before memory, family lore is i nearly drowned, saved by my father jumping in the pool fully clothed to rescue me – so the suited arm in reverse, as it were. I favor the enigma – it allows room to wander, and wonder ~
June 21, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Thanks. I often like to push things farther but sometimes well just let them be. Glad you were saved!!! K.