The Year of Weeping Dangerously
The Year of Weeping Dangerously
It made it hard to see
where she was going,
harder to see
where she’d been.
When she walked, she seemed
to squeegie,
shoe leather sodden,
even rubber soles
losing their grip.
Old friends stayed out of her way,
only animals
never strayed,
liking, she assumed,
the salt.
These things tend to come in waves,
maybe because we’re part sea
and Time part sand (the other part tide).
But caught in that divide,
she cried,
sometimes beside
herself, sometimes,
like a small animal,
beside herself.
**************************
16th draft poem for April National Poetry Month. This one for Kerry O’ Connor’s wonderful prompt “in other words” on Real Toads about using bits of a title–in this case, The Year of Living Dangerously.
This has been super hectic/dismal work week so very sorry to be late returning comments. Also pic not really right–but there it is. (Mine, all rights reserved.)
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: April 2016 National Poetry Month, beside herself like a little animal poem, http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com, manicddaily, they liked the salt poem, year of weeping dangerously
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ManicDDaily 
April 15, 2016 at 12:05 am
I have had those years, days, months. It was either weep or die inside. I think of it as watering the life that remains so I can grow beyond the pain.
April 15, 2016 at 3:52 am
Beautifully written, as always.
April 15, 2016 at 7:56 am
These things tend to come in waves,
maybe because we’re part sea
and Time part sand
Such gorgeous lines…!! 🙂
April 15, 2016 at 7:57 am
These things tend to come in waves,
maybe because we’re part sea
and Time part sand
Such gorgeous lines..! 😀
April 15, 2016 at 9:13 am
I love the references both for the small animals (the attraction to salt is awesome) and the sea.. when we are so deep in sorrow maybe that’s when we are closest to the sea… almost like going back to the womb…
April 15, 2016 at 10:35 am
I’ve had times like this. Beautiful piece, K.
April 15, 2016 at 11:08 am
These things tend to come in waves,
maybe because we’re part sea
and Time part sand (the other part tide).
This is such an optimal thought! Sometimes we owe it to ourselves to grieve, despite what others may think.
April 15, 2016 at 11:32 am
I cant tell you how much I love and resonate with this poem. My favourite of yours ever, I think. The weeping, the animals that stay loyal, and being part sea, and Time part sand, the other part tide. Wow!!!!! Spectacular.
April 15, 2016 at 11:37 am
Karin, would you please email me at wildwoman2@shaw.ca ? something to ask you. Thanks, kiddo.
April 15, 2016 at 12:16 pm
“only animals
never strayed,
liking, she assumed,
the salt.”
This and your closing about crying like a small animal…really captured me…wonderful write, K. Thank you.
April 16, 2016 at 9:45 am
The phrases that Kerry quotes also struck me, and the conclusion, where one’s animal self is sitting next to one–perhaps not exactly a comfort, but still a warmth and a connection to the life the narrator weeps through, not as alone as perhaps she thinks.