Life is walking the dogs,
squatting after them
with a roll of plastic bags
unrolling like an unsavoury tongue.
It happens unexpectedly,
as you try a new recipe,
or opt for the reliable tomato,
always close to hand, and
toss it through a thoughtless pasta —
an old squishy friend
long run to seed, half-seen,
through being seen so much.
Revelations happen,
but most of us are not
St Joan, and God speaks
on a muffled, cracked phone
when we are half listening,
marinating in the mundane
in our accustomed way.
The pause between heartbeats
is more eloquent than any sermon —
that flicker of self; the bandwidth
not quite enough for all the data.
We are walking into God
each day, as we smell the onions,
or squat for the mutts in
a strange, mimetic act.
One day soon, I’ll obtain a clear line.
One day soon the very last walk,
and the darkened screen
pure light, and a meal,
such a meal, as will never end.
P.S. Cottier
The title is from John 10:28 KJV
***
After 30 poems in 30 days, I am very tired. I'll leave it to the rest of you now! I blog at pscottier.com, and it's best to visit on Tuesdays.
A beautiful exit. I too am very tired after my 30 days – and glad to have done them, and to have encountered your work (as well as many others). Will read your blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat Rosemary. I will look out for further poetry by you too.
ReplyDeleteGreat opening stanza! I'll miss your poetry, and your sense of humour, Penelope. It's been a great pleasure!
ReplyDeleteThank you Efi. I am very funny.
DeleteHave loved reading your work and getting to know you. The first 30 days is the hardest. :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a rather bad pop song! Needs more piña colada.
DeleteHow can we survive without PS satire - don't gooooooooo Penelope!!!! And thank you. A wonderful finale poem.
ReplyDeletePS that looks like my shadow behind you - spooky - well yes I do often lurk around your blog
ReplyDeleteWow. Thank you so much Penelope. I LOVE this poem. I'm going to come back to it again and again. It was lovely to meet you and read your work, and yes, I would love to visit your blog (on a Tuesday...)
ReplyDeleteLizza...Lisazza, Lurphy...I am drunk, but thanx
ReplyDeleteAnd Lizz, please stalk anytime!
ReplyDeleteI too loved reading you and am glad I now know you are a Penelope. The last 30 days were great and I feel hugely satisfied to have made it but I found it tiring . Will keep an eye out for your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gail.
Delete