My next step

[lizzytysh]

I sure do love all of your reversals and wordplay in this, Dany.


~ Lizzy

[JiminyC]

Lovely stuff, the last reminds me of every common persons struggle over oppression and how they are always strengthened and stronger by their struggle, by passion, by vibrancy and appreciation of life. I will read this again with relish,
James.

[Dany Hilven]

I'm very honoured by your reactions, Lizzy and James.
They do take away some of the uncertainty and hesitation before publishing any new poem on the forum.
It's nice to have people react to one's work!
Dany

[JiminyC]

I do believe it is our honour to have all of the poems up here, so a big personal thanks to the founders and the writers - where is Bernard though he is due for more input!

I read the last poem again Dany and this time I got a big sexual take, which was good but then bad cos I am single, but great use of language and top notch stuff. I am but an apprentice in these parts but glad to voice my appreciation.
Jim.

[Dany Hilven]

witnesses


what if all the witnesses are gone
nobody left to tell the stories
nobody left to convey the legacy

what if all the witnesses are silenced
who shall bear their burden
who shall provide vision

what if all the witnesses resign
deny their memories
what if they turn their backs
empty their pasts

they might be mothers, angels of the heart
they might be brothers and sisters astray

what, I ask you, if they no longer have light in their eyes
if they simply lost their need for future





Dany

[JiminyC]

I'm jealous.

Thank you Dany.
Jim.

[Sarry]

I usually lean towards the first rule: Simplicity. This however was proof that complexity can be simply devine. I felt this poem. Good work. Excellent.

Btw, here where I live in Canada, we often part ways with, 'say a prayer for the cowboy' as to gesture a blessing of sorts. Well after all, this is cow country. Not to be taken lightly. I guess interpretation is everything.

I look forward to more of your work.

Sarah

[JiminyC]

[Sarry]

Dany,

How sad. What if? Then loss of hope. My only experience with this is death of the soul. You are asking up front potent questions here that scare the hell out of us.

This forum is a gift to me. Like I have found a well hidden nest where there are poets and wanna be poets (like myself) huddling around sharing works and exploring this life. Just when I was asking what if.

Great dialogue with you and Jim. Speaking of which Jim, you are very brave and don't perhaps see it as you share your thoughts with us. Oh...and are you referring here to the Shipping News? If so, amazing. It's sound track bellows out of my truck as I bump along these country roads. Sends more chills up my spine and I thank you.

Don't stop boys.

Sarah

[JiminyC]

[Dany Hilven]

Sarah, Jim, and all the other Visitors,
It's just great to see that one's poems reach people even over the great waters...
Interesting, Sarah, that 'say a prayer for the cowboy' is used as a kind of 'godspeed'... didn't know that, but it makes sense: I've been having a kind of party with some young Canadian cowboys and some colleagues after visiting a rodeo show in Denver, centuries ago... - remembering them (the cowboys) trying to stay on the back of furiously jumping and running huge bulls, I can now fully understand the meaning of this saying!

It also adds a special dimension to LC's song "Ballad of the Absent Mare"...
Dany

[Dany Hilven]

my name


here is the word
that I never lied

here is the sound
of my voice

here is my blood
in this chalice
I pass it on to you

here is my defeat
my conquered love
here is my humility

here is my name

that I call you




Dany

[lizzytysh]

witnesses


what if all the witnesses are gone
nobody left to tell the stories
nobody left to convey the legacy

what if all the witnesses are silenced
who shall bear their burden
who shall provide vision

what if all the witnesses resign
deny their memories
what if they turn their backs
empty their pasts

they might be mothers, angels of the heart
they might be brothers and sisters astray

what, I ask you, if they no longer have light in their eyes
if they simply lost their need for future

Dear Dany ~

As I read this, I thought of Leonard, as one whose witnessing will be felt as a gaping hole when he's gone and his witnessing with him. As I read it, I felt prayer for Leonard to enjoy a very long life and thought of Sarry's poem "Stay." There will only ever be one Leonard Cohen and, for me, no one will ever come close... they will witness and have their say, and it will be in their own ways, some of which I will love; yet, no one's witnessing will be like that of Leonard.

Thanks.

~ Lizzy

[lizzytysh]

I like "my name" a lot ~ that's all the further I can go at this moment, just wanted to say at least that much to you, though.

~ Lizzy

[Sarry]

You are beautiful people. Truly. Dany, yes the Ballad of the Absent Mare. It is poems like this one that in my heart makes Cohen a master.

And he leans on her neck
and he whispers low
"Whither thou goest
I will go"

How many times I have done that on my horses. How does he know this feeling?? How can he cut right to the core of something that I once believed possible only for the one who experienced it? That bond, unspoken yet screaming loud to one another as we ride as one. No whip needed. More than just left and right. He is amazing.

Thank you for appreciating this. All of you.

Sarah