Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Clinging a growing pool

Clinging to the roof – a cat
closing the front door – a firm click
down the hall like a ghost
TV playing earnestly
ancient pain
struts the screen
no one sees

radio plays in a closed room
ghost party perhaps

dog nails slowly clicking on the tile
tail hangs limp
quiet eyes
watching silence move
turns and
slowly clicking
recedes
to faintness

people make a place alive
without them
we float
without bodies

in the next world
the one across the very
thin, tough membrane
a woman is crying
she has a basket of dirty clothes
on her head
she falls constantly
with children
on her feet

she cries because
she cant hear the
tone of my words
the music in her
head is too loud

my only hope
is this poem
that the music will stop
like a pain suddenly gone
and she
will hear
this tone
of our larger
life

the meaning of emptiness is
to love, to love

15 comments:

angel-A said...

sometimes words are not enough ...

when woman cries she doesn't hear words...

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks gama! Loneliness has an altered state quality -- very dream-like. Glad you enjoyed this!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi angel-a! Yes, you are absolutely right -- words are our big problem! Words will never do. It is our tone, the tone of love or the tone of sorrow that seems to be the important part.
Also, how to get the attention of a crying person, maybe it isn't even possible? Only love can have a chance! And not with listening to or speaking words, only the tone in which mistaken words are spoken, has the hope of conveying our feelings. Thanks for your comments and nice to hear from you!

angel-A said...

Hi Russell ;),
i agree - it's impossible to misinterpret the tone of love, the tone of love reaches the very centre of our hearts...always.
only we forget that love is not a loud thing, it whispers and it leaves quietly if not heard...
0:-)

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi angel-a! The quietness of an empty pool of love (a pool so starved that the reflection of the moon can never be seen there again) only echos sobbing. An empty pool of love is a terrible thing; I don't want to go there. It would certainly drown anyone who comes near.

angel-A said...

"an empty pool of love" sounds scary.... love that consumes the soul and its energy.... don't know...in my imagination love is about flying high...hm-mm, and its danger is not about drowning but...hm-mm, falling from the height and be smashed against the earth ;-).... and loneliness....yes it's very like dreaming and i enjoy it ;-)

angel-A said...

being smashed.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi angel-a! An empty pool of love is scary and the absence of love is even worse. I didn't get what the "being smashed" was about. I hope all is well with you and yours and that you pool of love is full and happy!

angel-A said...

hey Russell,

"being smashed" was a correction for : falling from the height and be smashed against the earth ;-)

and, thanks, my pool of love is full especially with plenty of sun and warm weather. hope yours too :-)

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks angel-a, I was a bit mystified. Also, thanks for the kind sentiments. Things are busy and happy over here!

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

You have created a vivid scene full of the ghosts of peoples live
really enjoyed this

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Sue! Your kind and helpful comments are much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed it! Once again The Feral Child is simply awsome!

Excuse me for a second but I have to write something I don't feel compelled to end with an exclamation mark.

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

Thank-you Russell!!!!

Roger Stevens said...

The "in the next world" stanza. very good indeed. Strangeness - coupled with a strong, and everyday, image.

Nice poem all together.

Just been catching up on your blog. Some good poetry there.

Hope you're well.
How's spring progressing in your neck of the wood?
I'm almost inclined to say that summer is here...

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Roger! Thanks for the kind words and valuable comments; they are much appreciated! Glad to have you visiting and glad to hear your weather is so nice. Ours is still definately Spring, cool and wet with an odd day like today promising to be warm and sunny. Loved your recent poem with the seafood and the service and the wine. Brilliant stuff, Roger! All's well out our way, thanks and I do hope the same for you and yours.