Thursday, June 30, 2011

Really meant to, but...

Parting ways

Never learned the art
of saying goodbye
so you just sat watching
trying not to whine
as your friends leave
one after another,
giving their reasons (

it's late


I've got work tomorrow,
I've got another date
with another group
of friends. Baby's waiting


for me


) and not liking any
of it; reluctantly,
you accept
that it's okay


              sad smile

              see you next time

      when

  if


and smile at your shared vision
of another gathering
everyone means to make true

if time allows; still
in the moment,

                  when

gently interupted
by a waiter asking
if you would like
another cup of tea,
you realise, you

really

must be going too.



 ***
This poem was in part provoked by Sxethang's photo "Plenty of Seats".

 Submitted for Thursday Poets Rally Week 47.


31 comments:

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

amazing imagery...
bless you.
keep it up.

Anonymous said...

all things pass...but this poem left a fragrant memory

Anonymous said...

A place we've all been. things we've heard. very nice!

Anonymous said...

its so very sad. and unfortunately so true for many.

Ravenblack said...

Jingle, zenmirror, huckleberry and lunawitch -- thanks for coming by and leaving your thoughts and comments.

I truly dread the chain of awkward goodbyes after a gathering -- it's "let's keep in touch, we must do this every year", I think by now everyone knows it usually isn't possible. :D

Maggie said...

Yeah, goodbyes are not easy. This was terrific.

Anonymous said...

Love your poem about parting. I don't like parting also, but life calls us back. Good job!

Anonymous said...

The goodbye to end all goodbyes. This swelled and covered so much. Well done.

Someone is Special said...

Love your poem Raven.. Here is my Rally Post, ? will my life be colourful ?

Someone is Special

dsnake1 said...

impressive write. i think most readers can relate to this. :)

i like the shape of this poem, especially the use of the line breaks & white spaces, like the awkward moments when we are searching for words during a ...parting. and i like the imagery you have painted for this poem.

Ravenblack said...

thingy, myjoysandhealing, kshawnedgar:
Thanks for your comments. I really appreciate them and am glad that you all can relate to this poem. :)

Someone is Special: Thanks, and i've visited your page too. Hope everything turns out well for you and your father.


dsnake: Thanks. Your feedback means a lot to me. (I see that you have written something! *rush to read*)

Anonymous said...

Very gentle and realistic... Nice work!

Anonymous said...

Ahh.. seeing old friends.. Lovely Write.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, wonderful flow: that irresistible urge to turn back the hourglass, the moment when all laughter ceases because everyone remembers the time, the great departure--one chink and the dam bursts, smile to the world lest they know you're hurt.

Anonymous said...

Hosting a party tomorrow and you just described my worst nightmares for it (apart from all the people who have already said they're not coming)... *sigh* But I suppose that means your words managed to move me! *smile* Well put!

Anonymous said...

Very sad and something I can certainly relate with, I've lost a lot of friends

Ravenblack said...

Magdalena and jennirey: thanks for your comments. :)

wordcoaster: yes that is how it is. Some poeple can't wait to go though! lol Thanks for your thoughts.

ccchampagne: Thank you, and good luck on your party, it's a challenge to host a successful one.

mindlovemisery: sometimes i think reunions remind us of losts too.

Sober on the Way to Sane said...

Sad, true, beautifully written

Ravenblack said...

Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, Sherrie (Sober on the Way to Sane - I wish you good journey.)


@all:
Oh btw, if somehow I missed out visiting your blog in return, give me a nudge. Post your link. :)

Anonymous said...

nice thoughts on saying good bye. Life is short and ephemeral and we can make it happy by not being too attached and learning to part with a smile:)

Ravenblack said...

Good advice, Sajeev. I try to live the moment especially when I'm with friends, so I can have it in my mind forever and not be sorry that I wasted it in any way when it is passed. Thanks for visiting and leaving your thoughts. :)

Anonymous said...

You have really captured the feeling of the quality of social relationships in our time-- I'm not sure how old this phenomenon is, or how it came to be that excuses more or less so often replace actual goodbyes, creating a feeling of the time spend with friends or loved ones to somehow be a distraction from the more important aspects of life. It is really weird how we can say to people, "I'm sure you have to go, I understand," which gets us somehow out of having to be the bad guy putting an end to our time with the other person/s.

The image of the waiter asking if you want another cup of tea is a great way to introduce this ironic twist on such situations.

Thanks for this poem, Ravenblack.

Ravenblack said...

Thank you for thoughts on my poem. :)

Very interesting point on that phenomenon of excuses and leeways over just saying goodbye.

I don't know what that is either exactly. :D

Anonymous said...

Very powerful imagery. Loved the way your words did not feel the need to sit rigidly to a margin, the flowed across the page, caring little for margins or lines. Really enjoyed it.
The Lonely Recluse.

Ravenblack said...

Thank you, lonelyrecluse. Glad you enjoyed it. :)

Anonymous said...

Evokes unfinished business in such a creative and poetic way!

Ravenblack said...

Cindy, glad to see you again. Yes, some left too early and I do feel like we were not done yet.

Liz Rice-Sosne said...

Ravenblack ... this is lovely with a gentle pace of movement and thoughtfulness running throughout your words. I enjoyed it!

Ravenblack said...

Thanks Old Raven. :) I'm glad you liked it.

Brian Miller said...

another superb write...love your voice...glad you dropped in today...

Ravenblack said...

It was a pleasure. And thanks. :)