Sunday, April 19, 2009

One Single Impression -- One Word

In December 1981 I wrote the following:

I was instructed once
that great poems never
use the word "love"
but must always
speak of it.
Only in a silent room
may the nuances of
the heart be heard.

Unfortunately for the young man I was dating at the time (and quite a few others before him) my poetry was much wiser than I was. Obsessed with that one word, I was blind to loving actions, and drowned more than one potential relationship in a torrent of demands.

one word--
a trophy sought;
relentless hunger
consuming all
who came too close;
blinded
to the silent gestures,
the evidence of love
unspoken.

©sgreerpitt
April 18, 2009

for other wonderful poems on this prompt see One Single Impression.

15 comments:

Amias (ljm and liquidplastic) said...

So true Sue. Once I said I love you, I knew the relationship was over, because the man I said it too, thought it was a chain around his neck. Now the man who really loved me, showed it but never said it ... I couldn't live with that and left him. Most of my life this love thing have haunted me ... "to be or not to be" yes, that is the question, and old I still don't have the answer.

Thanks you for all your wise comments and wonderful poetry.

Deborah Godin said...

There's much wisdon here, of life, the heart, the self, of others.

Maggie said...

The word love is used far too careless by some people and in time their actions will prove their word.

It is a wonderful thing when word and action fit each other...the taste is like no other.

Geraldine said...

You've nailed it Sue. This is so very true. Yes, I remember these feelings well.Great job!

Hugs, G

anthonynorth said...

A word not to be used lightly. You put it very well.

Haiku Tuna said...

Are we greedy to want them both, the word and the actions? Loving actions can sustain for some time but not forever. Amias, you are not alone!

SandyCarlson said...

Been there, Sue. Your words go a long way to taking the sting out of that growing experience.

gautami tripathy said...

So profound. Maybe we really don't understand love..

slices of onions

Tumblewords: said...

How well I remember trying to learn that word and using it in the appropriate time and space. Excellent post!

Anonymous said...

Close to home Sue, my dad was not one to say the word, but did, for sure. It used to bother me, until I moved to New England, where people are so much more reserved with their words. It is all in the comfort of it, both for the giver and the receiver.

Quiet Paths said...

You have a lot of depth in these small verse. Only in a silent room
may the nuances of
the heart be heard. I've always felt that silence is the language of love...

gabrielle said...

the hunger sometimes is blinding
it can take years to notice the fragrance in a silent room

qualcosa di bello said...

your words remind me that actions do speak louder than words & it is wise to be observant.

sexy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Suzanne said...

This is a beautiful poem Sue,
thanks for sharing it
Sue
www.livinginsanmiguel.wordpress.com