Sunday, July 5, 2009

One Single Impression -- The Stranger

Strangers in the Troutdale Dining Room

Faded wooden floors,
chintz curtains flutter,
enticing aromas
waft from kitchen,
two lone people
adrift, waiting dinner.

A smile,
a word,
a laugh,
tendrils of connection
centripetal attraction
pulls strangers in.

A bottle of wine,
talk of work,
dreams found,
and loves let go,
until the sinking sun
sends each spinning
a separate trajectory
into the dark,
life’s gravity
fixing different orbits,
yet trailing rosy clouds
of memory
for years to come.

©sgreerpitt
July 5, 2009

Pen and ink drawing by sgreerpitt of the Troutdale Dining Room, July 1977, reproduced on a note card.

For more intriguing poems on the prompt "the stranger" see One Single Impression

12 comments:

Jim said...

Been there, done that Sue! I enjoy the memories even if sometimes the meeting was a complete flop.
Guess there weren't that many strangers in my life.
Thank you for the concept, I loved it.
..
BTW, more of the strangers in my life were female than male. Buddies don't count.
..

SandyCarlson said...

Oh, beautiful. Made me think of the movie at the Hayden Planetarium last week--Cosmic Collisions. How galaxies are formed!

Sherri B. said...

I loved the feeling you evoked...people's paths are always crossing, and one never knows if it's the start of something lasting or just a few moments shared in time.

The Dark Lord said...

Stunning piece of work.. the poignant moment you describe when strangers are brought together by a seemingly insignificant hand of fate for a few blessed moments before they are whisked away into their different "trajectories".. and the rosy memories that that impromptu meeting will harbour for years to come.. simply brilliant! And haven't we all chanced through some such cherished moments in our lifetimes?!...

anthonynorth said...

Beautiful memory. Moments like this add so much to life.

Naras Nook said...

This such a beautiful picture of how strangers bump into each other and have their orbits someone altered by brief connections, aware or not.

zoya gautam said...

.. a lovely drawing and picturesque words ..

Tumblewords: said...

Oh, this one strikes! Wonderful work. Serendipity that sings along for years...just lovely...

Anonymous said...

I can think of a couple of times in my life when a few hours spent in the company of a stranger made a profound difference in my life.

Don't you think these bump and glide away encounters are meant to be?

Patois42 said...

Such a night would be something to recall. I have a few of those. Thanks for stirring them up for me.

Pearl said...

nice cozy moment.

gabrielle said...

Beads click on a rosary. fingered with fondness.

What a lovely portrait of a shared moment!