Monday, January 7, 2013

Old Man, Winter, and I



old man winter and i
standing on mountain grass and rocks

a slicing breeze
pulls the cork
and empties me

character failures spill out
on a screen of snow

i watch them play
with my mind

enter Remorse
followed by Blessed Forgetfulness

because the sun is up, bright
among sparse clouds
burning mercy, a silver lining,

into memories
that never forget me



Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Linking up to another great day of poetry at dVerse.

43 comments:

ND Mitchell said...

There's a lovely feel to this. I like"burning mercy...into memories that never forget me". Like the day becomes a healer and thaws out our imperfections. Great work.

ND Mitchell said...

PS Just read Isaiah 43:25 and thought if your poem again.

Brian Miller said...

burning mercy a silver lining into memories that never forget me....great close...love the popping the cork of you...the spilling of failures too...though dont let those be the only thing you think on, winter will def do that, but...

Janet Martin said...

My turn to say wow! Yes. Back to read it again...

Claudia said...

memories
that never forget me...love how you turn this around...great images...my fav the breeze breeze, pulling the cork...

Mary said...

Very nice. Old Man Winter definitely has a way of emptying a person....and aiding a person in remembering things she / he would rather forget. Thankfully spring DOES arrive!

ayala said...

Memories that never forget me...great line. Love this!

mrs mediocrity said...

" a slicing breeze
pulls the cork
and empties me"

love that especially, but in truth, i love all of it... great tone and imagery.

blueness said...

..those concluding lines just took my breath away..delicate yet powerful in its message. beautiful poem, Jennifer, so much emjoyed..

Anonymous said...

i love the images you gift the reader with in this poem, unique, brilliant.. especially

character failures spill out
on a screen of snow
and

memories
that never forget me


wow!

colleen said...

Love the cork image and the empty snow screen. It's good to be aware but also to be gentle with ourselves.

Buddah Moskowitz said...

Bravo! A great, perfectly executed poem. Thanks.

Kathy Reed said...

I echo the same thoughts about burning mercy; the entire poem is smart and a great reflection on forgiving ourselves...

Grace said...

This is lovely specially this part :

burning mercy, a silver lining,

into memories
that never forget me

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much ND, I really appreciate your thoughtful words. And thanks for the scripture reminder too...love that one. Also Lamentations 3:22-23 comes to mind.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Definitely good not to dwell too much...thanks Brian...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much! I always appreciate your comments so much Janet.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Claudia...loved, loved your OLN piece. I'm going to hit your recording of 'Leaving Rome'...almost forgot!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Amen!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you ayala!

Wendy Bourke said...

Wow!!! Lovely shades of pathetic fallacy (if I can use that literary term loosely). From winter's "slicing breeze pulls the cork and empties me" spilling out in personal introspection and culminating in bright sun - the harmony between what's going on internally and in nature is very finely woven together.

Jennifer Wagner said...

It's funny how a breeze can do that...thank you, your compliments mean so much to me because I am a huge fan of your work.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I am so glad you did...

Jennifer Wagner said...

I'm so glad you visited my blog so I could have the pleasure of discovering yours! Got a new follower in me.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Colleen, thank you for the reminder! So true...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Buddah! Light to you...

Jennifer Wagner said...

kkkkaty...much thanks!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Grace, thank you so much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Wendy! I so appreciate your words...you always encourage me.

Patricia said...

How beautiful... imagery, truth and your ending is wonderful. Nice to meet you. = )

Poetry and Icecream said...

"a slicing breeze pulls the cork and empties me"
Great lines!!! Brilliant poem :)

Wolfsrosebud said...

beautiful capture here... your words bring such life to the piece... do like the cork line too

Optimistic Existentialist said...

The second-to-last stanza was mesmerizing.

Alex Dissing said...

"Blessed forgetfulness" really like that. Sometimes I wish I could forget somethings; sometimes I believe that ignorance is really bliss. This one got me thinking... nice write.

RMP said...

stunning. I love emptying of yourself—spilling out so that you can see them as they toy with your mind. I'm glad for the silver lining, though I'm not sure about the "never forget me" bit; I can see both the positive and negative of those burned memories.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Nice to meet you as well, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much WRB.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Keith :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

I do have to agree with you on both accounts. Thanks for stopping by Alex.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I see where you're coming from...I suppose for me the character failure memories are negative but the positive comes in with the 'silver lining' of mercy found in a new day in response to them. Thanks RMP, always appreciate your thoughts.

Jannie Funster said...

Jennifer, what a neat way to look at winter opening the cork and out you fly.

TG for Blessed Forgetfulness!! :)

Always enjoy the treat of your verse!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Ms Jannie...I enjoy yours as well! :)