_(8505591694).jpg/800px-Pair_of_Inexpensive_Manual-Wind_Men's_Wristwatches_(Kienzle_-_Circa_1965%2C_Made_in_Germany_%26_Swiss-Made_CustOmtime)_(8505591694).jpg) |
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I use a pair of wrist watches
They are not mine, though
They belonged to my daughter
Who is now beyond touch
And even beyond time
Those two unkind hands
Both wiped her tears and smile
And her total self
They go on tick ticking
Playing like a see-saw
Throwing me high up into the place
When the world was baby soft
And made of light, flowers and dream
Then bringing me down to the dreary landscape
Till my voice becomes choked with salt
They exert their power on me
Like the orcas playing with seals
Before gulping them down
But there is a light within
That holds me against them
Every day it whispers to me,
“Bear with them a while”
And I listen to the voice of light
I am bearing the unbearable
Posted for Karin’s hosting Sunday Mini- Challenge –
Ode to the Quotidian @ Real Toads
&
Sharing with Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
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This is a beautiful tribute Sumana...so full of depth and your boundless love towards her..know that she watches over you from heaven, smiling..!
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
This is so desperately sad. Especially the way the clock keeps tickling.., and the reminder of the baby-days that were gone.
ReplyDeleteWhen you love someone you love each thing you have of theirs which they touched is part of them too. How emotive this is Sumana and many of those who lost a part of themselves will feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteSumana this is so touching. It brought tears in my eyes
ReplyDeleteAnd in those watches you keep memories of her that are so precious. Know that in every step of the way she's with you holding your arms thru those watches. Thank you for writing your heart in here, and touching us with your beautiful words, Sumana!
ReplyDelete"Till my voice becomes choked with salt" and "Like the orcas playing with seals/Before gulping them down" were especially striking lines.
ReplyDeleteBearing the unbearable - how very heavy that can be and yet there is still light in this remembrance..how cruel time can be..both stopping and carrying on in equal measure..beautiful and touching poem..
ReplyDeletei cannot imagine how you bear it! i know you will always carry her in your heart.
ReplyDelete♥
Sometimes everyday things have the power of natural forces, devastating, perhaps some day forgiving or renewing, but here the sense is more of storm than peace. Full of lines that cut clean and sharp.
ReplyDeleteSumana, your words touch me deeply, must touch the heart of every mother who has lost a child...something that SHOULD not happen. I can understand how the wrist watches would trigger both memories and the painful reality. You do have a lot to bear, and you express that light beautifully...the light that keeps you in those difficult times despite the unbearable.
ReplyDeleteA man with two watches is never sure of the true time, true?
ReplyDeleteDid you even read the poem? Your comment has no relationship it all to its message.
DeleteWow! That is stellar writing. I feel your pain, but I savour your words.
ReplyDeleteThis is very touching and it moved me deeply ~
ReplyDeleteAs we read we hear the ticking of these watches in the background. It emphasized the to and fro movement between your memories and reality. There are numerous very heart-wrenching and powerful lines in your poem, Sumana, but I think the closing line is the strongest.
ReplyDeleteParents tend to bear the unbearable - things as children we dont see until our time comes. I like how you use the watch to tell us. I have my grandfathers pocket watch and it means much to me.
ReplyDeleteDear Sumana--this is such a beautiful poem--you tell your feelings through the metaphors powerfully, with honesty but not any kind of self-pity (which is certainly deserved), but might somehow weaken the emotive effect. It is terribly moving in terms of content, but also in the way that you tell it all. Thank you for participating in such a profound way. K.
ReplyDeleteAh, it's heart breaking...I feel this 'up and downs', every minute's ticking and how hard to keep balance, but staying in the light you 'bear unbearable'..many blessings to you, Sumana.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are bearing the unbearable - and the light that is in you and runs through your words - your faith - touch me deeply. "Bear with them awhile." I found the orca image especially striking - the playing and then the gulping down. Like life. Like death. Sumana, you are a being of grace and beauty. Thank you for sharing your journey through your beautiful poems.
ReplyDeleteman this made me llok at some of my old watches
ReplyDeletesuch emotion in this one , i hope for the best for you
ReplyDeleteVery powerful poem, especially the last line. peace
ReplyDeleteWhat power and mystery in those seemingly mundane objects
ReplyDeleteSumana this is so heartfelt...unbearable pain...a breaking into a million pieces with sorrow....incredible metaphors....
ReplyDelete'Then bringing me down to the dreary landscape
Till my voice becomes choked with salt
They exert their power on me
Like the orcas playing with seals'
Donna@LivingFromHappiness
This is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing; I definitely identify....
ReplyDelete"Then bringing me down to the dreary landscape
ReplyDeleteTill my voice becomes choked with salt"
the sadness truly resonates here
be blessed by the gift of each new day
thanks for dropping in at my Sunday Lime
much love...
My eyes well up with tears for you Sumana. I have one daughter, and I know you are enduring the unbearable. My heart is with you. Please take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this honest and sincere tribute,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
This is beautiful and strong :-)
ReplyDeleteA fine tribute here to your daughter. I lived the words, thinking of my two. One came to church with me this morning, the other I'll see tonight with we get the grand-daughter. I know you miss yours so much. Much more than words can ever tell.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I wore Dad's watch until it finally quit. It brought many memories that I haven't enjoyed since, until now after reading your poem. Thank you.
..
Time plays with you "Like the orcas playing with seals
ReplyDeleteBefore gulping them down" and yet you hug time--and the watches--as you bear the unbearable. This makes perfect sense to me.
Wow. Gut-wrenching. You ARE bearing the unbearable. But, you are walking to the rhythm of the tick-tock of those memories marching you forward in time with the light of her spirit that lives on. Beautiful ode.
ReplyDeleteWell played/written.
ReplyDeleteZQ
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, Sumana. "“Bear with them a while” ... Sigh. So poignant. "Those two unkind hands" - indelible words: I don't think I will look at a clock face quite the same way again).
Delete(And my apologies for the typo - I went to fix it and accidentally hit publish. One of those wicked "senior moments", I suppose. Smiles)
So poignant!
ReplyDeleteSo visually evocative! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad idea used for an amazing poem.
ReplyDeleteI still carry the watch which my dad gave me the first time, I have had many watches after that but there is no watch that can replace the attachment I have with my first watch. It is so strange yet wonderful how things and moments so small leave an impression for a lifetime. My best wishes for you Sumana, your writings truly are wonderful as you are!
ReplyDeleteI can offer a daughter's point of view to this beautiful poetic piece. The identity and character of a mother tends to seep into many minute details and crevices of the child's life - be it behavior and/or thoughts. You've evocatively penned down a mother's longing. Loved every word. Especially the line - "Till my voice becomes choked with salt"
ReplyDeleteBearing the unbearable. . . . It's amazing how much strength we can find within ourselves. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt piece with us, Sumana.
ReplyDelete"I am bearing the unbearable."
ReplyDeletePowerful, Sumana. And you must know that many of us have borne, do bear, burdens not unlike your own. We are connected in this human experience. I feel what you feel. You live what I live. We are together in this.
This is powerful and desperately sad.
ReplyDelete