If loneliness breathes,
then rain is its heart,
always falling to its lowest point
before receding. Water graces us
daily in all its forms – the slowest
drop, the line of ice on the wall,
your breath, so soft and even
in the cool night. But no one,
no thing, can fill the void of
departure. You exhale and turn
away, and the air, with its empty
arms, embraces the space
you’ve left. I feel this daily,
whenever we part. At forty-one
I’ve known you half my life
but have loved you even longer,
through the millennium’s demise
and all that preceded or follows.
The brightest moon for a century to come
is but a shadow in your light.
It’s hard to believe that I wrote this nearly sixteen years ago. Busy with books, work and life, I didn’t write much in the nineties. But this, the last poem of that decade, recently surfaced. The sentiments are as true today as they were then. I am a lucky man.
Captivating, magical!
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Thanks very much!
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Wow!
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Thank you.
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🙂 Seriously, I am not one to limit my words but after reading, there was only one response: Wow!
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This writing didn’t get a wrinkle. Very nice!
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There’s something to be said for poetic collagen. 🙂
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Once again Mr. O, you didn’t disappoint. Loved it.
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Thank you, sir!
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Robert, I know you are tired of all the praise at for your poetic brilliance. Pffft… I love it, I love it! hehe
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Ha, Tammy! The praise is easily balanced out by the many, many rejections I get. 🙂
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Neva, you have us 🙂
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this is beautiful writing robert, superb.
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Thanks very much, H.
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“If loneliness breathes,
Then rain is its heart,”
Brilliant!
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Thank you, Linda.
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Nice!
And, if all of this holds true sixteen years later, even nicer… and you truly are a lucky man.
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And next month marks 31 years of marriage! But it feels more like 9 or 10 years. Amazing.
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Lucky man and lucky lady–what a heavens-made match! Beautiful, Bob. I’m going to be contemplating these lines at least all day and so wish I had a fully eidetic memory. From the raining heart of loneliness onward.
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Thanks, Leigh. Someone tried to talk Lissa out of marrying me, said I wasn’t the right one. Maybe not, but she’s made do. 🙂
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Yikes, Bob. Sounds . . . very puzzling!
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I was amused. Still am.
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Stimulating.Beautiful lines.
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Thank you.
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Some people wait a lifetime and never find what you are so lucky to have. Congratulations on that and nicely done on the lovely poem!
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Believe me, I know how fortunate I am!
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So good to see such happiness. Beautifully written.
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Thank you!
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Beautiful!
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Thanks very much.
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I especially love to read about young love that endures because it is part of my own story, too. (I also learned that we are nearly the same age.)
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Yes, we have some parallels in our stories!
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It has character!
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It’s aged well, considering it’s spent the last decade and a half in a drawer. 🙂
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To me, it has remained young, powerful and beautiful! 🙂
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I’m glad it seems so. Thank you.
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Wonderful poet
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Thank you.
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I loved it..
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I’m very pleased that you do. Thank you.
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Wow! This is so beautiful.
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Thanks very much.
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This love is uncommon and enduring. The poem is a snapshot into a transcendence that many people only dream of. What romance. -M.
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Thank you. What seems ordinary and commonplace is often not.
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She is fortunate. And you as well. Lovely!
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We’ve enjoyed the years!
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Absolutely beautiful, both the poem and the story it represents! This touched me deeply. Thank you for sharing…
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You’re very kind. And thank you!
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Ah, Bob: You make art out of love, and love out of art. You are lucky; she is lucky and — darn it all!–we are lucky to have you!
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You’re always too kind, Cate. As the years pile up with my experiences and observations, I realize how fortunate I’ve been in life.
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This is one of those pieces of writing that makes me feel at ease with death. Thank you.
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Thank you. One never knows how a piece of writing will be accepted. I’m pleased that his one affected you in some way.
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Beautiful
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Thank you.
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Oh my gosh, your words are velvet and silk! I love this
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Thanks very much.
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Wow! As others have said – brilliant! I would have married any guy who writes such exquisite lines – especially if they’re about me – but alas, the hubby has no literary ambitions. She’s one lucky lady.
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You’re very generous. Thank you.
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Wonderful.
“… the air, with its empty arms, embraces the space you’ve left.” is going to stay with me a long time.
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Thank you, Graham.
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I love the elemental ache of romance you’ve captured here. Just lovely.
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Thank you, Carrie.
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this felt cold to me, not sure why. not like the emotion, in a temperature sense. either way, great piece. really enjoyed the pacing.
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Interesting. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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As a Wisdom Woman, I’ve been highly drawn to her powers. Thankyou for the delight of words.
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Thank you for reading them.
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I’m a little slow to follow what you are producing, but there’s no schedule for this, no right time to appreciate the unguarded radical beauty of this. Spread your luck around some more.
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Thanks, Gary. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been very lucky in life. 🙂
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Wonderful! 🙂
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Thank you.
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Have a beautiful, creative day, Robert 🙂
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Thank you, Jeni.
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Beautiful poem, Robert. Thank you.
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Thanks very much.
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I could read this poem again and again. Beautiful!
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You are very kind. Thank you.
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your such a fine poet Robert, you express in ways I do not know..cheers ken
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Thanks very much, Ken.
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Robert, this is so beautiful…obviously comes from the very depths of your being! You are amazing, and your wife is a very lucky woman..and I’m sure she knows that. Thank you for sharing this part of yourself.
Pat
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I’ve always considered myself to be the lucky one. And thanks for your kind words.
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Just read through some of your poems. You write so beautifully. Loved this one.
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Thank you, Annika. You are very kind.
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