Self-Portrait with Mandolin
Being
the afterthought
of wood and
steel, I accept
the phrases
allowed me.
Limitations
frame our days;
working within,
we grow.
Almond to tree,
sound in time.
Chords
by implication.
I root among
the falling
leaves,
gathering
their tunes.
When I cannot
see, my hands
find the way.
O at the Edges 
Beautiful! 🙂
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Thanks, Radhika.
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Clever Robert!
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Thanks, Tammy. I’m not much of a musician, but I enjoy making noise!
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Grin, the best I could do there is a rattle a tambourine myself
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How beautiful! You have an incredible relationship with subtlety. It so readily reveals itself to you.
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Thanks very much. I think it’s mostly a matter of participation, of slowing down and observing.
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“Limitations frame our days; working within, we grow.” Great lines!
The picture shows you playing what appears to be a custom made/Westernized saz (?) baglama (?) rather than a mandolin. Is that a custom job?
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I try to work within my limitations. The picture isn’t of me. I just liked it. 🙂
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The pic is a great counterpart to the writing. You are a great poet.
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And you are, as always, too kind.
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The photo was also a visual attempt at wordplay – showing the almond-shaped instrument. I amuse myself in this way. 🙂
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That sightless passage can be so deeply satisfying. Sweet poem, RO.
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Thanks, SJ. It often is.
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I feel all of this revolving around “Limitations” and image the music behind it.
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Yes, exactly. Self-limitations and even the instrument’s.
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Great way to give time a chance.
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Indeed.
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Now you mention it I seem to have spent many hours gathering tunes from trees. That’s why we need poets; to let us know what we’ve actually been thinking!
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It’s time well spent, isn’t it?
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Wonderful! Love the imagery and language, love this poem! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Robin. Much appreciated.
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Wowwwww, this was magical!
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So pleased you think so. Thank you.
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Welcome.
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Loved the flow of this poem, Robert.
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Thank you, Jean.
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It’s wonderful!!
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Thank you.
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Powerful and meaningful, both your choice of words and pictures. A master craftsman…
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You are always so kind, Krys.
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Not at all, I try and say as I feel it…
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I loved this one Robert and pleased when I saw I “got it” about the shape of the instrument and the almonds. I guess I’m more of a painter than a poet/
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Thank you, Angela. I enjoy finding photos that enhance, in some odd way, and perhaps only to my sensibilities, the poems.
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beautiful … simply beautiful … thank you for sharing 👍✌✊🌻
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Afzal!
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thank you, as always, brother ✊✌👍🌻
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With hands feeling through the colours of the fallen autumn leaves, fumbling and finding the chords – that’s so lovely!
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I excel at fumbling! Thank you, Bruce.
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You obviously do as the actress said to the Bishop!
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