O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Recording of My Poem “Exile”

Posted on May 26, 2017 by robert okaji

cloudy

Exile

Having abandoned one, I claim the other.

Rain speckles the driveway.

Solitude pays its toll with unmet expectations,
thunder receding, clouds shriveling to dust.

The mockingbird chirrs its cricket tune
before flying to a higher perch.

What you call home I call diminishment.

What you surrender, I bundle and mail to strangers.

Post

33 thoughts on “Recording of My Poem “Exile””

Pleasant Street on May 25, 2017 at 4:01 pm said:

Hot damn!

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  😬
  
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Leigh W. Smith on May 25, 2017 at 4:26 pm said:

That 4th stanza’s golden, Bob! And this post reminds me I have to send you (via e-mail) something! Let me find where I stored that info. And then I’ll go steal the word chirr and also higher perch for my writing. 🙂

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 5:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Leigh. We all need those higher perches at one time or another.
  
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bowmanauthor on May 25, 2017 at 4:55 pm said:

Beautifully done!

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 5:06 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Deborah.
  
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  - bowmanauthor on May 25, 2017 at 5:11 pm said:
    
    You’re very welcome, Robert.
    
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Betty Hayes Albright on May 25, 2017 at 5:15 pm said:

I especially love those last lines!

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 9:00 pm said:
  
  So pleased you like them, Betty. Thank you.
  
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Andrew Reynolds on May 25, 2017 at 5:20 pm said:

Well done – love when the poet speaks their own work.

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 9:00 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Andrew.
  
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Melinda J. Irvine on May 25, 2017 at 5:52 pm said:

The last line has so much power. I loved this poem. Mel.

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 9:02 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Mel. Much appreciated.
  
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Maureen Sudlow on May 25, 2017 at 9:54 pm said:

haunting

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- robert okaji on May 25, 2017 at 10:00 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Maureen!
  
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Grandtrines on May 26, 2017 at 2:14 am said:

Reblogged this on Still Another Writer's Blog.

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 7:08 am said:
  
  Thanks for reblogging.
  
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Grandtrines on May 26, 2017 at 2:14 am said:

Reblogged this on Orthometry.

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 7:08 am said:
  
  Thanks again for reblogging.
  
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Iris@poetsmith on May 26, 2017 at 4:55 am said:

Nice poem and reading, Robert. 🙂

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 7:09 am said:
  
  Thank you, Iris!
  
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cricketmuse on May 26, 2017 at 6:52 am said:

Precise images–

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 7:11 am said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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rivrvlogr on May 26, 2017 at 9:30 am said:

Just before listening to this, I received an Audubon newsletter regarding birds that mimic – Mockingbird, Catbird, Blu Jay (now I know that a Blue Jay can mimic raptors and some songbirds). I’m pretty sure none of those would recite your poetry as well as you.

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 2:38 pm said:
  
  Those mockingbirds are pretty powerful!
  
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annika on May 26, 2017 at 9:41 pm said:

My first time hearing you recite one of your poems. Enjoyed it thoroughly!

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- robert okaji on May 26, 2017 at 10:11 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Annika. I’m so pleased you liked it.
  
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Ms.Acwh1's Blog's on May 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm said:

This is so beautiful and thanks for stopping by my page. God bless Anita

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- robert okaji on May 28, 2017 at 5:10 pm said:
  
  I’m so pleased you think so, Anita. Thank you.
  
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I write therefore I am alive. on July 30, 2017 at 6:46 am said:

Love this line: “Solitude pays its toll with unmet expectations”

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- robert okaji on July 30, 2017 at 8:36 am said:
  
  Thanks very much.
  
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Dan Carpenter on February 23, 2022 at 3:54 pm said:

A scene for the senses. And thunder in the final two lines.

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- robert okaji on February 23, 2022 at 4:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks, Dan. Those were some unpleasant days.
  
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