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.
“Exile” first appeared here in May 2017.
O at the Edges 
This line “The mockingbird chirrs its cricket tune / before flying to a higher perch.” – is wonderfully placed, it softens the last two lines, offers a redeeming higher perspective. And oh, those last lines, boy they’re powerful and poignant!
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Thanks, Lynne. I’d forgotten about this poem, until I recently stumbled upon it. Those last two lines would probably not occur to me today, at least not in the present tense. 🙂
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Oh you betcha – home is really home now, you are a lucky man!
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I am, indeed!
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Wonderful recording – and I admire the strength to “exile” from “diminishment”.
The last line kinda jumps out as broader context – possible implications … “mail to strangers” puzzles. [Nudge to clear my own clutter before I “surrender” to death … if I began today, would there be time to get it all bundled off to my choices of destinations?]
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One possibility of the “mail to strangers” line could be the act of submitting poetry. The poet gathers and “bundles” ideas, events, things, and sends them out. But of course there are other implications as well. 🙂
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That last line…
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Ha. There’s not much bundling going on these days, but I do email them…
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I am bundling this letter, and mailing it to you , although you are no stranger, more a Mockingbird on a higher perch …
“From Above” (down here in Geelon)
There is hope
There is compassion
There is love
There in the hands of all that be
From under the glorious wings
Of my mythical dove
I visualize calm seas and serene lands
In this world’s cradle of love
There lives hope
There lives compassion
There lives love
There in the hearts of all that be
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I accept this “bundle” in the spirit with which it was sent, and in gratitude and aporeciation. Thank you!
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My pleasure Robert
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A nicely soothing voice on an ailing morning (but I am getting better)
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Thank you, Derrick. So glad you’re improving!
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