Life Slow Down

I spent the last four weeks participating in the National Writing Project (NWP) in Northwest Arkansas.  This is the second year for me, and what a prolific writing time!  I met some wonderful people and have new friends to write to and with.

This year, I was able to write some humorous pieces, which was a big change from last year's painful essay about Lacy and the Huntington's diagnosis.  Although we are still dealing day to day with the realities of HD, I think overall we feel better most of the time.

I wrote the following poem as one of my pieces for this year's NWP.  In the poem, I reference some other poems.  I don't think it is great writing, but it is honest writing. A sort of biographical poem.


Life Slow Down

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
Backward, turn backward oh time in thy flight;
Make me a child again just for tonight.
Mommy and Daddy
Fringed cowgirl skirt
A doll named Susie.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
Don't you remember the laughter the way we smiled, 

Don't you remember how we sat and talked just for a while,
The feel of the dew on bare feet in the morning
Playing outside until dark.
A warm washcloth on dirty feet before bed.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
Thy shall not slumber, 
Thy shall not wake, 

A memory so fragile, 
So delicate it may break
Making fun out of nothing
Sleeping in the attic when it rains;
The quilt mama made – lumps and all – holds us tight.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
            I remember the moon staring back at us 

I remember the stars holding our gaze
Swimming in the lake at night
Cicadas sing in the trees
Lulling us to sleep.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
            Let none, not even you, disparage
            Such valid reason for a marriage.
Both in white
It is a solemn moment
But we laugh.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory.
I will lend you, for a little time,
A child of mine, He said.
Beautiful boy
Bedtime prayers and lullabies
Mud and dogs; maps and songs.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment, this memory
We'll shelter him with tenderness,
We'll love him while we may
Changing voice and growing tall
Boy becomes man,
Scent lingers on an empty bed.

Life slow down…
I want to hold on to this moment.
I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
The time that’s left
Will be enough;
The love that’s left won’t die.

Life slow down
By Deborah Goff



Poetry Referenced:
Rock Me to Sleep – Elizabeth (Akers) Allen
Don’t You Remember - Prince
Memory Thy Shall – Alicia Meyers
Remember – Ralph Acosta
Ten Wedding Whistle – e.e. Cummings
A Child of Mine – Edgar Guest

Comments

  1. arloyd23July 20, 2012 at 12:42 PM

    It's lovely, Deborah...a beautiful timeline. I like the way you intertwined the other works.

    William Wordsworth said, "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." That is what you've done.

    ReplyDelete

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