The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Mon 8/28/06)

[RetroLounge]

When William Stafford Died

Well, water goes down the Montana gullies.
"I'll just go around this rock and think
About it later." That's what you said.
When death came, you said, "I'll go there."

There's no sign you'll come back. Sometimes
My father sat up in the coffin and was alive again.
But I think you were born before my father,
And the feet they made in your time were lighter.

One dusk you were gone. Sometimes a fallen tree
Holds onto a rock, if the current is strong.
I won't say my father did that, but I won't
Say he didn't either. I was watching you both.

If all a man does is to watch from the shore,
Then he doesn't have to worry about the current.
But if affection has put us into the stream,
Then we have to agree to where the water goes.

Robert Bly


*******************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[Callalily]

1. I was kinda lost

on this one RL, until I read the last part;

If all a man does is to watch from the shore,
Then he doesn't have to worry about the current.
But if affection has put us into the stream,
Then we have to agree to where the water goes

Sometimes it's scary to jump that current!

[RetroLounge]

6. But the current will continue

with or without us...

:hi:

RL

[FedUpWithIt All]

2. I've tried fighting currents in my life...

Ended up going along in the end. Fortunately, I've always made it to the intended destination, if a little more exhausted and beat up than necessary.

[RetroLounge]

7. more exhausted and beat up than necessary

Story of my life...

:hi:

RL

[swimboy]

3. and a true quester doesn't explore a path

he forges a new one.

:hi:

Thanks for the poem today. :hug:

[wildhorses]

4. I wonder when death comes if I will be able to go around this

rock and think about it later? Will I even want to? I will probably be so mesmerized by the lighter feet that I will forget to worry about the gullies.



somehow this one is very deep (and YEAH maybe the pun was intended:P)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear RetroLounge!

Some days I don't know what to think.......and this is one of them...

Still, these images are vivid and real, if confusing......

Even though I've had my coffee today, I still don't get it.

I will say nonetheless......Thank you........

:hug:

[tinfoil tiaras]

8. Are you an English teacher?

Because you should be, imho.
:hi:

[RetroLounge]

9. No, I am not. But thank you for your kind words.

I have my Masters Degree in English and Creative Writing, but have never had a desire to teach.

I turned down an opportunity to be a TA at UW-Milwaukee after I finished my masters degree. They wanted me to stay around for a PhD.

My undergraduate degree is in business and computers, and i make far too much money to quit and teach.

Besides, the student loans were smothering me as it was.

Maybe someday. But if the universe conspires in my favor, I will instead own a bookstore/cafe in the next few years.

:hi:

RL