by Faith H.
Member since:
November 17, 2005

Resurrection Sunday: Gulf Coast Reverie

January 11, 2009 03:54 PM EST
views: 199 | comments: 40


This was first published in September of 2006 here, and remains one of my favorites. It is also a favorite of several dear friends of mine.  In the comment section of the first posting, it seems I am talking to ghosts, people long gone from Gather.

 

 

I missed your face today, and

this whole thing seems wrong.

We need to talk, you know

there's something to discuss.

The leaves are turning and

you aren't here, and nothing changed.

The path towards the egret's nest

is farther than I thought.

 

Did we imagine the smell?

The pine needles are brittle.

Walking alone down here

in this dusty red soil.

How did I do it before

the end of you and me?

You know, but you forgot

to leave the map back to you.

 

 
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Comments: 40 ( 3 removed by Faith H. )

jessie voigts Jan 11, 2009, 3:59pm EST
faith - i loved this the first time around. nice to see it again.
Kathryn E. Jan 11, 2009, 3:59pm EST
A hint of what you are about and more than a hint of sadness in the passage of relationships.
Your eloquence is again only eclipsed by your sensitivity and your wisdom.
John F Walter Jan 11, 2009, 4:04pm EST
I like the intimate tone here, that is one of loss, sadness and bewilderment. There is palpable sense of the direction in the speaker´s life having been distorted, her disoriented from her own bearings. Above all what focuses our understanding of suppressed strong feelings is the steady reflective voice, that finds itself disconsolate amongst ¨pine needles¨upon the ¨dusty red soil.¨
Richard Frisbie Jan 11, 2009, 4:11pm EST
This is good (and I never read poetry) I like it and the solitary tree.
JustMe ~I'm happy to be~ Jan 11, 2009, 4:15pm EST
I just love it. I always savor your writing!
CC Miranda the artrat (or am i?) Jan 11, 2009, 5:02pm EST
this is great faith. thanks for reposting it.
Bart H. Jan 11, 2009, 5:37pm EST
The reason I like this so much is that it is atmospheric. I, who have actually never been to the Gulf Coast--except for NOLA, can hear the surf, and the birds through this poem.
Faith, I loved this the first time round and I still do. It is as fresh now as it was then - a hallmark of good poetry.
Faith H. Jan 11, 2009, 5:51pm EST
Thank you, dear friends all. Bart has it nailed, it is of a time and place that is so very evocative of the gulf coast. I see and feel this every day.
elizabeth e. Jan 11, 2009, 5:54pm EST
A yearning for that which somehow escaped us...a yearning for a relationship we thought might be possible. Like all your poems, this has a sensitivity that only you can invoke.
Katrina Hall Jan 11, 2009, 6:00pm EST
I just love this poem, Faith - what a treat to suddenly see it here again!
Madame Donna C. Jan 11, 2009, 6:15pm EST
Faith, lovely again.
Granny Janny H. Jan 11, 2009, 6:17pm EST
Obviously I missed it....but so glad to find it today...an errant poem finding its way back to the forefront of virtuous virtual reality.
I found pussy willows and lavender on our walk today.
Mariana T. Jan 11, 2009, 6:18pm EST
Beautiful Faith - thank you for publishing this to G.R.I.T.S. Salud
libramoon C. Jan 11, 2009, 6:20pm EST
exquisite
Wilhelmine Estabrook Jan 11, 2009, 6:46pm EST
This is lovely. I, too, miss those voices from the younger Gather.
Dannielle S. Jan 11, 2009, 11:43pm EST
I remember this one. As we read along, your words have the rhythm of footsteps, so we walk along with you. For some reason, (because you didn't bury everything in adjectives, probably) we are right there alongside you.

And, it isn't really a sad poem -- the loss is there, but in the past.
Linda K. Jan 12, 2009, 1:05pm EST
As always, you make me yearn for something but I'm not sure what it is.
La Lady Lisa Westerfield Jan 13, 2009, 10:15pm EST
Faith, beautiful poem about a relationship. Have you ever seen this webpage before http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.gather.com ? You can actually see how Gather looked in days gone by. It’s kind of cool.
mona d. Jan 14, 2009, 3:07pm EST
some of us are still here, honey. and are glad to see you repost such gems as this.
Tonia, who hugs trees G. Jan 15, 2009, 7:33pm EST
Yes, this is indeed a gem - and like all good poetry deserves to be read time and again. I hope you will continue to "resurrect" your poetry as you are one my favorite voices here.
Rose (just an ole GA peach) Williams Jan 15, 2009, 9:20pm EST
Done as only you can do dear Faith...a poet whose soul shines through in her work. I am so glad to read this again. Like T says-good poetry deserves to be read again and again...savored like fine wine.
Faith H. Jan 15, 2009, 9:55pm EST
Oh, thank you all, I am humbled by your kind reading and commenting.
Cena W. Jan 16, 2009, 2:04am EST
Very sweet and sad.
This provokes a sense of bewilderment about lost love.
Gisela S. Jan 18, 2009, 2:28pm EST
We're not all ghosts...some like me are bad pennies that turn up when you least expect us!
Barbary Chaapel Jan 19, 2009, 10:04pm EST
Some things are just as good or better the second time around.

I think this is truly beautiful, Faith.
Robb F. Feb 4, 2009, 3:32pm EST
Wow...this nearly brought tears to my eyes. It was the last line that stopped them..."the map back to you." Not because it is not beautiful and fitting for the "connection" you were making with the readers. However, we both know I was reading it from where I now stand...and the map leading through the unknowns and the pain, towards a new start is the one I need. Nonetheless, it is still beautiful poetry...why shouldn't it be...you composed it and I don't believe I've read any of yours that has been less than great.
And I still like this poem, Faith!

May all the blessings of Easter shower on you and those close to your heart!
Barbary Chaapel Apr 12, 2009, 7:44pm EDT
Back to read this again today, Faith.
Faith H. Apr 12, 2009, 8:34pm EDT
Magi and Barbary, you are so very kind. Thank you.
Vicky Duggins Apr 19, 2009, 10:12am EDT
This is very moving. There are a couple of people that didn't leave a map here.

Aaahhh, I absolutely love this.  Since moving to Dothan, I have not seen the Gulf Coast as much as I've wanted.  The atmosphere and the simplicity of it all is so missed.  I will have to make a trip soon.  At least we have the maps to those places, the maps to the people...well, sometimes it is better those are lost.  Wonderfully written, Faith.
René Allen Jul 5, 2009, 7:01am EDT

I love this Faith. It speaks volumes.
Faith H. Jul 5, 2009, 1:14pm EDT

Rene, thank you so much for reading this!
Diana Raabe Sep 10, 2009, 3:32pm EDT
I can see why it's a favorite!
Faith H. Sep 10, 2009, 5:05pm EDT
Thanks, Diana!
The original comment in this thread has been deleted by its author.
Faith H. Sep 15, 2009, 6:48pm EDT
Lloyd, you have NO IDEA what my poetry is about, nor is it any of your business to continue to harass me over a perceived slight I may have made concerning something totally unrelated. I'll delete whatever irrelevant remarks I feel are necessary. Yours are uncalled for and unnecessary.
ah yes.. the original double standard.

be well.
Faith H. Sep 16, 2009, 6:25am EDT
Get a life, Lloyd. Even better, grow up.

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