Closing Doors

That hits home Duckie. I've been there.

A beautiful sorrow here, Duckie, remembrance of what spirit you projected upon these beams, stairs, the doorway in ano out of living here.

Your lyrical observations seem just right to contain this pain. A moving mesh of poetic structure and that looking back feeling. One of the best pieces I´ve read in a while that contains a single strong emotion, that implicates so very much more.

Let me add that your vivid words paint the picture of departure with broken dreams left behind so well, it took my breath away.

Duckie, this is a wretching interpretation of leaving and loss. It echoes in a dusty hallway. It reminds me a little of the emotions in my "Where Lonely Begins" poem of last year.

Good poem. I hope there will be new dreams....

Thanks, everybody!

Diane ~ I must have done the job right if it connected. Thanks for coming by!
===

John, I appreciate your observations. You read poems so deeply, one is blessed with the insight you squeeze from each work.
===

Faith, I remember that poem of yours! The opening lines were memorable and breath-taking:
Here is where lonely begins

hand on brass knob

one last glance back

to an already gone room.



Now, THAT's a poem!
===

Alison, your wishes are mine too! Thanks!

This really resonates with me, Duckie. It was so very hard to watch my Mom leave her house for what I knew would be the last time. I'm going to print this out and keep it.

Wow... Vickie, that touches me. Thank you!

Dcukie - you have this way of evoking strong emotions and images with your work. I always am left feeling like you are a person who really gets it, and I am glad to call you friend.

I don't think I could say it any better than Tonia did. I may learn to like poetry because of you.

Beautiful poem of a wrenching depth, speaking of the deep mark we make in the earth, and the complementary impress of its seal on us. And a perfect picture to go with it. Great.

Nicely done... I had to sell the home I grew up in a few years ago... it was hard driving away that last time.

Tonia, I am happy you are MY friend. You enrich my life with your friendship.
===

Ina, my poems are what I'd call 'learning stuff'... if I open the door to poetry for you, I am happy. But you have to go find better poems than I can ever create. There's a lot of great poets here on Gather if you keep looking!
===

John, thank you for seeing that!
===

Doc, I understand ...and thank you!

Another great one, Duckie!

Sandy! You just made me smile. Thank you!

You're welcome. Soon, you'll know what your last few poems have done for me. I've smiled, and I've cried, and I've written, and conspired, and soul searched . . . so, thank YOU.

Sounds like there's a new article brewing! Is it a POEM? That would really be awesome!

Duckie, you are a deep well of emotion and creativity and I'm proud to know you. You augment my daily experiences with your words and images.

Rose ~ I don't consider myself a writer or a poet of any kind... what amazes me is the number of remarkable people like you who encourage me to produce words on paper.
===

Madame D. ~ You're sweet to say so.

(I wish I dinna augment my size too much with the must-try-recipes you throw my way!)

I am very happy to have read this. It touches me, as a woman in that place we know, and I really do not think men have ever been there. I am sure they have a place like that also. It was very good for me, dear. Ellen B

Thanks to "Doc" for leading me here!

Wow - you expressed the emotions of departure from a "home" very well.
Of the more than 2 handfuls of moves\departures I have experienced ni my life more than 8 of them were wrenching.

Thank you for this expression of the emotions.

Ellen ~ Thank you!
===

Deborah ~ It is I who thanks you for coming here and reading this!

Duckie, you made me just tear up now. You have a gift for poetry. Thanks.

Its hard to acknowledge the"when one door shuts another opens" when you can't yet give up looking back.
the last home I left before moving here, even though it was a rental, was someplace I would have loved to stay in, it was one of those, it loved me back kinda places..
and this place...here will be even harder if that time ever comes, cause I am putting evrything I am into it....for better or worse...
your poetry is just blossoming everywhere...Duckie

Faith ~ Thank you. Giving thanks sounds odd. I never know if it will be taken as gratitude for making someone cry? But, you know what I mean, I know!
===

Lou Anne ~ From what I've read regarding your struggles with getting your new place renovated, I am hoping it will be your last homebase. Your stamp on it will be a forever deal.

Thanks for that last line. I appreciate it!

LOVED IT ,REALLY HIT HOME WITH ME TOO

Lizzie, you have good judgement. LOL
===

Mandy, thank you!

Your poem proves that a strong piece does not have to be dense or overly abstract to cut to the bone. I think of leaving our home, not a necessity yet, and feel the pain, even if it only imagined pain.

I am drawn to your poem, even as it perks my interest (nosiness?) and I wonder: what home was left? Why? What happened to create disappointments? But, even without any answers, this is a poem that reaches me on both a symbolic and concrete level. Home, with all its meanings. Home - and leaving it. Home.

You asked about this Tuesday's Writing Essential announcement, posted here:http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977241779

To clarify, while I did give a writing "prompt" at the request of some writers who want that type of challenge or fun, ANY writing is okay to submit. I'd like to think of myself as a host for a true gathering of writers.

I want to be clear that I've been asked not to solicit erotica or book reviews because there are groups for that here and it is preferred that the writing goes to those groups - specifically.

I do follow those rules. So, except for book reviews and erotica, feel free to contribute anything you'd like me to see for consideration as a Tuesday feature. Remember, if anyone's work isn't featured THIS Tuesday, it might still be featured. Some weeks may have an overflow of strong work. I'm new to this hosting thing. I simply don't know yet.

I'll do my best to read each submission carefully. I do write and I do have deadlines so please be kind if I don't IMMEDIATELY respond to every email I get. I will, although maybe not at lightening speed.

Finally, to understand how easy it is to contribute, see here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977241779

Tuesday Writing Essential
Hopefully, this is a link ;)

Jane, your valuable insight is awesome here. Thanks so much for taking the time to read my poem and comment!

Thanks, too, for your in-depth answer to my question about the prompt on your new Tuesday Writing Essential. I'm eagerly looking forward towards reading the submissions and learning from the critiques!

Lizzie, thanks my friend! Hey, you got crazy with the crayons! :-) It is an eye-catching icon!

Thank you Duckie for pointing me here, I am so slow getting around as you know I am doing exactly what this poem of yours said, and it is one of the toughest things I have had to do,,,,alone, as so much of what I am having to discard, belongs to "us" and it is taking me forever, I will be in my new place on the 27/28 of February, so then I should be able to get back to "normal" on Gather, I love this poem and it so true, it is a tough and emotional thing, but I hope the new place feels like home after awhile, I am going to try and make it that way, Thank you

Sad Duckie.

I'm glad you finally found this. I've been thinking of your move from your home of many, many years!

I hope the new place feels like home after awhile, I am going to try and make it that way,

That's the spirit, Elsie!
===

Lori, yes it is!

Really touching poem Duckie. The imagery is so vivid, almost like a movie, I could not help but feel a pang of sadness while reading this piece.

hello Duckie... i'm very late, but this was very moving ...
i've been here and it's no fun... Blessings...

This is a wonderful poem