Elegy for Heidi
I
The clock ticks away.
But there is no layer of time
and no decision to make.
II
I have been jaywalking
on the edge of the roof
for the last few weekends;
down below the grass looks
already dark, depressed,
as if death has made it.
then a bird, a simple
blackbird sits on the bough.
It cries out and a hand
rises from the green earth
like a bride waking from
her bridal night, gleaming.
I know, I know, I know,
we are all life’s disciples.
III
“Come on, wake up!”
“My God, you are from East.
It is
Still night here.” She said.
=© 2009 - All Rights Reserved Kushal Poddar


Comments: 57
I am so sad for her family and I will miss her poems her e on gather
This beautiful, I am sure Heidi appreciates it.
Touching response to the tragedy, Kushal.
Very heart filled words to honor a fellow traveler.
Grand.
the sun also rises I have heard said!
soon after the bell tolls
yes, our metaphors match!
If you've read Hemingway they match. Do not ask for whom the bell tolls for it tolls for thee.
I didn't know Heidi's work but I feel your loss through this poem. May she rest in peace.
One of your best, Kushal. Thanks. It eases my heart to read this.
i will miss her poetry too
Global Peace
wonderful poem, Poddar.....I know somewhere she is reading it.
You have done an amazing job. It is a beautiful tribute.
This is now a featured post at Writing Reservoir
very good work
that was nice Kushal..
Ku,
It's been a very dark week. I've worried for you and others far flung around the globe. Now this sadness. Thank you for sharing your own reflections.
Be kind to yourself.
Ade
I've added yours to the collection of tributes for Heidi at The Surreal Circus.
Beautiful tribute for your friend, Kushal!
Very moving poem. I'm glad you resisted the cornice's siren call, Kushal.
vertigo did help a lot.
;-)
Thank you for a lovely tribute. Your words are a comfort. Peace
Oh Kushal, this is so very powerful. It is your best. Heidi affects us all. I am hoping you are arising out of your numbness, but I know it is hard...very hard.
Featured in the Tribute for Heidi (Disciple of the Bride) discipleofbride.gather.com group
Featured in the The Triple Name Club
oh, my brother...one more, eh? -into the shadow, with teeth bared...
Kushal,
This is so touching and I too, am so glad you resisted.
Marilyn
Wonderfully done, it is a sad day when someone ends their own life.
A great tribute to someone who was a wonderful writer from a wonderful writer.
heartbreaking beauty~
Thank you for posting to GutterGirls~
Thank you Kushal, for all her friends. We didn't have her long, but she was a gift to us.
Lovely. Kushal
Beautiful imagery, heart wrenching subject~wonderfully union. Thank you for posting to our group.
A tribute to life and the passing of it. Wonderful words Poddar.
If only she had known how many truly cared for her, she might have reached out in more than poetry form.
She will be missed, a life gone before true potential could come through.
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
can't read more,Poddar..It hurts!
This is a very nice poem!
Nice poem Poddar, Heidi was my friend. Would somebody please tell me, convince me, we are not trivializing her life or glorifying her death. I need to know that we're just loving her and thanking her for the tiny piece of her life she shared with us on Gather.
I'm not differentiating between shades of gray too well this week.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977725526
(Ku, my offering is not ABOUT Heidi but her inspiration is there)
- robert
no we are not trivializing her life Robert, I think we are all grieving and trying to understand just a little bit about her darkness she couldn't over come.
Beautifully written Poddar. A touching tribute.
great tribute!, thanks!
how sad someone with so much to give has decided not too anymore...those dark dark hallways can be so overbearing
Very sad and tragic what happened to Heidi. I hope that she made an impact on the gather members in that we all try to undersatnd when someine is in need of help or crying out. I sure wish I had read a little closer. I just do not see her doing what she did in her work though, there were no signs that said she needed help. Her work was dark at times, but how could we have known, right?. She was a good friend and loyal person. I will miss her like the many that weep..
Thank you David. I think you have said the right thing.
You were at 5.1 i added a ten and it went to 5.2. I hope you get some better rates. Looks like the troll has been on you.
I saw David's comment and I came to add another 10 which only brings you up to 5.3. Kushal, it's a beautiful tribute to Heidi. Why the low ratings and someone else's post on the same topic was flagged for harrassment, I have no idea.
Wow! This is really so beautiful, so powerful. A wonderful tribute. (And though I rarely rate, I rated it 10.)
I gave this wonderful tribute a 10 as it deserves.
What a sweet and infinitely sad elegy... I have had an opportunity to know her only for a few weeks, but I will never forget her.
Blessings and best wishes - S.
Visions which reach higher than the Earth, based upon a soul of inestimable value.
good post
amazing. sad. poignant. appropriate.
well done.
A beautiful tribute Poddar.
thanks
You create a nice mood of momentary snapshots that seem to surreally float off the page within the metaphors. This is not sad to me because your tone is celebratory. May God comfort her and her family for this sad tragedy.