Today marks the end of my husband's service in the Air Force---thirty-nine years to the day he was commissioned. And, by luck, we're back in the place where our married life began, thirty-six years ago, at Langley Air Force Base. Today's poetry challenge was to re-visit an old poem, and this one from March 2009 seems most fitting.
I do, and always will.
Annus Mirabilis*
how close is
the edge where we gasp
at the wondrous view
to the place where
addicted to gravity
we fall, and fall, and fall
the attraction is mutual
the disasters are many,
the wonders placed as knots
on a rope. Hand over hand,
the shape of each day
fitting to our palms,
rough and knobby,
we pull our hearts,
tough as burnt sugar
out of the blackened scrape
we’ve gotten ourselves in;
each year a spin
around the sun, nothing
but a dust trail, an annulus,
a common ring, a promise
for years to come
and years past
and this year,
to make full circles
from disasters and wonders,
to hold each miracle
as we fall.
----Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)
* Annus Mirabilis: a year of disasters or miracles. In other words, any year in which love exists.
My poetry sisters posts can be found here:
Liz
Rebecca
Andi
Kelly
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe.
Full circle indeed!
ReplyDeleteI love this revision. I so appreciated going back and forth between this version and the original. This one’s ardent connection to a life of love and marriage is breathtaking.
Congratulations to you both. Here’s hoping new adventures await you.
Sara, this poem came for me at the right time: the disasters are many,/the wonders placed as knots. I love how you wove the details into a whole, how your thoughts grew over time, and how significant this poem is for others. I am going to read this to my husband since this time in our life is filled with many stressors.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your husband!
ReplyDeleteI love your poem so much. Going to save and share it!
Congratulations for your journey with your husband, Sara. The love poem touched me, especially "the wonders placed as knots/on a rope." It feels like a special part of being married.
ReplyDeleteI like how you've captured being on the edge of whatever happens both in word and the physical sense of your poem falling down the page–beautiful. Congratulations to both of you!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I loved the original one - the promise of time, miracles, disasters - but this time, the promise of coming full circle... oh, may you always. How lovely, Sara. And congratulations and hugs to Mike.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great poem and a lovely tribute on this special day in your family's life. Congrats on this new chapter for you both!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, Sarah. It sweeps the reader through it - whilst also drawing you back to savour the words and moments. Poised, teetering, falling... yet poised. So much strength in this love!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your husband on a huge and important career. Congratulations to the two of you on your huge and important life together. Gorgeous poem. Brought tears to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteMany many congratulations on this milestone in a special place. I’m grateful for the love you and your family has given to all us through service. The addiction of gravity to hearts tough as burnt sugar—wow
ReplyDelete"Tough as burnt sugar" is wonderful. Congratulations to you and your husband!
ReplyDeleteWonders placed as knots--what a nice image. Your poem puts human life in perspective. Congratulations to you and your husband starting out again.
ReplyDeleteSara, this is such a beautiful poem--I like your slightly shorter revision here. My favorite part is
ReplyDeleteeach year a spin
around the sun, nothing
but a dust trail, an annulus,
a common ring, a promise
for years to come
The whole poem is a promise!
Both stunning, both full of truth as tough as burnt sugar. What an image. Lucky you, lucky him, who have done the hard work.
ReplyDelete