Held Close Like a Talisman

We have rituals of innocence,
when we dress and undress,
how we lean toward each other in the night
and most of all how we’re still in the morning,
letting the quiet remain, the dark slowly fade
as we pull back the curtains looking east
to feel what may be coming
and see each other in that light.
We once saw our lives in negative,
thinking if we got the shading right
in our inner darkroom
we’d have life how we wanted
but after a while the abstraction fell away
and we had the simpler choices
of kindness and an open look,
no disguises, no giving with one hand
and taking with the other,
letting go the false sacrament
we’d learned to worship,
the idol gathering dust in some attic box
while we lend ourselves to each other,
your face a morning treasure
discovered in the dissolving dark
and held close like a talisman
while the light begins to gather.

 

 


 


12 Responses to “Held Close Like a Talisman”

  1. Lloyd Meeker says:

    I hold you close to my heart, Don, our relationship is a talisman of authentic life, of understanding the real value of things — a gold standard of love, against which all things are tried.

    “See” you Thursday in the ether!

  2. Christy White says:

    Well done! This is extremely personal and, at the same time, universal, as Lloyd pointed out. I have noticed that growing older is not about diminishing, but about finally noticing the smallest details and the miracles they are. It changes our poetry, our art, and I think touches each of us in a deeper place because we are coming from a deeper calm. Thanks!

  3. Robin Bryant says:

    When the rituals of innocence resonate with my moments, the reality of every living thing is united with my heart. I love honoring this union in the light of your beautiful poem. Thank you Don!

  4. Maria Jimenez Frid says:

    The light only gathers when there is kindness and openness of hearts. Only then can the light intensify and we can truly worship. May it be always so! I am always grateful for your the treasures, Don!

  5. David Banner says:

    This poem is, for me, about the sinew of my life…the unvarnished telling of the truth.

  6. Paul Blythe says:

    Fond memories after 44 years of marriage!
    I seems a poem to paint a picture, long cherished,
    symbolizing “two in agreement.”

  7. Soma Hunter says:

    I love the intimate feel of this poem, Don. I can see you in the innocent ritual, sitting at your writing table, disrobing with words and inviting the true love making which is poetry.

  8. Rodger Hyodo says:

    innocence, after all

  9. Tom Wilson says:

    Beautiful poem!

  10. Pichay says:

    There is no external source of this wealth of Being you portray, that can match the richness of an innocent, authentic, pulsing, vibrancy of love radiating from my heart chakra. Thank you for this gift of spiritual expression.

  11. Marco says:

    We once saw our lives in negative … but after a while … we had the simpler choices …

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