I won’t outlive the sea,
not one drop of its salt depth,
not the old growth trees
nor the stone beneath my feet.
I am a guest to this banquet,
a pilgrim at the bazaar.
I fought madness and money
and though my bones grow brittle
still I grip the tools to carve these words.
The tide flows on,
mountains stand in silence,
and here I breathe, for just a moment,
passport stamped for the great beyond.
Reading of “Passport Stamped” with music by Afro Celt Sound System.
This brought tears to my eyes, layered in reasons. Growing up together, this is my favorite part of your journey, “Grandfather tree”, surrendered, deep roots that support the family, the friction left is where your bones rub together. I try to not dwell too much on the flight of that stamped passport. Instead, I lean into gratitude that I can call upon your canopy for, “plenty of good advice”.🍓
Eilish,
I was going on a different vein and then I read your comment.
What a precious moment to witness in my heart. Father and daughter gifting each other through words and breath. Tears flow as I behold and feel such depth of love and lineage all lined up, present and accounted for.
Best one yet Don. A perfect example of a writing maxim I live by, the value of our words resides in what we take out. I can feel the wordsmithing that happened here to reveal the bare beauty that shines through what remains, directly from the sun of your soul.
Your poem and Eilish’s reply are a pair in a grown-up Daddy-Daughter dance. Glorious.
Don, “passport stamped” is bright way of expressing our mortality. Very good. As for “fought madness and money”, we all have our difficulties with the legal profession.
Don — Beautiful, thoughtful poem today. As “a guest to this banquet,” we all have our difficulties with the public relations profession. On a more serious note, and relative to your poem today, here is a beautiful song I heard for the first time at the memorial service for a friend on Friday. Mike
“Angels Calling” by The Tenors:
https://youtu.be/EUR3JYpJ-Fc?si=1qXXcOQivNHkeG-v
Don,
Yes, “a guest to this banquet.” Well said!
Not one line beginning with a preposition! Instead, that strong opening of won’t/not/ not/ nor. Way to keep on getting better!
So nicely expressed; your gift as you join this banquet knowing to be ready for the adventure when this banquet ends.