Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Old-Fashioned

Old-Fashioned

So you’re a teacher,
the old man tells me.
How does he know.

No one but a teacher
would dare do such
an old-fashioned thing

as reading in public.
Karl is here to visit
his brother, who is

dying. It’s the right
time to swap stories.
I want him to know

all the crazy parts
of my life. Karl keeps
his longing where

he can reach it when
he needs to, like a
handkerchief in the

inner breast pocket
of a jacket. Is it age
that prods what we

want forward, offering
it as easily as small
talk. Is there any need

to mention the clouds
or cloudlessness when
we can speak about death

and love with strangers.
I write my wife a poem
every year for her birthday,

but one year I tore up
what I wrote to start
again. Feelings are

the hardest part, Karl
again, balancing two
cherry danishes and

an apple on a napkin
that he will carry
upstairs to his wife.

8 comments

  1. A beautiful poem in every way. It is tender and true and comes across as totally sincere. Very moving.

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  2. "Karl keeps
    his longing where

    he can reach it when
    he needs to, like a
    handkerchief in the

    inner breast pocket
    of a jacket."

    Fantastic! Also, another quiet explosion of closure.

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  3. This comes deep from the mind and heart, Hannah. It is beautiful. Yes, feelings are the hardest part. Bravo, Hannah! And happy birthday.

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  4. Oh, Karl!!! This is so sincere and touching. I love how you share your world. xoxo

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  5. Wonderful heartfelt creation.

    Also, Felis comple anos or Bon Anniversaire or Happy Birthday!

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  6. I cannot love this poem anymore even if I tried really hard....it touches so deep xoxo


    ps- I noticed up above that you have a birthday...wishing you a happy one, you are like Augustus : )

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  7. I was just thinking about old fashioned teachers!

    Happy Birthday Hannah :-).

    ReplyDelete

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