IN TRAINING, poem by Patricia Kelly

IN TRAINING

The involuted urgency with which
he speeds through life casts
a wake before him, a brief

mirage and like those desert
fakes, he, too offers no
oasis, no shelter, only
glare and grit and
storm. This time, no

longer to be an accident
waiting in his path, I fling
myself aside, no elan
as yet, no grace, only
sheer survival. But never

again to be like an insect, a small
blurry cross of wings and
body, sacrificed on his slick
transparent shield.

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The first draft of this poem was in May of 1989. I revised it again several times in the intervening years, until just the other day when I made what I am now able to consider the final draft. This poem may have taken me longer to come to a point of rest with than any I've ever written. And you may note I say "point of rest," as I do not truly consider any poem finished. I just reach a place where I feel able to let it be, and also then wish to share it. (Some I "let be," and just put back in my files.)

The first drafting was so many years ago I can't recall what urged it upon me, what particular thoughts or experience. But when I unearthed that first draft a couple years after it was written, what it was trying to say was lively enough for me to entice further work on it, as it was each subsequent time I've edited it.


[Image above: by Roswila]

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,

**** [aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blogs: ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL and ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT, and Yahoo DREAMJIN: Group for Dreamku – Haiku-Like Dream Poems ****

RESPONSE TO ONE SINGLE IMPRESSION PROMPT of 6/1/08

This week's prompt at ONE SINGLE IMPRESSION is "freedom," and the main sample poem is about remembering those whose went to war.

I'm not sharing work of my own this week, as when I was reading the full prompt I was reminded of a review I wrote of a book of haiku by John Dunphy, called OLD SOLDIERS FADING AWAY. In this review are several poems that speak to this week's prompt.

As always, you can visit One Single Impression for the full prompt and sample poems, as well as others' creative responses.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep dreaming,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)****My other blogs ROSWILA’S TAROT GALLERY & JOURNAL and ROSWILA’S TAIGA TAROT, and Yahoo DREAMJIN: Group for Dreamku – Haiku-Like Dream Poems.