Nicolaas Edvard
had been disguised for so long
he had forgotten himself
and his country of origin
he walked across the sand
and as the water swirled
memories stirred in his mind
but they slipped from him
as quickly as they formed
as from a cracked pottery jar
he wound his way up and down
this beach again and again
just as he had yesterday
he was not in a hurry
he knew he could not jar
those memories loose
his wounds were too deep
and too wide
his mind half-asleep
his true self continued to elude him
so beneath a cypress tree
he sat and wept
/ / /
This poem was written using the dozen words in Wordle 101 at The Sunday Whirl and using Warmup 3 from Miz Quickly’s Impromptu Poetry Month.
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Oh, I like this Richard. There are days when I could so easily relate, when thoughts are moving objects and I am no more than an obstacle in their path. The wordle words disappeared, just like those thoughts,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
As you get older you realize that you are a person of many parts and when one of them leaves you certainly weep for that loved one who is no more. Sadly the bitter angry one tends to stay.
This is going to drive me nuts! Nicolaas reminds me of a childhood poem being read, perhaps from Milne. Yes, I think probably from ‘Now We Are Six’. It has the story telling and the repetitive elements that give it its rhythm. Now I need to track down a copy. Nice use of noun/verbs jar and wound.
margo
Nicolaas is a receptacle for memories that move through him…sad that he can’t hold onto them… or is it? I like what you’ve done here, Richard. It makes me want to wander the beach letting my memories wash over me…..
A poignant character sketch, Richard. It is something I can relate to at this moment.
Pamela
Excellent and poignant poem .
There are, sad to say, many Nicolaas Edvards in the world. My brother, who committed suicide over three years ago, was one of them.
A Dozen Whirls
It’s one sad poem., 😦