CONFESSIONS OF A NATURE LOVER
by Bob Hicok
Back then I was going steady
with fog, who could dance
like no one's business, I threw her over
for a leaf that one day fluttered
first her shadow then her whole life
into my hand, that's a lot
of responsibility and a lot
of relatives, this leaf
and that leaf and all the other leaves
hung around, I told her
I needed space, which was true, without it I'd only be a soul,
and no one's sure that wisp
is real, that's why we say
of real estate, location, location,
location, and of speech,
locution, locution, locution,
and of love, yes, yes, yes,
I am on my knees, will you have me,
world?
I'm not really one for poetry (oh, dear, I hope Jeanne covered her eyes before she read that last bit!), and I'm not really one for prayer either, at least not in the religious, get down on your knees and ask God for favors kind of way, but something resounded in me when I read the last lines of this poem. I got to the end and thought, Boy, isn't that what it means to pray? To ask the world to accept you and all that you are--insignificant, miniscule--with all your worries and fears and love and hope? Isn't that all that anyone wants? Please, will you have me?
5 comments:
I love the poem, and love it when people who don't usually read poetry find one they like!
Jeanne-D'oh! I just realized that I spelled your name wrong in my original posting...that's a huge pet peeve of mine, so I feel really bad when I do it to other people. Sorry! glad you liked the poem too. :)
I think I noticed the name spelling, but as it's the way my childhood nickname was spelled, didn't think much of it. As an adult, I give my name as one syllable, but when I was a kid, a lot of people pronounced it with two (as in "I dream of Genie").
You've introduced me to a new poet! Thank you. The whole piece really spoke to me, and I, too, love the ending. I think you're onto something. "Prayer" can take many forms.
I'm glad you liked it too. :)
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