we are responsible for the obsolete
it’s in everything, after all. time, dust
shifting unawareness
a drop of rain or a hand on the ocean
how cosmic, how quaint
what else but marigold fields?
what else but the record of a
hummingbird symphony?
where were you when they
whitewashed the moon
gave paradise an old man’s haircut?
another night, another longing for
someone familiar. even stars nibble at the skin
some truths are fatal. some showdowns are
the vendettas of planetary flowers—and so what?
if the sky is falling, pick it up
the science of god is final
the atmosphere’s a beehive and
i am mired in the possibilities of airplanes:
paragons of infinite sadness, your name
written in saltwater, violence of love, etc.
The Used Life 
9 responses to “Hands on the Ocean”
Love the contrasts, the surprises, and the unexpected descriptions found in this poem. Another favorite.🥰
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Thank you so much, Michele. I’m happy you enjoyed it. I hope you have a great weekend! ☺️
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I always do! You too, thank you. 😊
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we are responsible for the obsolete -wow, this is a poignant start a poem. I love how you structure the poem between cosmic and quaint…maybe between the impersonal and personal? You start the poem listing the impersonal: time, dust, shifting unawareness, but after “quaint,” you take it in a personal direction. Which with you is always a wonderfully surreal and vivid and lyrical.
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Thank you. I like the way you read the contrasting elements of this poem. I enjoyed the slightly awkward effect of trying to combine them.
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“another night, another longing for
someone familiar. even stars nibble at the skin
some truths are fatal. some showdowns are
the vendettas of planetary flowers—and so what?”
I really like this stanza. Familiar and simple with truth and a challenge…and I do love how your poetry has connection and flow and yet certain portions within the same poem can also be read as a poem unto itself. Each paragraph in this particular piece could shoot off into another direction with yet another lovely piece written. All connected, each exploring another aspect of thought, of life with fullness and richness. Great job, my friend…
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Thank you so much. I’m happy you found something valuable in each stanza. 🙂
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Even Stars nibble at the skin …. loved it
Had a cosmic transcendental effect
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Thanks. I’m happy you think so.
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