09 July 2014

Though I am Old With Wandering...



I've traveled in my life,
found fresh vistas for hungry eyes,
moved forward toward the novel and
exchanged the customary close to my heart
to defy convention and shake loose moorings
that constrain even while they comfort. 

Something entirely new can then burst forth,
a friendship forged across boundaries of age and culture.
This place of connection against all odds
is the magic I've found and the highest degree of accuracy. 
We are one, this bench mark mapped,
the landmark of depth, formlines of home
set in our true coordinates.


This is written in response to two prompts at Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads: the first from Helen to write of the travels in our life and the magic of what we've found and use map terms (used- degree of accuracy, bench mark, depth, landmark, coordinates, formlines) and the second prompt from Grapeling to use words from the July word list (used- fresh, burst, defy, forward, customary). Mario, in the photo with me, is 84 and from Montalcino, Italy.

29 comments:

  1. ha. you packed it in there in those last 3 lines....and good on you for denying convention and other constraints...its cool to discover new people/new friends in our travels as well...never know who you will run into...if you are open to it...

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  2. Such a lovely friendship from verses and sweet picture you posted ~ I like the whole stanza part - something new bursting forth, a connection against all odds ~ That's the luck of two true coordinates ~

    Grace

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    1. Much of life is the search for our true coordinates and then recognizing them when they present themselves.

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  3. Travels and map terms, I like it.

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    1. I'm not sure I used them correctly but I loved the sound of them. It was a great prompt.

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  4. "shake loose moorings
    that constrain even while they comfort."

    This portion resonated with me especially, Mary. I've been thinking about the word, "mooring," lately...it was nice to see it used this way.

    Great poem!

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    1. It has taught me bravery and delighted me when I can do it.

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  5. Hi Mary. I enjoyed this. I think there are always fresh vistas to be found if we keep our eyes open. I enjoyed your reflection here.

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  6. This is an amazing piece of writing, Mary. Your use of language throughout is exceptional and the message is inspiring.

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    1. I appreciate your kind words, Kerry.

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  7. clean living - or happy living, at least - clearly benefits longevity. thank you for adding your positive voice, Mary ~ M

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    1. I'd call it happy living from a grateful heart. I liked this prompt, G.

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  8. He's sure a young looking chap! Those Italians know how to appreciate beauty. :-)

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    1. He looks great for 84, doesn't he? Works every day in a winery.

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  9. Such a celebration, Mary, that it almost jumps off the page with lively images and bright language. This is indeed how we should strive to live our lives.

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    1. Life is teaching me how to live it in celebration.

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  10. what a great looking gentleman!!!

    i can certainly see, why a friendship forged with him, would be worth writing poetry about.

    :-)

    tessa~

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  11. This is such a happy, feel good and vivid candid poem, loving life and all to the fullest. I must comment on the lovely photo for your blog header too.

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    1. The header is one of the views from my balcony and I do love my life.

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  12. The title is great and the poem inspiring.

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    1. The title is a line from a W. B. Yeats poem which I love.

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  13. I was entranced the second I read "though I am old with wandering" (you are certainly better with map terms than me!) I thoroughly enjoyed this, Mary.

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    1. It was a great prompt and I loved some of the terms I'd never heard before.

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  14. very, very nice. makes me think, actually. thank you, Mary.

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