Saturday, February 20, 2016

Untethered by Time--By Mary Jo Balistreri--United States

Untethered by Time

alley dark branches rain scented cherry blossoms

The first time I heard My Sweet Lady by John Denver I was living in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and dating the man I hoped to marry. Complications separated us. He left. It was over a month when miraculously, it now seems, he returned with an album under his arm—Poems, Prayers and Promises. Our record player was on the floor of the family room, and he had me lie down next to it, and close my eyes. Lady, are you crying, do the tears belong to me? Did you think our time together was all gone?

While John Denver sang, my love’s fingertips brushed my face, a touch so soft it seemed I could be imagining it. Over and over his fingertips caressed my face, perhaps they hovered above my face like an unknown wind.

whisper
of the sea…
renewal

Mary Jo Balistreri has two books of poetry published by Bellowing Ark Press and a chapbook by Tiger's Eye Press. She has more recently been enjoying learning and writing haiku type poems. She finds it helps her see differently and experience life in a new way. For more information, please visit her at maryjobalistreripoet.com  

7 comments:

  1. Jo, That is a beautiful story and poem. The first line appears at first not connected to the poem but it is and that first line emotionally describes the whole poem. Beautiful-Thanks

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  2. I met a girl, a decade ago. She was closely tied to John Denver, via the song "Poems, Prayers and Promises."
    That girl dragged me, kicking and screaming all the way, to my first group poetry blog. I met several people that day, who are still close to me this day, both as friends and as writing collaborators.

    You just struck a nerve, a good on, in a very solid way. Thanks!

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  3. I met a girl, a decade ago. She was closely tied to John Denver, via the song "Poems, Prayers and Promises."
    That girl dragged me, kicking and screaming all the way, to my first group poetry blog. I met several people that day, who are still close to me this day, both as friends and as writing collaborators.

    You just struck a nerve, a good on, in a very solid way. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you, JT and Michael. It is always a delight to have some feedback. I worried that maybe this was too personal. Yet, I wanted to share it with you.

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  5. Jo, I really loved this piece, you created a wonderful picture of a memorable time in your life - something that many can certainly relate to. Congratulations!

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  6. What a lovely haibun, Mary Jo. :) This past weekend I went to Sutton Foster's concert, and she sang "Sunshine on My Shoulders." It's nice to think about John Denver's music again.

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