Enjoy That Silence

Today's poem was written at a time when I was thinking about my writing ... how I might improve it ... what subject to tackle next ... how to tweak some of the tons of things I've written ... and about how ... someday ... for me ... all this will come to a halt ...

That can be a gloomy thought, I know ... but I prefer to look at the bright side of the coin, even while knowing, all along, that the coin has another, darker side, too.

Today's poem deals with that other side, but in a way, I hope, that simply looks at reality ... with a dash of hope for the reader ... the knowledge that things will go on, as always.

This morning, though, the poem came to mind as I thought about another bit of silence ... my neglecting to keep up my portion of the conversation with readers ... namely, in "Afterthoughts," where I respond to readers' comments.

I feel it's important to acknowledge these thoughtful entries which readers make ... they've found time in their busy days, after all, to pay me a visit, to read what I've written ... to contribute a statement which often throws new light on what I've said ... which adds to the understanding of what I was trying to say.

I've been neglectful ... other things have intruded ... like my "excused absence" earlier this week ... the rapidly approaching publication date for Wood Smoke, my third collection of poems ... yard chores ... errands ... hunting for things I've lost ... oh, the list goes on an on.

But it always comes back to one thing ... to me ... to the fact that I've neglected to keep up my end of the conversation here.

I am sorry ... really sorry ... about that ... and I'll try to do better.

And I'm starting to work on Monday's installment of "Squiggles and Giggles" ... I really am ... I promise.

Meanwhile, I have been blessed to be able to write, and to be permitted toshare what I havewritten.

As much as the writing itself ... which sometimes comes in pauses and starts, and sometimes with difficulty, but always brings a certain satisfaction when it's finished, awaiting a polishing or two ... I have enjoyed the reactions of readers.

To say that I have basked in their comments is a vast understatement.

Still, I know it will all end someday. It must. It will.

This poem is about that. I think it pretty well tells its own story ... and I don't think it's a sad story, really, just an acknowledgment of the inevitable ... but also a celebration of the present. Thank you for being a part of that celebration.

(Oh, and a new installment of "Squiggles & Giggles" has been posted)

The poem:

ENJOY THAT SILENCE

When all the leafy

branches have closed

behind me and my

footsteps have drifted

into nothing, I hope

there will be no

searching parties sent

to seek new meaning

in what I was trying

to say. I had no hidden

agenda, no secrets

in my surface-dwelling

statements. So when

the silence descends,

as it surely must, please

accept it. And enjoy.

© 2006

(Published in the Spring 2006 - 40th Anniversary Edition - of ICON)

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Today's word: inevitable