The Transient Heart

I've observed that new poems ... or their beginnings ... are like rabbits venturing out to nibble the clover at dusk ... tentative at first ... then a little bolder ...

Old poems ... at least my old poems ... wander in and out like ... well, like old men trying to remember where they left their hats. I should know ... I'm one of them now.

Today's poem "wandered in" while I was driving.

We were on our way home ... probably after attending a poetry reading ... or sitting in with a group of poetry-loving friends ... two of my most frequent alibis for "a late night out."

I was thinking, just thinking, as I drove into ... and out of ... a rain shower ... I watched the windshield wipers knocking the raindrops aside ... and then quickly running out of anything to do.

For some reason ... I guess it was all that sudden activity ... then inactivity ... on the windshield ... "The Transient Heart" came to mind ... (oh, and today's art ... the three-heart "doodle" ... is mine, too).

The poem:

THE TRANSIENT HEART

Fog had invaded

our street overnight,

leaving my car

sitting like a large,

cold melon, dripping

with potential.

Extracting my keys

from the usual

pants-pocket tangle,

my gaze drifted

to a heart-shaped

tracing vanishing

amid a cascade

of trickles

on a rear window.

A secret admirer?

More likely just

a stranger, a pupil

dawdling toward

school, little

suspecting that

such a tiny doodle

could send so many

thoughts rippling

merrily across

my morning mind.

© 1998

(originally published in Capper's)

***

Today's word: transient

Afterthoughts ...in response to your comments:

I'm delighted, Southernmush, that you found this to be the "perfect" poem ... and I'm always pleased when my timing seems to be right on target ... but I have to remind myself that, as I often say, so much depends on what the reader brings to the poem. I appreciate the thoughtfulness and understanding that you always bring on your visits to "Chosen Words" ... and I wish you well in all things.