The following poem was prompted by James Rainsford‘s picture, Reflections. It is part of dVerse Poets Pub. Enjoy, and please don’t hesitate to visit James’s website and the other poets present at the pub.
Reflections again
This time I didn’t see my reflection
lost in thoughts
as I was
tracing back V-shaped steps
-victory or loss-
pacing back grieving laps
-will or sallow-
I was inclined to weep.
That time I didn’t see my reflection either
in fact
lost in time
as I was
gazing back at juts of mist
-water or misery-
racing back at an impression
-your eyes not mine-
I found you and lost me.
Two reflections that I didn’t see
Two straight poles that I couldn’t stand
between
half-fallen as I was
already half-part of the
pondering world.
Hiroshimem 
mmm…yeah a felt piece…and i really like the words you break out in the – – they add a nice internal piece to this…and caught up in those emotions it def becomes harder to see those reflections….
Thank you. Sometimes it easy to walk past and see shapes only, not content -that’s how I felt- 🙂
For some technical reason I couldn’t comment on your blog… I’ll do it here: Thanks for sharing such lively and vibrant memories. The mustard colour stayed on my mind and made your whole poem sandy… just like running memory that finally found out what song it was!
Very nice. Not good to find someone else and lose yourself. So many, however, seem to.
That’s true… And it can become very complex because being with another person changes you no matter what. So who’s who?
Sometimes it’s only in looking back we realise all of the things we didn’t see at the time.
Great writing and great use of the image.
Thank you! Yes, then looking forward is the key. Is he leaning forward, or just looking down? Everything is possible.
« pacing back grieving laps » is the line that sticks out the most for me. This evokes so many emotions in me, a poem I can relate to in the most profound way. Love it! 🙂
Oh, thank you!
I like the first few lines thinking so hard that you can’t see your reflection . set the the moody tune for this poem. Good work
Thank you!
« I found you and lost me… » A sad reality in too many relationships, I think. We have to have enough of ourselves left to give to the other, although love does presuppose putting onself aside. A balancing act. Bien fait, et merci.
Merci beaucoup! Oui, l’équilibre… like taking one step and then another, accepting this short moment when one foot is not touching the ground…
A brilliant response to the photo. Evocative imagery and your words illuminate my image perfectly.
Thank you.
Thank YOU for your brilliant photo!
goes to show it’s always important to look at the reflections, even the distorted ones tell us something.
suffocated reflction
Oh, that’s so true… Thank you for the reminder!
I felt the same as you- there’s something about this picture that is not only literally reflective, but very metaphorically. I really like the way you emoted about this relationship- to me it felt like a relationship had ended but it wasn’t sure whether it as a victory or a loss- it conveyed a whole host of almost confused emotions- which often results as part of reflecting inwards. Enjoyed V much
Thank you. It could indeed be interpreted the way you said – a relationship that ended on your fault, because you’re the one who walked away, and then feel both relieved and guilty for doing it. Confusing, indeed. Thank you V much 😉
Hmm… very cool way to evoke this pensiveness that I think is so right with this picture. Your words have many fine lines. I was especially was struck by the following:
gazing back at juts of mist
-water or misery-
racing back at an impression
Those juts of mist – water or misery – that’s a powerful image that just speaks miles of sadness, or perhaps even despair. Combining water and misery by way of « or » is uncanny, for me at least.
« or » can connect two words in opposition, or it can also be a question, like, « Is it water or misery that I see? » where the opposition is still there somehow but less important.
Water means freshness to me, renewal (maybe because of the tides that I grew up next to). But I know the (dis)association might be surprising.
Thank you so much!
At times I lament that we seem to only skim the surface of things. I feel you have correctly pointed out that we often don’t even see the reflections from that surface.
And we also see what we want to see… Thank you.
Caught between to poles feels like a great metaphor for so much of life, great write.
Thank you! Can be seen as harsh… or soft, if your poles are trees.
dang…I found you and lost me….gave me a sting…i think the ideal case is if we find ourselves in the others eyes…tightly penned..
I think you’re right: Finding ourselves in the other’s eyes. Thank you!
I specially like these words :
racing back at an impression
-your eyes not mine-
I found you and lost me.
Beautiful writing ~
My share: http://everydayamazin.blogspot.ca/2012/03/to-sea.html
Thank you! Yours is a great piece too 🙂
Yes, found you and lost me, wonderful, and the return of reflections to pondering. Wonderful. K.
Thank you for seeing that connection between reflection and pondering. 🙂
A beautiful and poignant piece… I agree that the format helps emphasize the refection of the image.
Thank you for seeing that!