*** Editor’s Pick ***
I Ain’t Saying Goodbye
Crystal Lee
Adelaide, SA
The sun won’t stop shining
And the waves don’t stop crashing
Embracing the Earth
Holding it together
But it don’t hold me
I walk through the sleeping garden
It rocks my soul to the core
My feet weave between
Memories of the young bodies
Laid here before
But for me, no I ain’t getting any rest
I can still feel your love
Warming up my soul
I can still hear your voice
Echoing like stories untold
But it’s still cold air that passes from my lips
The rain falls so heavy inside
My heart left a deluge
And your boots they’re still at my front door
Soaking up the floods of time
And I’m not moving on, not getting any older
For you left me before our endlessness was over
I ain’t saying goodbye
Crystal says that this poem was written about a person in mourning of a loved one.
Ed: This is our first ‘Editor’s Pick’ for a poem. We really enjoyed the language – the use of ‘ain’t’, not so much the word itself, but the way it was used. It’s very easy to write sad poems using lots of sad words, but the language in this poem is very strong – almost defiant. We also enjoyed the imagery of the boots at the door soaking up the floods of time, and the concept that someone left a partnership before ‘our endlessness was over’.
Friday 6 July 2012 4 pm
Keeping In Touch
Linda Callaghan
Bullaburra, NSW
Some family and friends live far away,
And we can’t keep in touch day by day.
Our memories are full but we miss their smiles,
Separated by land for miles and miles.
There is a red box that stands tall and bright,
It is faithful to all day and night.
All kinds of letters are pushed through its slot,
With greetings, and notes of forget-me-nots.
So follow the footprints to this beacon of red,
Keep in touch, say hello, there is much to be said!
Saturday 7 July 2012