It’s been a busy National Poetry Month. To celebrate, I’ve been writing along with the daily prompts on Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides blog. Today was the final prompt – to write a “fade away” poem. I got to thinking about what it’s like to watch someone drive away – to be left behind, and to be glad to be wherever you have landed. That’s often how I feel these days – learning to live happily with myself, digging the earth, finding joy in the smallest things. At last…
At last
This graying fleck in the dust behind you
this ampersand laughing scooping up
ochre earth in the summer breeze
is the fool who learned at last
how to love his own soul.
This lingering smile
just before I
fade away
call it
joy.
Penguin Poems 
Wonderful and wistful – I changed the url pointer to your new address – don’t want to miss anything! Great poem, Andrew.
Thanks, Buddah!
I enjoyed reading all your poetry at P A last month !! Sorry I couldn’t comment over there but you know how that works !! Well Done !! Mystical-Poet
Thanks, MP! Likewise – I always enjoyed reading your work, as well.
Thanks Andrew !!
in learning to love ourselves, that is the beginning of life…so joy it would be even if it was in the fading away…
and maybe fading away into something better… a real hope for us all! Thanks, Brian.
Really like the structure you have used here. It creates a wonderful effect in relation to the words.
Very nice work here.
It’s a fun form – the Reverse Etheree – going from ten syllables to one. Especially fun to try and get each line shorter on the page, as well as in syllables. Glad you stopped by!
Just stopping by to add your new location to my blog, so when I finally have time to read, I’ll know where to find you! Running away to catch up on my writing — for now. :-))
Yes – so much reading to catch up on. April was a bit of an all-you-can-eat poetic buffet…
Wow! Not only fun to look at, but touching to read. Love it!
This is really great, and I think the ending works perfectly with the unfolding self-awareness that came with the moment. You’ve exposed the moment and you coming together in wonderful wholeness to reveal consciousness of who and what you are.
This “lingering smile before I fade away, call it joy” very lovely!
Andrew, I have always loved your poems, and in appreciation of your talent, I’ve nominated you to be “cyber-appreciated” if you get a chance stop by and see at saravinas.blogspot.com
Thanks, Sara! What a lovely honor to receive. I’m passing it along, and linking people back to you.
Thank you Andrew! I’m now receiving your poems in my email too, what a treat!