After Before
I never understood much that went before, could never sing hymns
at the gate of youth with confidence nor carry myself through
uncertain adolescence with conviction; I was always puzzled by
geometry and the comatose of algebra drawing a sort of wonder
only in the divine mystery of the solemn earth and the sound of ice
cream vans down backstreets and the jazzy hum from playgrounds
and swimming pools and the quiet cathedral peace of bluebell
woods where curiosity blinked at every turn of the knotted path and
ivy hung trunks stood defiant out along the dipping brook with its
mystery of where it had been and where it went – I never understood
much about my coming of age where manhood was an advertising
falsehood and adulthood was a wound of conformity with its
dreaded spectre of responsibility; I always dreamt of someone
nobler to be there when I awoke, a confidante to walk the timeless
trails, a twinned mind to share the small miracles when light gets
through the blinded eye – and then, how sweet, how sweet it was,
you appeared from behind the curtain of fate, a gift from divine
providence, an answer to a gambler’s prayer, how sweet that
miracle was, to find you amongst the chimneys and railings of the
bleak landscape that went before, a steady hand against the
wicked winds of chance, a fellow explorer, my blessed companion,
precious as the boundless sky, you turned the heads of lambs as
you passed by and the truth of you was the God in everything I
adore.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
