Sally Eslinger Poet Prose Poetry

Devoted, Choosing To Hold

***  Devoted, Choosing  to Hold ***

Engaged
By your spirit; 
My heart to yours; my heart’s hoping ~
Choosing,
Not that long after we met.  
Completely to embrace you.
And you,
Losing your heart to me,  choosing
To  commit  yourself to a  “hand-full”
     (in terms of the creative personality
          as defined by experts**).

You, 
from a southern town;
a male; “ minister’s kid;”
curious about outer-space;
quiet; student; survivor; an
admirable man; introvert, but 
socially generous and well-liked; 
an engineer;  brother of five; fan of
blues/jazz; witty; reader; hard-worker;
compassionate; empathetic;
politically/socially concerned; 
fond of cats; caregiver.
And so,

Beloved, 
I suspect you 
Took more
Into your hands and heart ~ likely
More than you could imagine, for
	I am nearly your opposite:
		
female/                 extrovert/              Christian mystic/   
              poet/                         artist/        
reader/                    talkative/                   teacher/  
           sibling of one/                survivor/
 - former                       - former            - politically/socially
 ballerina/              Cc   1970’s hippie            concerned/
       quick to sing but not always in tune/
now need 24/7 care due to physical illness/   quick to laugh/
easy to weep/ compassionate/ empathetic/ 
from densely urban north/ loves dogs.
       
Devoted,
Here, loving
We live; sharing 
Our full hearts
And this day,
Into tomorrow,
Giving thanks to Abba 
For blessings, and for
Inspiring this love
That holds us so
Well together.


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* notes — experts: Will Durant, Colin McGinn, Hildegard of Bingen,
 Richard Rohr,  Fr. Thomas Merton, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, 
,Makoto Fujtimmurgay
ALSO!……when searching for the FORM for this poem, I looked for “experimental” or “avant-garde” but neither is on the list. .
(c) sally young eslinger 10/10/22
Thanks be to God!

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Gershon Wolf October 12, 2022 at 8:26 PM So much to take in and process here, Sally. What a match-up! ~ Processing away, ker-chunk, ker-chunk...

Beryl Edmonds October 12, 2022 at 3:56 PM A beautiful story/poem of the love and devotion you clearly have for your husband… Belle

Victor Buhagiar October 11, 2022 at 2:14 PM Incredible original poem. Love is for better, for worse. Unfortunately many think marriage is just sex and leave if they are not ready to sacrifice their lives. I spent five years taking care oof my wife with dementia. I never regretted it. Sally Eslinger October 12, 2022 at 5:34 PM Victor, I spent my early yrs after high school in NYC & Chicago w/svante grade& experimental artists & writers, reading lots of J.Joyce, even have a hand -written note from Samuel Beckett. I’ve more experinpmental poetry, an “anti-s,s.” Posting after surgery. Thanks for sharing your story. You are a gifted, talented, good man indeed. xoxo

Kim Rodrigues October 11, 2022 at 1:41 PM Quite a beautiful write, Sally! A good man stands by your side. I knew a lady who told me her story that when she became seriously ill her husband left her. God turned his blessings over to her parents who took care of her. May your health be restored. <3 Kim