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How Does the Moon Revolve

he reminded me of a tree
feet rooted in the soil
his gaze surveying distant hills
that strained towards the sky

she lived inside the house
inside her head
travelled instead in a chariot
made from dreams

sometimes he brought her gifts 
a bundle of beans
a strawberry on a plate
she would wait alone in her head 
as she gazed at the dead summer fire

at times like this she could pull herself
back to the front
confront his world
eat his offerings knowing that
his mind was on lower things

trapped in the vortex of their worlds
a mutual gravitational pull
each proving gravity wins every time
over give and take

after the funeral 
she dragged her chair 
into the garden with the weeds
sitting alone and sipping her tea 
crosswords abandoned on her knee
 
she hasn’t much to say these days
her eyes gaze outwards now and yet
i notice that her chair is set 
back towards the house

the question is
how does the moon revolve
after the world is gone

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




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Date: 5/2/2017 8:40:00 AM
This is lovely. A little sad and so tastefully done. You have a gift for this style. There is a deep back story here somewhere. Very nice! - Dean
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Christie Temple Avatar
Jennifer Christie Temple
Date: 5/2/2017 1:22:00 PM
Thanks for reading and for the encouraging comments, Dean. People and relationships fascinate me. They are like oceans, we can only guess and imagine what moves below the surface. Jen
Date: 9/3/2016 1:04:00 PM
Very sad but well written, Jennifer. I hope it is fictional. Welcome to Poetrysoup.
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Jennifer Christie Temple
Date: 9/3/2016 4:01:00 PM
Thanks, Barry! Well, it's only based on my observations of a married couple that I once knew quite well so, in that sense, it is fictional. They may have viewed their relationship quite differently. Thanks for the welcome. :)
Date: 9/2/2016 1:18:00 PM
when any world disappears all that revolved around it is lost to its own place...my first thought after reading your poem jennifer..welcome to poetrysoup my poetic friend
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Christie Temple Avatar
Jennifer Christie Temple
Date: 9/3/2016 10:26:00 AM
Yes, completely lost in an unfamiliar situation. Thank you for your insightful comment and for understanding my poem so well, Frederick. Thank you for the welcome too :)
Date: 7/23/2016 1:10:00 PM
Beautiful and very sad. Sounds like something personally experienced. Well expressed and well done.
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Christie Temple Avatar
Jennifer Christie Temple
Date: 7/24/2016 4:11:00 PM
Thanks, Barry. Yes, based on a couple I knew. It's strange how love can be true and deep and yet so lacking in mutual understanding.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things