Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

If I Could Only

If I Could Only….

If I could only fly on wings of balm
Into the chaos of every hemorrhaging heart
Each shredded soul -eyes flooded by a tidal wave of “why?”  –
If only and “yeah but” fleeting ghosts – if only….

If I could only revive the wonder in cynic’s cloudy sightlines
In shaky footsteps plodding through fallen stars,
In dreams that hopeless wander into twilight – in what can be yanked away - 
If only and “yeah but” fleeting ghosts – if only….

If I could only raise up hands bound by helplessness
Every voice stilled by a whisper named despair,
Long faces powerless to take in the borealis dance, abandoned visions littering possibility
If only and “yeah but” fleeting ghosts – if only….

If I could only soothe with oils of comfort
The chanting eulogies of threadbare hours
Lamentations of remorse - the dirge of shame hidden behind stones
If only and “yeah but” fleeting ghosts – if only….

Lord, let not “if only and “yeah but”
Be the mantles that I wear,
The musty wraps that grip my hands or holey shoes that hold my feet in one place,
But only fleeting ghosts of if I could only.

1/18/20

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John Watt March 17, 2020 at 1:00 AM This prayer builds nicely towards the ending stanza. Each line 4 refrain with the regret at excuses made, each line 1 beginning with the hope of "If I could only". Both patterns break with the stanza 5 climax. "The musty wraps that grip my hands or holey shoes that hold my feet in one place". Wonderful prayer, Sam. Sam Kauffman March 17, 2020 at 4:00 PM Hi John, this poem came out of a challenge from my writers club meeting. Thank you for your message. Hopefully it will inspire others to move forward and not get stuck in "if I could only!"

Darlene De Beaulieu January 18, 2020 at 5:07 PM Hello Sam Kauffman, a beautiful poem. It it read as a prayer. is how i see this poem. Have a nice evening my friend. Sam Kauffman March 17, 2020 at 4:15 PM Hi Darlene, thank you for your visit. Thank you for your kind words - we can pray this together! Stay healthy!

Connie Marcum Wong January 18, 2020 at 4:59 PM Thoughts are deeds and you ARE helping with your words in this fabulous poem my friend! : ) xxoo Sam Kauffman February 10, 2020 at 12:46 PM Hi Connie, I never thought of it that way - thank you so much for the insightful perspective! Happy Valentine's Day to you. Hope this day of friendship is very special for you.