When a Wife Flies Half-Way Round the World

[After I wrote this, I understood why so often when one half of a long term-- 40, 50, 60 plus years--couple dies, the other often passes soon after,]


When my wife flew half way round the world to see her father in China,
I thought, well, only for two weeks-- piece of cake....
Then something strange happened--the house got twice as big!
And it felt empty, oh so empty, as though abandoned by life....

Then time itself slowed down, so slow that days passed leaden, 
like boring speeches that went on and on, so slow I could hear
Old Man Time dragging his feet and I wanted to scream....

I hadn't realized-- after 40 years, she is a part of me, not, repeat,
not figuratively, not a metaphor but a part of me, if not body, 
the certainly soul....

And when she returned, after 15 hours in the belly of a big bird,
our house shrunk back to its normal size, Old Man Time began
marching briskly again, and my soul was once more whole....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2018

Poem

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Gauthier Avatar
January 9, 2021 at 10:06 AM
beautiful ~
Carber Avatar
February 4, 2022 at 7:32 AM
Thank you Line--very much appreciated, and sorry I overlooked thanking you last year....
Andresen Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 3:10 AM
-L.J., congratulations on your great winning poem ... writing about tears is a sensitive theme :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Carber Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 9:08 AM
Thank you, Anne-Lise, it is deeply appreciated!
Johnson Avatar
February 6, 2019 at 4:15 PM
Congrats on your winning placement. I understand this piece very well. For us, 46 years of marriage does something deep in the souls of sposes.
Carber Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 9:09 AM
Thanks, and you've got me beat, Curtis-- our 39th is coming up (still can't believe the woman put up with me this long!)
Ibeh Avatar
February 6, 2019 at 2:34 PM
A delightful read, L.J.!:-) Congratulations on your win!
Carber Avatar
February 7, 2019 at 9:10 AM
Thank you Edward-- I'm glad you liked it.
Brewer Avatar
January 21, 2019 at 12:25 AM
Len, your descriptive writing has a depth, an authenticity and integrity that draws me into your world, and convinces me of its truth and reality. Well done.
Carber Avatar
January 21, 2019 at 9:36 AM
Thanks Geoff-- you're making me blush, buddy!
Pandit Avatar
January 11, 2019 at 8:21 AM
I am sure your wife adores this poem..so well written..true to life!
Carber Avatar
January 12, 2019 at 8:20 AM
Thanks Vijay--actually, my wife is not big on poetry it seems...well, love (and love's attraction) is after all the deepest mystery of the Universe!
Dietrich Avatar
December 26, 2018 at 5:12 PM
this is SO sweet and precious, L J. I see it won something and that was a very well deserved win. (by the way, if I get a vacation from MY spouse, the time literally flies because I am having so much fun hahaha) I enjoyed seeing an opposite perspective!
Carber Avatar
December 27, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Ah Andrea, you're probably still young--give it the better part of half a century and you'll see-- it's a rather strange, surprising, and remarkable transformation. I'm glad you liked the poem- thanks, and may you and your family have a blessed 2019!
Kamoonpuri Avatar
December 23, 2018 at 11:02 PM
Wow congrats for n your well deserved win on this creatively sentimental poem win. It reminds of a Shakespearean saying, "parting makes the hearts grow fonder". Kudos for this great lovely poem. Plz do check out my newest poem too.
Carber Avatar
December 24, 2018 at 10:51 AM
I suppose that's why people still love Shakespeare 400 years later: he touched on so many universal truths about our ever flawed human nature. Thank you for your most kind comments.
Devonshire Avatar
December 22, 2018 at 10:19 PM
L.J., it's been a long time since I've had the connection you describe with anyone, but I still remember how it felt to be suddenly alone. Wanted to climb the walls. You took me back... Congratulations on your win in Brian's contest, Carolyn
Carber Avatar
December 23, 2018 at 1:11 PM
Thank you Carolyn, and if I may, I believe you will have such a connection again, if not in this life, the next one. I've come to see the real possibility of reincarnation and the truth of the last words my mother spoke to me: 'Love never goes away.'
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