Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Cartography


Is there a map somewhere,
he asked,
a hydrographic wonder
for all those rivers
of tears
that mothers have cried
for their children’s fears,
that wives have shed
for husbands
who never returned
from this war
or another,
that sons have wept
for lost loves,
for fathers,
and mothers?
I would like to know
to what ocean they flow,
what unsated abyss
buries
all these rains
of grief?
This is what he asked.
My heart, I answered,
as I cried.
This is the map,
this is the hydrographic wonder,
my heart,
and his,
this is the abyss.

18 comments:

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

What an absolutely fine poem, Vesper. You have created, in my estimation the perfect verse! I will be back to read this again and again. Kudos. (I just love the gist of this)

Vesper said...

K., I am humbled. To say just "thank you" seems such a cold answer to your heartfelt comment... but I'm so very grateful for such words, coming from a poet like yourself... Thank you, my dear K....

the walking man said...

It is the curse of the cartographer to always have them that are lost, checking the map in the hope there is a reference point for them to navigate away from pain.

Now that we know where the map is maybe we can find the Elysian fields.

wonderfully stated verse, Vesper.

laughingwolf said...

k and mark said it all! HUZZAH!

Anonymous said...

That's incredibly powerful, Vesper. I could see this being an a special verse for families in this horrible position.

Anonymous said...

This was beautiful. Perfect for the mood I'm in right now.

Paul

Charles Gramlich said...

Very powerful. I really liked this one. this is a mood altering one, which isn't easy to do.

Marilyn Brant said...

I don't think there's anything "almost" about your poem...it's beautiful.

Miladysa said...

*wipes away a tear*

Catherine Vibert said...

Oh Vesper, my heart fills with the tears of this poem. And you really got me with 'that mothers have cried for their children's fears', there is a secret ocean within my heart that is always filled with those tears. Thank you for this poem.

Vesper said...

I think we all are the cartographer, Mark. Thank you for your kind words.

Thank you, LW!

Thank you, Jason. I just couldn’t help thinking of all the losses, all the deaths from all times, from the beginning of life on this Earth… and saw them as incommensurable tragedies… Everybody is in this position.

Thank you, Paul. I hope you’re feeling much better now.

Charles, I thank you. Much appreciated.

Thank you, Marilyn, thank you so much!

Miladysa, I’m sorry… Thank you.

Cat, I thank you. I think mothers know that secret more than anybody else…

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Vesper - you constantly make me wish i were a poet!

Vesper said...

Ello, you make me wish I had your wonderfully talented humour. Thank you, my friend. :-)

BernardL said...

Er... ah... Merry Christmas... Vesper. :)

Touching poem.

laughingwolf said...

hey v, just realized you're not too far from me, just one time zone west ;) lol

season's blessings to you and yours :D

Vesper said...

Bernard, I'm sorry... :-( I guess you were expecting something merrier.

Merry Christmas to you too! All the best to you and the ones you love. And I thank you from my heart for your good wishes and comments! :-)

LW, you're in beautiful Nova Scotia...
Thank you so much for your good wishes! Merry Christmas to you too and all the best to you and your loved ones. :-)

Sarah Hina said...

Your poetry is just exquisite, Vesper. It bleeds the heart.

The format of the poem makes me see that river flowing down. There's such a sore behind these words. Wow...

laughingwolf said...

thx v, and right back atcha :D