Poetry Month 1: Three Poems for Madeline

I've decided February is Poetry Month on the ryanctittle.com blog. Seems an appropriate month. It brings out romance for some, sadness for others, and it's still cold enough to sit in one's home and dream, much like the process of writing poetry, at least for me.

For those who are aficionados, you might not like my poems. I don't have the grace or beauty of the greats. I use, as my poetic model, Raymond Carver. Best known for his short stories, Carver's poetry is a marvel, distilling even further his ideas, emotions, and reflections on life that made his stories so beloved. But, they were also earthy and bereft of too much heady stuff. I like that. That's my model.

A note about the haiku. Haiku are traditionally about nature. My haiku are about human nature.

For week one, three poems for Madeline. Bon voyage!

Daylight and Damask

the sun rose           rising sun

Damask rose         dew drops

time to go             leave she must

wish I might          cannot speak

interrupted            rip in fabric

the cheek blush      painful tears

rather remember    wild laughter

         your hand to your mouth

         and simultaneously

         stopping mine

for the best           the old fool

time to go             Damask rose

she rows               he goes

blood on the dew   rain rushing

nothing to say        rose and rose

ocean to cross        rows and rows

never let go           wild laughter

         be open anew

         for worlds unto you

         not mine

Descent to Timon's Cave

I wanted to play in irony

And disguise my intent

(so it would make you laugh)

(your hand to your mouth)     

No, sincerity’s in order

You brought me recognition

That I still had a soul

And I need nothing more

Than your apricot shoulders.

                                                                      (I keep giving

so freely of myself

                                                                      to those

who do not care

who are not there)

A Haiku

In two minutes’ time,

Your world can come crashing down

Must let her go now