deepundergroundpoetry.com
Longaevitas
middle age begins
the dance with death;
at some point, grandparents
are long gone, and now
the aunts and uncles each
step forward, as if eager to be
in line for the hereafter;
I realize now that I must have
thought they’d live forever,
a solid brick in the construction
of my reality
my icons have become
the memories I’ve shared
with their art along the way -
the song that was playing
on the jet black boom box
in June of 1987, all the while
Edgar Esperello gave me that
slightly hesitant but otherwise
decent first kiss
heavy is the sadness
that just won’t
leave me, it feels
like an ongoing wound to the
heart that’s always slightly breaking
for the loss of time and touch,
a wearing away of the
human foundations that built me
but there’s still hope here, yet
that all my best years are not
made of yesterdays, and
my best hours not sewn together
with rotting threads of regret
I now walk the path forward
alongside a strange sort
of bittersweet gratitude
for whatever has conspired
that brought messily to fruition
all the moments that catch
me unaware, remembrances
that flood my mind while
sitting in traffic,
or folding laundry,
presenting themselves in minutiae -
they’ve each made me whole
the dance with death;
at some point, grandparents
are long gone, and now
the aunts and uncles each
step forward, as if eager to be
in line for the hereafter;
I realize now that I must have
thought they’d live forever,
a solid brick in the construction
of my reality
my icons have become
the memories I’ve shared
with their art along the way -
the song that was playing
on the jet black boom box
in June of 1987, all the while
Edgar Esperello gave me that
slightly hesitant but otherwise
decent first kiss
heavy is the sadness
that just won’t
leave me, it feels
like an ongoing wound to the
heart that’s always slightly breaking
for the loss of time and touch,
a wearing away of the
human foundations that built me
but there’s still hope here, yet
that all my best years are not
made of yesterdays, and
my best hours not sewn together
with rotting threads of regret
I now walk the path forward
alongside a strange sort
of bittersweet gratitude
for whatever has conspired
that brought messily to fruition
all the moments that catch
me unaware, remembrances
that flood my mind while
sitting in traffic,
or folding laundry,
presenting themselves in minutiae -
they’ve each made me whole
Published 2nd Jul 2023
Author's Note
Random journal entry
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 12
reading list entries 6
comments 20
reads 359
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
This is pure vivid introspection and a sorta coming to terms with what kind of future you look forward to having by reflecting upon the hindsight of the past. I applaud the way you wove together these thoughts into such a personally reflective poem chock-full of tender truths that are ones I've definitely struggled with and have often pondered upon, in recent months.
This is one of the best things I've read in a long time, here.... thank you for sharing it with us.
Outstanding work, J
🌹💙 - S
*Nominated for July poem of the month
This is one of the best things I've read in a long time, here.... thank you for sharing it with us.
Outstanding work, J
🌹💙 - S
*Nominated for July poem of the month
3rd Jul 2023 10:43am
3rd Jul 2023 1:43am
It's a very difficult transition when we grow deep into the earth and become the roots of our family tree, Jenn. My deepest condolences once again on the loss of your Aunt. I've walked that path and am now the matriarch of my family. Acceptance and peace begin to root deeply when the soil settles.
This is a beautiful tribute and heartfelt expression.
xo
This is a beautiful tribute and heartfelt expression.
xo
3rd Jul 2023 10:43am
6th Jan 2024 2:24am
3rd Jul 2023 10:37am
This was a wonderful journey to walk briefly with you. I say with you, because you wrote this in a way that invokes memories for the reader. It is personal and could have been written by any one of us. Wonderful.
3rd Jul 2023 10:44am
Thank you so much for reading and I’m so happy you found resonance in my words 💖💖
9th Jul 2023 00:05am
9th Jul 2023 00:56am
9th Jul 2023 11:57pm
11th Jul 2023 2:10am
This is not just some "random journal entry", my dear. It's too good for only there. It's a beautiful, heavy as hell, stone. We all have to carry it, too. But you made it much more presentable. Who of us cannot agree with this "entry"? It's so well presented.
Wonderful, Luna
Wonderful, Luna
9th Aug 2023 3:36am
I don’t know what happened to my reply!
Thank you so very much, Styxian 💖
Thank you so very much, Styxian 💖
1st Aug 2023 11:30am
Onward bound we must!
Oh!having buried a few close ones, like you (now in my mid-thirties) I'm reminded am not too far off that queue~
Oh!having buried a few close ones, like you (now in my mid-thirties) I'm reminded am not too far off that queue~
1st Aug 2023 2:42pm
8th Aug 2023 10:51pm
The future scares me also, more than ever, believe me! But you really brought it home here with what a lot of us currently feel but are maybe too scared or don't quite know how to express it. I like how this poem ends on an almost positive note, accepting that reflection should somehow be appreciated, embraced & smiled upon. 😊
9th Aug 2023 3:37am
28th Aug 2023 5:03pm
Beautifully written
I see Epimetheus and Prometheus walking hand in hand along that narrow path through the woods
I see Epimetheus and Prometheus walking hand in hand along that narrow path through the woods
29th Aug 2023 5:41pm
Brilliant and sublime. As I approach the exalted age of 80, such poems as this are gifts. I've been thinking about uncles and aunts from my childhood way back in the late '40s on up and now there is but one auntie left in her 90s. There is such an ache in my heart. John Prine wrote so wonderfully, "I hate graveyards and old pawn shops/Cause they always bring me tears/Can't forget the way they robbed me/Of my childhood souvenirs." Ain't that the truth?
TY. Morituri te salutant!
TY. Morituri te salutant!
6th Jan 2024 3:19am
Thank you so much. The passing of time is so bittersweet. Thank you for the RL 💖
