Seated Figure
It was as though you were a man in a wheelchair,
your legs cut off at the knee.
But I wanted you to walk.
I wanted us to walk like lovers,
arm in arm in the summer evening,
and believed so powerfully in that projection
that I had to speak, I had to press you to stand.
Why did you let me speak?
I took your silence as I took the anguish in your face,
as part of the efforts to move ---
It seemed I stood forever, holding out my hand.
And all that time, you could no more heal yourself
than I could accept what I saw.
Louise Gluck
3 comments:
Your poem selections always surprise me. I wonder were your find them.
I like this one.
Isn't it was is partly wrong with the world today? Always we want someone to be what they aren't and think we can change them.
Heavy..but a good heavy! Thanks for posting this!
Carol - I read a lot of poetry and save the ones I like. I particularly like Louise Gluck. Definitely one of my problems, wanting someone to be what they aren't. I just wish I could give up on trying to change them!
Robbie - I agree, a good heavy. Glad you liked it!
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