I preface my offering for this week’s A – Z Challenge by saying that I am a rare and often indifferent poet. Why I thought to try verse is a puzzlement even to myself. Caveats done. No apologies, no excuses. (And no titles.)
Memory opener…
After the end of sorrow comes remembering
Before the first joy comes forgetting.
Caught between lightning and fireflies
Dancing across the skin
Every moment trembles.
Flashes of sweet damask rose
Greet then abandon like campaign
Handshakes at the country fair,
Insouciant visitors from a past when
Jacks clattered across the floor.
Kaddish sung in childhood games.
Language is lost, then found,
Manifestations of days and
Nights tumbling
One into another.
Pick up a
Quill dripping with Lethe’s ink,
Reclaiming before each papered stroke
Senses: tickled smell and taste,
Touch, sight, and sound;
Ubiquitous memories all, before they
Vanish and the
World is stripped clean to the bone.
Xebecs set their sails across forgotten
Yellow-dusted seas.
Zechariah’s temple does not grow.
MacKENZIE's Dragon's Nest 
I think you should try your hand at Prose Poetry more often. The way in which you express words in this style is perfect. The way you get words to work for you is beautiful and flowing with sensitivity. Excellent poem. It needs to be read many more times. The depth carries inner meaning. A-Z works well for poems & poetry of all designs. jk 🙂
Thanks, jk.
I must add, I just reread your poem. It was late in the night when I wrote my first comment. Your delicacy of expressing deep pain & emotions through symbolic word imagery is felt. Once again, I repeat, your poem is beautiful. The poet in your wanted to get out. It is a way of expressing, poetry, which cannot say any other way. It is a reflection of the soul. jk ❤ ps. I miss him, too. Makes one want to cry. 😥
every day.
We share his loss but I know the pain for you is beyond my knowing its exactness. Sanji G was your baby. I knew that. He knew that. But he loved me, as I loved him, too. Just differently for you and for me. jk ❤
Yes – it is the way with the little bears.
I am here. Out in space sometimes. But still here. All the Bears need us both. Giving them extra love shows a wonderful joy in their little beings. Their smiles shine through. ❤
❤
You say “indifferent poet?” I say, Wow! This is a great poem, A-Z challenge or not. Very nice, Shawn.
Too kind, Karen.Let’s just say, it’s not my natural medium. The A-z definitely made it harder, too. But an interesting experiment.
Top drawer! An excellent poem. JK may be right, perhaps you should explore poetry more often.
John, coming from you, this makes me blush. Too kind.
Nonsense! Your prose is very thoughtful and meticulous. Add a few well-placed line breaks and (poof)—Poetry! Simple as that. But don’t forget the poof. The poof is essential.
Poof! the secret ingredient! Got it. 😉
Reblogged this on the secret keeper and commented:
A to Z Writing Challenge #3: “After the end…”
CHOICE WRITER OF THE WEEK is Shawn MacKenzie
Her poem is written with a haunting sadness. Holding us close with her words. And Shawn succeeds grandly using the alphabet from A to Z with perfection. I think she should try her hand at Prose Poetry more often. The way in which she expresses words in this style is perfect. The way words work for her is beautiful and flowing with sensitivity. Excellent poem. It needs to be read many more times. The depth carries inner meaning. A-Z works well for poems of all designs.
I must add, I went back to reread Shawn’s poem and gained a fresher look. It was late in the night when I read “After the end…” for the first time. Her delicacy of expressing deep pain & emotions through symbolic word imagery is felt. Her poem is beautiful. It seems the poet in her wanted to get out. Poetry is a special way in which to express what is inexpressible in any other mode. It is a reflection of the soul. jk ❤
To read the poem with all its effects, go to Shawn’s Original Post “A to Z Writing Challenge #3: “After the end…”
THE CHOICE WRITER OF THE WEEK is Shawn MacKenzie
thanks, jk. too kind.
Brilliant poem. Hope to see more poetry or stories or rants/essays [your choice here in wording-I prefer Rant]. By the way, “Kindness had nothing to do with it.” jk 😉 ❤
You have an award!
Thank you, Ben. An honor. (Nagas are definitely Dragons! – as the Buddha knew. 😉 )
My Buddhist name is (in English) is (Ben)evolent Naga. 🙂
🙂