(for Dónall) Gifts Poem by Janice Windle

(for Dónall) Gifts

Rating: 3.1


You give me
poems speaking truths,
living pictures
that dance for me;
music
so I can hear you singing
in the voices of old men
with the passion of youth
with the sadness of age.

You give me your past:
a curly headed child
frowning, dazzled by
glare from a far-off sun;
a lithe man,
caught in a lens
held by someone
who loved you when
I was far away in time and place.

You give me your words;
you touch me, touch me, touch me,
all of me, as you warned,
as you promised.

The candle of your love warms me
and I'm not consumed.
For you hold my new life,
that I give to you,
fragile as a moth,
in your devout hands.

Monday, September 15, 2008
Topic(s) of this poem: love
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Onelia Avelar 15 September 2008

I like the juxtaposing of what he gives and what you give in return - his memories against a tabula rasa, promising a completely new beginning, new life. You seem to be stronger, keeping the past deep inside, erasing the traces of the old life. Women! :) Always trying to give a comfort and a new life. It is a deep good poem. BR, one

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Original Unknown Girl 15 September 2008

Sigh..... this is very beautiful and tender and the words are so embellished with love. They drip from the screen and tantalise like a very heavy honeycomb laden with the stuff. Am so happy to read this.... HG: -) xx

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Donall Dempsey 15 September 2008

You...you are the gift...the gift is you! love Donall Donall

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Janice Windle 16 September 2008

Onelia commented that I seem the stronger of the two of us because I have wiped the slate clean and give to Dónall my life as a tabula rasa. Her comment has inspired me to rewrite the last few lines of this poem. I wanted to express my feeling that Dónall is enriching me artistically, supporting my writing by showing me poets, music and art works that have inspired him or that he sees will appeal to me. Of course we have both shown each other our past lives, over the last few weeks. I've had more to own up to and to put into perspective than he has - ten years more life and twenty four years of a marriage, to start with - so I have had to wipe some of the slate as clean as I can, to make room for the next phase of life - our life - but a tabula rasa is not a viable option and I carry my baggage as we all do! Dónall gives me all of himself, all of the time, and I feel I am more lucky than I deserve, that we have found each other after so long.

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Reshma Ramesh 18 September 2008

loved this one very nice

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William Jackson 05 August 2012

I particularly love the last stanza and your use of simile....you hold my new life that I give to you, fragile as a moth in your devout hands. Great line in a fine poem. Exquisite!

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Ruth Walters 16 November 2009

What a beautiful poem and so very loving.....splendid! Ruthie

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Hello lady.. I am happy that you 'made' me read this work.. It is very very good. You are one of the few that have capture the spirit and soul of poetry and make it work for you. thank you

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Kesav Easwaran 20 September 2008

a beautiful love poem thanks giving...sincerity honesty and mutual understanding make autumn love life glorious...10

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Chitra - 19 September 2008

shades of a maturity here...new phase, new life...goes to show how strong you are

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