You Can Never Go Home (A Senryu Collection) Poem by Seamus O' Brian
You Can Never Go Home (A Senryu Collection)
a train's slow bellow
pushing through the city sounds
complains of loneliness
small town grips the highway,
to speeding travelers my world
a blink in the darkness
vacant lots were claimed
children playing ball in starlight
televisions were small
lightning chases rain
bikinis run for cover, crowded
under eaves, laughing
childhood's home address
exactly as it always was
back home in your heart
summer only needs
children and water, all else
is supercilious
softball field glowing
with laughter and halogen blaze
firefly shadows
yes, my mother's voice
still calls us home to dinner
in better memories
neal, just read this for the first time. i especially like the first one. the use of bellow and complains of loneliness summon so well the experience-—excellent! (my use of the word summon makes me think of a new poem of mine, a snatch of mariachi music. don't know if you're familiar with that type of music. that poem is also about memories—in its case about traveling my my parents in mexico.) i also like the second one. i never thought of that perspective. i grew up in new york city, but we traveled lots around america and passed through many eye blink towns. grips is a great verb in that one. and the other senryu bring back memories of my own. thanks for the journey. glen
Thought this is a collection it is arranged in such a way that each lends a special significance to the preceding and culminates in the beauty of the last. A perfect 10!
What a deft and delightful descriptive pen you wield here- - -]lightning chases rain bikinis run for cover, crowded under eaves, laughing Yes, from the standpoint of the driver on a long haul, this is exactly how I saw those fleeting dabs of lights as I hurled on down the road- - - - - - - ]small town grips the highway, to speeding travelers my world a blink in the darkness Years of the girls playing softball from elementary through high school, so your lights and firefly shadows were right on target- - - -]softball field glowing with laughter and halogen blaze firefly shadows This is the perfect closer to these sentyu, the absolute right touch- - - ]yes, my mother's voice still calls us home to dinner in better memories This collection gets 10++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ and a valued place on my favorites list
Always delighted, dear Susan, to have you pop in. Your thoughts are always an encouraging blessing to my day. I am so very glad that you enjoyed it. My childhood was (as a child) a very special and magical time, filled with wonderful memories. The interesting irony was that we grew up in relative poverty, an immigrant mother raising 5 children on her own; life was always a struggle in many ways. But we had faith, we had each other, and we learned the amazingly valuable lesson that happiness has very little to do with possessions or wealth. Now that I am raising children of my own in relative affluence, one thing I struggle with is how can I translate that concept into their lives. Which is one reason that I have always taken them with me from infancy on to Haiti and Guatemala where we are involved in medical outreach trips each summer. They, then, have had opportunities to spend time with children who demonstrate the same joy of childhood that they know, despite many cultural and economic distinctions. But I ramble.... Be blessed, dear friend! :) S
A beautiful series of reminiscences, Seamus. makes me think of my childhood. This one is going into my list of favourites.
softball field glowing with laughter and halogen blaze firefly shadows yes, my mother's voice still calls us home to dinner in better memories... lovely theme on past. A beautiful poem with thrilling expression. I appreciate it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Kumarmani, for your gracious words and kind encouragement. Be blessed, my friend.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/1/2024 3:56:20 PM # 1.0.0.1119
The present acquires a certain charm once it has passed, better memories I have also of the past, fireflyshadows..children and water is all that was needed, how true is this, very nice poem Seamus
Thank you, Bill! Yes, it's true, our mind does gloss a layer of positivity over our memories. I wonder, though, that the degree to which that happens probably varies from individual to individual, and what factors may affect that process. Hmmm....something to contemplate. Thanks for stopping by, and the kind thoughts!