The Bloody Red Gazebo.
______________________
And the bloody red gazabo
Just stopped laughing,
And all of life
Froze for one minute
And in that one minute
The planet turned itself inside out
And shook away it’s dust
Into the universe of time.
Two days ago I watched her die,
Her eyes no longer warmed,
Her mouth no longer smiled.
And two days later she is dust
As we all are;
Dust spending a little time
Pretending to be alive.
I picked up the photograph
I could have been alone in the room,
Alone in the world.
The silence was complete,
My wife was just dust.
Someone poured me a brandy,
Yvette’s sister was crying,
And outside in the garden
My two-year-old grand-daughter was laughing under the bloody red gazebo,
Laughing and kicking up the dust
That will linger until the next minute the world froze up,
And angels turned to ice.
—
Jacques du Lumèrie
Comments (28)
Wow!!! That is a really strong piece. Evokes such visuals that speak of sadness and uncertainty. Amazing how it flows so well and keeps you reading each line.
Awesome entry, dear LordP!!!
Rose
so much power here: my favorite couplet…
“I picked up the photograph
I could have been alone in the room”
And two days later she is dust
As we all are;
Dust spending a little time
Pretending to be alive.
this is amazingly poweful. What a mournful song. So very well felt.
I like your new header, too. Looks good!
So few poems I read effect me the way this one does. Words can’t describe the praise I have for this poem… you could only see it in my eyes.
Thanks again, Terry. Peace.
I love this line
Dust spending a little time
Pretending to be alive.
Aww. this is a very sad but beautiful poem.
Gee, I love the new header.
Wonder who made that…. hmm…
lovely poem…
WOW…What a powerful piece MiLord…you tore this one up…(meaning it it awesome)LOL…..DOROTHEA
An amazing piece of writing. Somehow, you bring life into written words. I have been to many a funeral and life goes on at them just as written here. People discuss, they eat, they laugh and the children play as usual. Thought provoking and really fine.
i once said poems are living dreams…
your words once again live with this one.
you move me my friend…
t
what’s a gazebo? I hear that word all the time, and have never actually known what it was.
this does stir many emotions- it is too big a loss when we lose someone who helps us feel connected to life… this is a scary thing to be facing…
The second stanza is what took me, especially the two lines with “her eyes no longer warmed, her mouth no longer smiled”
i’d say, for our needs, those are the ones we miss. the mouth we love smiling. the eyes we love filled with warmth. sad poem. but striking as well. no word was lost.
lisa
I picked up the photograph
I could have been alone in the room,
Alone in the world.
The silence was complete,
My wife was just dust.
Loved this stanza. It captures the sheer helplessness of those of us left behind. The stark reality of death.
wow… that really was some piece of work…
Bravo!!!! what heart breaking poem
Dearest Lord Pineapple,
Please come to Texas and recite poetry to me.
Wow, this writing is sooo descriptive! Maybe, you can finish my script for me!! I love this one.
Also, the world would be quite boring and unchallenging if we all liked the same type of music. The best thing about life is our differences and how we respect everyone’s choices and decisions in life! Gold Pencil Award to you 2nite !!
Oh my…this is amazing….simply amazing..
thanks for your comment…
~Princess
You can be pretty wierd and wild, but often you make me cry.
Once again you have moved me deeply.
I have been in quite a depressing slump after recent events and the poems you post light me up.
I have been on quite a writers block for xanga so I have been posting quite random things. I will post some of my orignal poetry soon. I need to write some new things.
Once again I am a wanna-be poet trying to make my way through.
Keep Writing..Keep moving so many hearts
Much Love,
~katt~
Like the new header and also such a moving and thought provoking piece.
Ah, Terry, the crack in the armour around my memories is widening. Your poem brought back a five year-old Bev riding a tricycle in front of Grandma’s house and being stopped by an aunt….grandma’s gone. A forty year-old Bev being helped into a limo, her face tear-stained, but a smile on her lips when she gives over her young husband who no longer is suffering. Those memories BLESS and burn. Thank you.
You have captured the depths of pain and the twinge of hope. Infinite Blessings
Moving and sad. I, who refuse to be made sad, look for the spark of hope, and find it in the innocence of the 2-yr-old granddaughter. Naivete, thy name is bliss.
Oh if you’d please just comment on the last of my post, dear man. You seem utterly attuned to the human spirit. I just think you’re the one I should ask, So I am…
Tracy
Very strong pice indeed! I love the title.
When I read your poetry its like I am watching you sitting in a chair reciting these words, they come so alive. Awesome and powerful piece Lord!