Wednesday, September 29, 2010

If I Could Talk to You

I took this shot from a rooftop of a church.  They make full use of their roofs!

 Recently I went on a missions trip to a country that is really, well, out of our reach. It's very difficult to get there, in fact, most people aren't allowed. Having made many friends on the trip and feeling like I'd made a big impact, I came back pretty torn up. This is the poem I penned when I got back. It's simply called,


                      If I Could Talk to You


If I could talk to you,

I would share my life with you.
I would tell you of my love
and my constant thoughts toward you.

At a cemetary we found a row of these beautiful angels, all different.
If I could walk with you,
We would walk hand in hand
through life –
together –
through the good and the bad.

If I could but reach you,
I would laugh with you,
enjoy you;
a deep friendship that never ends.

If I could embrace you,
I would hold you
and never let you go.

If I could be there for you,
I would pick you up
dust you off,
wipe your tears,
and carry you
until you could once again walk.




Gorgeous, verdant countryside viewed by bus.
Alas! I cannot do these things!
I cannot talk to you or walk with you
I cannot reach you or embrace you
I cannot be there for you!
You are too far, too far!
GOD! OH GOD!

… beyond my reach.

Help me!
Help me be there.

Be there.
Reach for me.

No, I cannot do these things.
But I can pray for you.


And I know Someone
Who shared His all for you,
and has constant thoughts toward you.
His love for you reaches down through the heavens.

He will walk with you,
laugh with you,
enjoy you,
And His love for you will never end.

He will hold you
in His everlasting embrace
and never let you go.

He is always there for you.
He will pick you up,
wipe your tears,
and carry you when your strength is gone,
until you rise up with the wings of an eagle.

He will be your friend.

These are the things I would tell you,

If I could talk to you.


That's how I feel about this country. Another other poets out there? I don't write a lot, but when I'm very emotionally moved, I find myself reaching for the pen.
These are aptly nicknamed 'Octopus Trees.'  Wonder why? :)

I wrote this poem in the night, well, in the morning, between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m. I woke up freezing and began to think (dangerous thing, that thinking at night!) It took a half hour to write it and do the first revision, a half hour to rewrite it and do the second and third revisions. Somewhere in that time, I went back to bed, but couldn’t get it out of my head so I had to get up to make final, minor changes. When I sat down to type it out, I only changed two words. I'm curious to know how long it takes others to write poetry?

2 comments:

  1. This is a very touching and moving poem. A poet I am not. I have penned a few, which shocked me. I do wish to take more time, though, and put my thoughts and feelings to poetic words. It is a challenge for my mind, but enjoyable, nonetheless. I have a reminder up on my wall that says, "Write Poetry." So that's a start. Hope you share more of your poetry in the future.

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  2. Thanks, Trudy. I love writing poetry. Sometimes free verse, sometimes rhyming. My poems come only under extreme emotion, though. I never say 'I'm going to sit down and write poetry,' rather - some seriously strong feeling takes hold of me, clutches me and squeezes me until a poem comes out of my fingertips. Then I'm released and can go about my business again.

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