Dreamer Without a Dream

[jim turner]

On the sidewalk, paved with December ice,
he is frozen by the window’s yellow glow,
mellowed to amber by paneled walls
giving back the firelight’s playful dance.
Soft warmth caresses silver and crystal.
Blue china, napkins in rings like wreaths
adorn white linen spread upon a table.
It is apparent that guests have not arrived;
polished dark wood chairs sit empty, wait.
Exquisite, she enters for a final look
at the settings, moves the poinsettia an inch.

Sleepless cold and hunger take their toll.
He sees himself walk in, watches himself
approach her, embrace her, possessive
from behind, and kiss the cheek turned to him
where he stands, hopeless in the snow, nowhere
to go, a dreamer dreaming without a dream.[/b]

Jim 6/4/09

[joel]

If I’m the little match girl and I burn
a little match—and match a little grace
of heartfelt warmth to what, enflamed, I yearn
to know: the friendship of a fireplace
in someone’s home who loves me—while the dank
of wet November guzzles down my neck
and settles in my socks like folks who drank
their cares in bourbon eggnog till they’d deck
their early holidays with rocks within
their guts—who, nonetheless, I’d envy—then,
I’ll ask you, who would hold a match again
to me? Or, who would strain to see me, when
the life that I present is ugliness
that even I would rather shrug and miss?

[jim turner]

Very well done. And, one must feel more for the little girl than for the grown man. jim

[joel]

No, no! Misandry and disregard for age are no better than misogyny and comtempt for youth!

Hurt and loneliness and pain and starvation (in all its forms) don't discriminate between little girls and grown men. When my niece misses her daddy and mommy it's with all the grief of an old man telling his pastor about his wife's funeral twenty years earlier.

But enough sermonizing, right? Jim, your words are awesome! Thanks for sharing them and for putting up with my season of lame duck responses!

Thanks and peace!

[Sue Littleton]

Joel and Jim, what a profound exchange of poetic words. Both of you give me pleasure and understanding. Sue♥