Collecting Retrospect

Let them collect.
dust and cells and sunlight.
In retrospect, I could’ve been greater.

Then, again.
In the end, we return to the stars,
dusting galaxies and burning brighter than supernovas.

Let them collect, like wave tossed pebbles and sand. I’ll let them slide through my fingers into your outstretched hand.

The memories, the insight, the warmth that I could spread.
I had my chance.
This was my second chance.

How are you doing?

I was doing so well.
I felt the breeze again, warm blood rushing to my cheeks, again.
Alive in a new skin, transforming and stretching beyond my skeleton.

Sights and sounds and smells bring my other lives into memory.
How many times have I been here?

5 responses to “Collecting Retrospect”

Woodsy

October 16, 2020 at 1:01 pm

I have a handful of stardust,
a match
and the stirrings of another life…

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1. BrittnyLee
  
  October 16, 2020 at 10:53 pm
  
  Beautiful John !!!! ♡
  
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Scrunch Foldington

October 26, 2020 at 11:03 am

This is gorgeous, the ephemeral nature of this piece is haunting from the first line to the last. I particularly loved that the full meaning of the ‘let them collect’ line was only gradually revealed, everything in this piece seemed meticulously constructed and yet imbued with a very natural flow.
And that is a magnificent mantis as well!

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1. BrittnyLee
  
  October 27, 2020 at 2:45 am
  
  Thank you so much! Wow 🙂 aw . I was really honing in on some introspection with this one. 🙂 I was so shocked happening upon this mantis. I was visiting my grandma and uncle when I saw the mantis. She looked so alien and charming. I couldn’t resist photographing her. The wild thing is I keep happening upon mantis insects for months now, on Matt’s car, my aunt’s car, my yard, on a night walk, -crazy I saw one at night and on a family hike hah!
  
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  1. Scrunch Foldington
    
    October 27, 2020 at 10:46 pm
    
    No worries! They’re pretty cool creatures, and they eat a lot of pest insects that would otherwise devour plants, so if I find one in my garden I’m always pretty happy.
    
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