TURNED, GONE ON (requiem)
Stillness now, lost blue and empty silence.
After wracked storm, tearing breath,
Tangled rain. The howling
Has ceased, calm, calm.
Where sun reaches, there
Is hope of a little warmth.
But little warmth in shade,
Little warmth when the face
Turns away from light.
Calm void where you have gone,
Spacious, rested, freed from pain of time.
Naked void where you were,
Are, no longer.
The empty fields,
The stiff sloped horizon,
The days ahead unformed, vast.
These winter roads
Will lead to a surprise of spring,
But not soon, not soon.
Not before the world becomes ragged.
It must become ready, choosing, too,
Letting go what is,
Letting uncertainty bloom.
Too tired to breathe
One last slow, drawn out,
Whispered breath.
The void of skies
Fills slowly with new cloud dreams.
The scoured earth will clothe its scars
In new skins of green life.
The hollows will slowly fill,
The woods, they will be bound in birdsong.
It will become gentle, dancing once more.
But not soon,
Not soon.
—
simonhlilly 
‘But not soon/Not soon.’ Heartbreakingly beautiful. Reminded me of Heaney’s ‘Clearances’ in memory of his departed mother. Thank you, Simon.
Webroot is warning to not go to your page because of suspected malicious threats – odd I think – hope they are wrong….
Thanks for letting me know. Nothing that I am aware of, though….
Hello Simon,
I’m working on a post for the Winter Solstice and I think your poem would be an excellent companion to a piece of art of mine title “Void”. May I ‘reprint’ your poem–obviously with credit to you as poet, and a link to here?
Thank you,
Eva
Of course!
PS Here is a link to “Void” http://evaenergyscapes.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/art-6/
I would put both your poem and my art with some music on my 47wb blog post.
Looks great!
Done. Thank you.
[…] Simon’s Poetry and Art —>> https://simonhlilly.com/2013/12/19/turned-gone-on-requiem/ […]
Poignant with eloquent empathy. A truly great piece Simon.
Thank you, mike!
Spring is indeed a surprise – a shock of green elegance after a sharp winter (although I have always preferred autumn/winter to the more lighter seasons).
A beautiful illustration of the qualities of earth and sky, and the seasons’ endless repetition and constant wonder.