and pupils still dancing
in league with her smile
like she was still breathing -
- not frozen in time.

it left me to wonder
what must it be like
to bear such a hunger
and shine such a light?

i wanted to ask her
what lingered inside -
- what flame lit the pilot
that shone in her eyes.

in dreams i still travel
through decades gone by
to beg for an answer
she’ll never confide;

she only informs me
it’s no good to try,
however i chase her,
she’ll never be mine.

*
This is one of many poems I’ve been scribbling for the past couple weeks — all of them with the same title.

I got stuck on the line “dreaming of Irish girls” after waking up from a dream, and I somehow convinced myself there was a poem or haiku to be written. After the first dozen or so drafts, most from completely different angles, I still didn’t have one unifying concept beyond the title. A couple are more traditionally romantic. Some (like this one) are more sad and wistful, focused on an imagined muse that’s out of reach. This one is about a photo taken in the early 1930s, and me wondering about the incongruity and mystery of a smile during hard times.

I got a little stuck on the rhyme scheme as well, but that’s okay. I’m probably not done with it yet anyway.

Comments

• December 28, 2009, EllenS writes: this is very lovely. Good job.
• December 28, 2009, howard writes: thanks Ellen. so the tone felt right to you?
• December 28, 2009, apreziosi writes: For a little inspiration (perhaps) listen to Adrian Legg's "The Irish Girl." The best I can do for you is a live YouTube version - unless of course, you have the CD.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRUVl15XF_k
• December 28, 2009, howard writes: thanks, Anthony -- i don't have that one, so i appreciate the heads up
• December 29, 2009, PJ writes: Nice. Definitely wistful.
• December 29, 2009, howard writes: thank you. glad you think so
• December 29, 2009, susan writes: I loved this.
  
  Very Happy New Year to you as well.
• December 29, 2009, howard writes: thank you Susan -- your compliments carry a lot of weight with me. and i hope your new year exceeds expectations.
• December 30, 2009, Omni writes: Very nice!! You keep getting better at this!! I'm glad you're still posting 'em!! xo
• December 31, 2009, howard writes: thank you, Omni -- it's great to hear from you after all this time. glad you're still reading, and glad you liked it. hope the new year treats you well!
• January 5, 2010, Al Denton writes: Very nice, indeed. Beautifully haunting, paints a great image!

image: Clara en su mundo

Comments

• October 8, 2008, Heather writes: Is that something you feel changing?
• October 9, 2008, howard writes: I'm an eternal optimist, Heather, which is probably why I keep reaching ;)
• October 12, 2008, Mr. Queasy, the fish. writes: he sido alguien que
  quiere y espera cosas
  fuera de alcance.
  
  an attempt at translation, even if something got lost in the way.
• October 20, 2008, zaphodfreek writes: I know just what you mean.
• October 20, 2008, howard writes: Good to know ;)

Comments

• September 16, 2008, qazse writes: brings a smile to my face
• September 16, 2008, howard writes: As the original spectacle did for me. The little guy just kept dipping
  into the trash can and coming back up with another helping.