"Away, and Away"
Here’s another original work for you, compliments of The Renaissance Garden Guy. My poem, “Away, and Away.” I hope you’ll enjoy it.
By John G. Stamos
Away, and Away
By John G. Stamos
The first robin. A corsage. A first kiss. A first love. A first car (a drop-top).
The first firefly. Stars you can touch. Crickets and pizza. And soda pop.
The Clash and the gulls. Sand on the tiles. Beach towels, and sunburnt reveries.
Sandwiches, and runnels on a cold glass. Deck chairs and glare. Morning paper deliveries.
Vernal treasures, summer’s splendors, balmy breezes across the quay,
Carried as jewels, as reliquaries, as mirrored waves, away, and away.
Paws dirty from digging. Carpets dirty from walking. Sprinklers sprinkling. Weeds in the lawn.
A wet nose, and wet dew. Shade from green trees. Fuzzy bees. Bright flowers. (80s by dawn.)
A tail always thumping. Eyes, happy and bright. Butterflies. Frogs on their rocks, in the heat of the day.
A love deep and true, and a season’s apogee. Deep red, and verdant pinnacle. Never away, and away.
A glad arc as real as sweat, as high as the sky, as near as the earth, as solid as the ground.
A time as right as the grip on an old leash, and as sure as the beat of a loyal heart, and its earnest sound.
A dun tennis ball, in the high grass. Mantids and moths and grasshoppers. Rainbows in lime and gray.
A pause; a twinge. A notion, nascent as May, old as decay. You, joyous arc, not away, and away!
Contrails and droning. And leaves, soughing and flipped and curled in the heat before the storm,
What missive will be scrawled across the vault? What ending revealed beneath the dome?
(Is it news, is it really?) Do running steps slow? What certitudes do lengthening shadows betray?
How true is this grip? What do I know of time? Will all be swept before me? Wept away, and away?
The assuredness of memory: joys recounted, one by one. Thoughts, touches, sights, all must
Retain the blazing sun, the thrilling arc, as truth refuting this fresh senseless ground and imploring dust?
Has this map always been? Was the course charted long before? Gouged in ageless clay?
Are we all to follow the sinking sun, down a dark and wooded path, leading forever away, and away?
Those soughing summer leaves which told of coming maelstroms in the drenching heat,
Now partake in a timeless rite, now tell a new and ancient tale, now spell it out beneath our feet.
The last firefly. Insular stars. Smoldering embers. Bees and beating hearts are part of yesterday.
Crickets and dirty paws, and tennis balls and grasshoppers, are forever close, and away, and away.
First robin, my father’s shoulders, wet noses and wagging tails; gleaming gifts glinting beyond the quay,
The sun and my heart. Eyes happy and bright. Butterflies… We’ll meet again, away, and away.
“Away, and Away” ©2022. John G. Stamos and The Renaissance Garden Guy
I hope you enjoyed “Away, and Away.” In the coming months, I’ll be featuring more of my original creative works – essays, fiction, and poetry – here in The Renaissance Garden Guy, and and in various other media (I’ll surprise you, on that score). In the meantime, keep it here for more original creative works, articles, interviews, reviews, and some upcoming excellent guest writers. As always, I thank you for your readership and for your incredibly kind interest.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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Right to the heart. Knowing summer is fleeting brings joy and sorrow and you make the reader feel them, not just words. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Fran, for reading the poem and for sharing your wonderful and kind thoughts here. I’m so glad to know that the poem’s nuances and themes resonated with you. Its writing coincided with a very profound loss I’d suffered at the time, and another impending profound loss. The parallel between life’s trajectory and the seasonal arc was inescapable. I had to write this one down. Once again, Fran, I thank you for your interest and your kindness.
You engage ALL the senses in your joyful and poignant poem. I tasted the salt air, felt a summer breeze, heard thumping tails, saw happy bright eyes.
I experienced joy in fresh beginnings & new discoveries, experienced sorrow in loss. “Forever close and away, away.”
You’re writing moves the reader and touches their heart. Now, darn it, where are my tissues?!
Thank you so much for your lovely and kind words, Jill. I’m truly touched. I’m so happy to know that you’ve enjoyed “Away, and Away.” I must admit, it is one of my very favorite works (from among my own). Again, Jill, thank you so very, very much.
So much depth to the poem, and so much nostalgia. It hurts to read it, but it is a treasure.
Thank you for reading it, Thea Becky, and thank you for your kind and lovely thoughts. I wrote it in 2022, shortly after my little Clarabelle passed away, and not terribly long before I lost my mom. Its content, I felt, reflected my own thoughts and feelings at the time very accurately. Thank you again.
John, this is simply beautiful. The repetition you use at the end of each stanza, away and away, is evocative of the great classical poets. Your gift with words is on full display here. I’m so glad to read your poetry.
Oh, Dayle, I am honored beyond words… Such praise, coming from someone of your genius and renown, will be forever treasured. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The sun in your heart…. I will always remember you that way.
Such a beautiful sentiment, Everly. I’m moved by your lovely words. Thank you.
Every phrase of this poem touched my heart. When you reach the stage of life that is filled with beautiful memories, they must be appreciated in segments. This poem spoke of commonly held memories (Sand on the tiles. Beach towels, and sunburnt reveries.) Yet, each experience seemed personal as if only experienced by the reader. I can’t imagine anyone finishing this poem without watery eyes. Beautiful work!
I’m honored and touched by your kind and lovely thoughts, and I’m humbled by your praise, Colleen. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your appreciation of this work is particularly poignant as the poem is one of my very favorites from among my own work. Thank you, once again.
Breathtakingly beautiful John,evoked some memories and if I’m honest,a little teary eyed,what a wonderful writer you are
Thank you so much, Tina. I’m so glad you liked this particular poem. It is also one of my own favorites from among my works. You honor me with your incredibly kind thoughts and words, Tina. I simply cannot thank you enough.
So much heart and soul in your words John. Loved it. This my favourite line, “ A time as right as the grip on an old leash, and as sure as the beat of a loyal heart, and its earnest sound.”
So much meaning. Beautiful.
Thank you so much, Alegria. I’m so glad that you liked this poem. I truly appreciate your kind words – thank you once again!
Another example that you deserve the moniker ” The Renaissance Guy “
How incredibly kind of you, Rick – such a wonderful compliment – thank you so much! I’m so glad that you liked this one – thanks again!
Lovely!
Thank you so much, Colleen! I’m very glad that you enjoyed it!
Soulful. Beautiful.
Thank you so much, Katha – I’m so glad you thought so!
I got goosebumps of pleasure reading it again and again and again!!!!! A TOTAL DELIGHT ❤️Still smiling of pleasure 😊❤️
Can’t wait to see what you are going to write next !
Have to say it again “DELIGHTFUL” ❤️🌹😊
Oh wow, Roxxy – thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked “Away, and Away!” It is one of my favorites (from among my own works – I think I may have mentioned this on Twitter), too. I had a feeling that this is one that you might like. I’m glad I was right – thank you again, Roxxy!
I think your writing is your passion. You must continue to write and share your work with all of us.Have you ever considered publishing your poems?
Thank you so much, Kevin! Yes, I’ve actually got a few different books in the works right now. I’m so glad that you liked this work – thank you again!
There is poetry in the air and you exhaled it here 👏
Thank you so much, Tamara – how incredibly kind of you to tell me this. I’m so glad you liked this one. It happens to be one of my favorites (from among my own works). Again, I thank you so very kindly.
Such an extraordinary and beautiful poem! I am looking forward to more.
Thank you so very much! Such kind words – I truly appreciate this lovely praise.