Looking Forward
In the upper case,
a volume the colour of
late‑harvest light,
its spine breathing
salt and iron.
I keep it ajar
—not for dust,
but so mapped-out water
can run beside
my own small channel,
each bend marked
in a hand I almost know.
Through the plaster,
a swell of brass‑warm air
—someone’s breath
caught in a long note,
turning the parlour
to water.
I do not rise,
only let the sound
find its own shelf
between maps,
where it can lean
against a memory
I have yet to
admit is mine.
Between first assent
and last,
a pressed leaf charts
streets I will've walked;
in hollow nooks
where a page was long gone,
I’ve set a three‑part hinge:
motion, tether,
threshold.
It waits there,
not as ornament,
but as one more
voice in the palimpsest
—leaning into a shut
window is still
leave unlatched.
.
.
-
Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: July 6th, 2026 05:36
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 12
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Cheeky Missy, Tristan Robert Lange, Friendship
Offline)
Comments6
lovely flow to this piece
Thank you, Norman. 🙏🏻🕊️
most welcome
This poem requires careful examination it seems that it is the palimpsest itself. ( I thank you for teaching me this word that I was not aware of) In my interpretation the first stanza reflect a metaphoric identification with volume in a case, being of late harvest color seems to indicate stage of life. Open to life. Here are memories some not yet recognized or admitted. The end of the poem is open to change with a missing page and the palimpsest. A wonderful work and a fave
Thank you so much dear friend. It fascinates that memories may be overwritten but not erased and somehow co-exist in other states. 🙏🕊️
You are most welcome Cryptic yes that is a most interesting thing like recording over a tape that leaves a trace of the last recording faintly underneath.
A palimp-wotsit, vaguely heard of by me! Ohh, no worries if you post-and-run. I'll be weeks figuring out the crypticness of it all, and will get nowhere! lol.
Or seconds with Fido around! Cheers O 🙏🕊️
Rik, this is absolutely beautiful. It has that quiet, contemplative quality I've come to associate with your work, where each image invites me to slow down and simply dwell with it. Wonderful write, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Placid amid the noise and haste… live wildly and write soberly ✍🏻🕊️🙏🏻
A lovely poem, my friend
Thanks dear Friendship 🙏🏻🕊️
That unlatched window will allow us in again Rik.
Come back soon.
Andy
That’s it! 🕊️🙏🏻
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