Listening

This is a long and winding path – hope you enjoy the walk, if you take it.


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Weeping Willow” by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

 
The old man sat quietly
day after day
hands resting on his knees
day after day
hardly moving …musing

save to rouse
raise his hands
brush his brow
then adjust his cap …catnap

day after day
quietly
on the same park bench
at the pond
near the same tree
same willow …below

you could watch him come
mid-morning …mourning

see him leave
at dinner time …resigned

day after day
sitting there
hands on his knees
quietly
same bench
same tree …he

one evening
as he sat there
I left my office
walked across the street
into the park …dark

I approached him
smiled
and sat down beside him
quietly …expectantly

he said nothing
so we sat together
for a while
quietly
on the bench
by the tree …comradery

finally
I spoke up …interrupt

why do you sit here
old man
sit here
everyday
day after day
here on this bench
watching the pond
so quietly
…sullenly

he tilts his head
I’ve come here for years
he says softly …calmly

but how can that be
I say
these office buildings
this park
they’re all reasonably new
how could you have come
to this park
for years
…unclear

not to this park
he says
not to this park
to this tree
…explicitly

me
and all my friends
came to willow pond
to this tree
this old willow
for years
day after day
…pray

why
I ask
why to this tree …quizzically

quiet smile
we played cards
in its shade

he explains …pertains

we talked
laughed
we listened
at the pond
in its wonderful shade
day after day
this wonderful willow
…mellow

where are your friends
I ask
why are they not here
with you
on the bench
…ma’mensch

because
…he hesitates
they are gone
he says finally
quietly …sadly

gone
gone where
…share

gone
is all he says
quietly
unmoving
hands on his knees
all gone …withdrawn

oh
I say
I see …sympathy

do you
he replies …scrutinize

so why do you sit here
day after day

I’m asking …basking

I’m listening …wishing

listening
I say
listening for what …jump-cut

he sits quietly for a while
then
without changing his gaze
without raising his hands
from his knees
he says haltingly
for our laughter
our beautiful laughter
…everafter

I still hear it
hear them
here
on the breeze
in this willow
…hello-hello


Original DDE™ surrealistic art: “Come To Visit”
by: rob kistner © 3/7/24

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rob kistner © 2024

Poetry at: dVerse

 

14 thoughts on “Listening”

  1. A magnificent poem, Rob. Your artwork on the old man and the willow tree is perfect! Such a great story in your poetry. You still got it, Rob. Keep up the good work!

    1. Thank you frewin. It is inevitable. So many of the guys and gals i was in bands with are now gone beyond. Every now and ten I have a wonderful dream, some in which one of my many groups are gigging. Exhilerating!

  2. This brought me to tears. I wonder if there is some of yourself in the poem, as I am 37 and I often find myself thinking of friends who most likely will pass before me, the passing of time, aging, etc. Life is full of beautiful nostalgia and you’ve captured that splendidly here, Rob. Thank you.??????????

    1. Thank you Melissa. As usual, you are most perceptive. Much of me is indeed in this poem. At 77 so many of my friends, and former bandmates have passed on. I acutely feel that threshold looming near. It is a bittersweet, somewhat melancholy feeling, more than an ominous one. Remembering wonderful people I will never see again. Fantastic things that happened, which can never happen again. Remembering the stronger man that I once was, feeling the growing weakness. It is a time of passing, a time of endings — and a time of gratitude for the amazing journey of my life. And a bit of sorrow regarding the things I should have done better. It is also a time of wonder about what, if anything, might lie ahead.

        1. Thank you my friend. It mostly holds sway over my thoughts — except when the dark clouds gather in my heart. Try to keep them away the best I can.

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