Remembered
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry
Remembered
•
leaning comfortably
into the curves
wind whipping
through our long hair
we wind our way
into the mountains
into the evening
alive
with 2-wheeled freedom
on the open road
not counting days
not keeping track
just being - free
we glide
feet up
knees tucked
captivated
by the thrill
of the throttle
we rocket
dive from light to shadow
to resurface once more
in the light
again and again
as the sun reveals itself
from time to time
warming us
from between peaks
as it begins to settle
behind the western slope
of the Rockies
four friends
four adventurers
fresh on the heels
of the summer of love
dedicated
to a critical mission
spread the peace
share the love
save our sanity
and above all else
keep the party rolling
we’ve thrown off
the structured mantle of life
to venture
into the random
the unknown
to embrace
the magnificent perfection
of living in
and for
the moment
•
it’s nearly four decades
since those days of freedom
memories have cooled
grown hazy
I take license in their recall
grateful they remain at all
I’m blessed by their refrain
no matter how faint
my days are not so light now
I’m rooted in responsibility
balancing the blessings
and the burdens
of life
sometimes bent
by the yoke of worry
made heavy
by the weight of loss
yet
occasionally
I still feel
the gentle breeze of freedom
stir
as I stand
feet firmly planted
braced against
the changing winds of time
and fate
tonight
adrift in the eternal now
awash in recollection
I smile within
warmed by remembered times
with beloved friends
those days of wonder
falling deeper in reverie’s embrace
I can almost feel that wind
on my face
tossing once more
my youthful mane
almost hear the laughter
see the glow
on the faces of three friends
now far away
I whisper a promise
to my awakened spirit
someday
before it is too late
I will again
pick my feet up
• • •
rob kistner © 2008
May 29th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Of course, you will.
drifting
May 29th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Wonderful poem on so many levels. Brought back my own reflections on the 60s and life and loss and hope. Beautifully done.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Most good memories are not so much of what you did, rather who you did them with. This contains a bit of both.
Keep that promise.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Oh, how beautiful! I sometimes think that the sixties were the time that I felt not only most free but most sure of what was worth doing. And I thought we could do it.
Sigh…
May 30th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Your poem picks my feet up and takes me on an adventure. Thanks for a poem that flies with the breeze and makes me feel the joy of the open road.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:38 am
O the memories connected with this one! But strangely, I did not have my first ride on a bike till just a few years ago. I had always wanted to do so, but the opportunity was just not there. But finally the day came. And yes! The wind on the face was utterly exhilerating!
(Sigh….)
Gemma
May 30th, 2008 at 7:34 am
The Steppenwolf words just won’t get out of my head now.
Ah, sweet memories!
May 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Easy Rider, you go! Those were heady days, and you’ve captured them well.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:22 am
exhilarating.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Hey Easy Rider
It’s been a while - good to be back
Your poem is great - no surprise there - you’re a creative wonder.
Waving at you from New York
May 31st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Wonderful post.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:22 pm
..”wind whipping
through our long hair”..had an ache clad in mist..thank u for sharing..
May 31st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Love it.
June 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I wish I had memories like that - I was never one to let my hair whip in the wind. Perhaps I should while I’m still young… 37 is young, isn’t it?
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
I love the poem. I can make out images in my head reading this line by line.
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
oh my goodness… at first i was thinkin peter fonda easy rider… oh yeah…. then i read further… you caught the times perfectly… loved the feeling of hugging the bike on a curve…sunny day…thrz this place up in malibu we use to go drive to…
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
You made me yearn for days gone by. Thank you for the ride…I have never been on a motorcycle. Sigh!
b
March 16th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Brought back memories for me as well. Not of motorcycles but of the time. My journey was a backpack and my thumb cross country. You said it beautifully.