Someone I Know Well

Cherry

By Gothicman

Sat, 01 Aug 2020
  • 164 reads
8 comments
 

The part of me that is nostalgia

 

I see him, tragic man,
on his solitary mission,
reawakening The Meaningful,
last caretaker of a bygone age,
searching for residual testimony
among the threadbare remains
of interwoven life; 

realising too late,
the trade-in cost
relieving pain by further loss;
when love objects,
defensively absorbed,
metamorphosed so cruelly,
surrendering all quintessential
to an apathetic subject,
the I, who, though stronger,
became older,
lonelier..... now following

shadows and ghosts,
instinctively knowing why,
with unpatronizing kindness,
keeping him in sight
is so imperative... I must not
lose this vagabond
pulling at the leash,

for, while I still see him,
I exist.

 

 

Goth:2020

 

Certificate U
Poem
Spiritual
Philosophy

Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

I find this very moving Trevor, as if one realises one's own existence in knowing another - and that the another might be a nostalgic sense of a former self. That's if I have grasped your meaning, and if not, that's what I took from it anyway! It's very complex, very well-written, worth taking the time over, I think. Rachel.

 

Submitted by Gothicman on

Thank you Rachel. Possessing a past, a present, and a visionary sense of self, all three on an evolving journey, does that not mean, that which identifies the man or woman we are, as being made up of three separate though integral versions?
A happy childhood and early past is a source of eternal nostalgic joy, of course. but is there anyone who lacks positive memories as well as the negative in the whole of their past history when looking back?
With ageing, nostalgia takes on a more meaningful and vital role in maintaining a strong sense of identity. Some people have told me though that they experience nostalgia as a form of light depression, instead of a positive boost to the self, and try to avoid feeling it.
For me, frequently awakening nostalgic memories, however modest, should keep you feeling alive!
Trevor

Thanks for the cherries too!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I could definitely identify with this poem. That person we once were seems like someone we once knew, yet lost contact with over the years. Ourselves in another lifetime. Yet as long as we hold onto their memory, we know that we exist. Too true!

Jenny.

Submitted by Gothicman on

Thanks Jennifer! Yes, it's true even positive near memories fade quicker with age, but I think, as you state here, that with ageing the treasured few we keep alive and memorable, especially those that appeared to play a bigger part in forming our sense of the positive self, do, more and more, keep us vital when brought back by way of nostalgic recall. The nostalgic self, is our best friend and comforter eventually!
Trevor

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

We live several stages of life within this one- I am no longer the child - or teen- or young adult - I looked different at each of those times. You cannot find that person I was and yet I am here. It feels like those times were lived in a compartment and had a beginning and end - each stage- a life of its own- sometimes I mourn them and sometimes they come back and make this moment better.-- I loved where your poem took me and I thank you for sharing it here.smiley

Penny4athought

Submitted by Gothicman on

Thank you Penny4, glad it reminded you of memories that can have good therapeutic effect. The most precious aspect of nostalgic memories are their uniqueness, both in why selected and their importance to self -development, each will disappear with a piece of real history. Your own thoughts on this, much appreciated,
Trevor

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Keep the vagabond in sight at all times. There's some wandering in him yet.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Gothicman on

Let's hope so, Parson, he's still wandering round old haunts at random, some good, some best forgotten...
not good at distracting or steering him anymore...
Thanks,
Goth