10 Comments
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Moudi Sbeity's avatar

oh dear friend, I love tone, the shape, the heart in this poem

Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

Thank you, Habibi. That means a lot. We were never close, which made his loss when I was 33 even harder. Lost opportunity. He was a closet alcoholic and had no concept of how to share his feelings. No wonder he dropped dead of a heart attack!

Julie Roehm's avatar

I loved this! The calligram is an interesting form, to say the least. And, the poignancy of the poem moves my heart. Thank you, once again, dear Amrita.

Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

Thank you, Julie!

Janice Falls's avatar

What a remarkable container for your loss Amrita, the story fits so perfectly. I will be carrying it with me.

Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

Thanks, Jan. I first wrote this as an essay--it fit on one page. 299 words, if I remember. Then as a prose poem, and most recently as a Calligram. I'm just glad that my father had a few visits with my physically-disabled son, who was four when he died. I lived in CA, and they lived in Cincinnati. Dad always said that Bird would walk, and he turned out to be right--even though the doctors were hesitant to say he would, Bird's been on his feet ever since, and is now 51. He figured out walking at six and a half.

Janice Falls's avatar

What a gift that your Dad and your son met and that his prediction was so true - sounds like another poem (which I'm sure you have already written).

Amrita Skye Blaine's avatar

Actually, I've never written about my dad's comment and prediction--only the poem about when my son walked for the first time. Making a note to do that! THANK YOU!

Yesterday Jane's avatar

A staggering first line. A sad story in the middle. And then here we are again. A tight weaving in a compact case. Beautiful.

Jan Haag's avatar

Love this new form... the Calligram! Brilliant poem and suit(case)ably suited to its form!