As a person who finds a great deal of silliness with Valentine’s Day and the whole idea that surrounds it… love poems are not my favorite.
That is until I read José A. Alcántara’s poem in Poetry of Presence II. (I mean a former construction worker, baker, commercial fisherman, math teacher, and studio photographer turned poet… seems brilliant, no?)
And really… who does not have a love affair with silence?
Love Note to Silence
by José A. Alcántara
It’s impossible to stay in bed when you’re around.
I love our morning tea, our walks in the woods,
listening to all your crazy stories.
I’m sorry that I don’t contribute much,
that I mostly just nod and smile,
and sometimes scratch the back of my head.
But listening to you is like the shore listening to the ocean.
I’m swept clean of my detritus, my rotting organic matter,
everything tossed there by the rude and the ugly.
Here, let me grab my pen and notebook, my binoculars. Let me slip
on my coat and shoes. The handheld cranes are passing overhead.
Let’s go to the fields at the edge of town and make some noise.
“Love Note to Silence.” Copyright © José A. Alacántara.
A huge thanks to Bonny for hosting all us poetry lovers… Stop by and see what other poems you can gather today!
See you all back here next week Monday!
This is perfect, Kat! I need quiet, especially in the morning, and some days are difficult with John jabbering at me. (Yesterday he read me the differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. We are not setting up any trust!) I’ve learned to let it wash over me and enjoy my love affair with silence.
Oh I like this one. A lot! I value, appreciate and crave silence so much. An interesting career path for the poet!
Such a great poem, Kat! Tom and I take turns with our “jabbering” ways. (Although once when Erin was a teenager she told me, “Sometimes when you’re talking, Mom, I take little vacations in my brain.”) XO
What a great perspective! Also, this poet sounds like a fascinating man, so I’m going to have to look into him some more.
I agree that all too many February poems are Just too sweet. I nearly opted to skip this month until I read your selection and I was inspired to keep searching.
beautiful! When the V cards are over the top paragraphs long, I look for the simplest but meaningful one.
What a lovely poem. The poet is remarkable.