A man hangs his hat in that corner
where once we slept together
an ignorant or discontent foreigner
to our dislocated nether.
No one knows what happened
to the images our jury pardoned.
It was not always rainy when you came.
There were moments, tucked into our night
we found shelter in our tender shame
knowing neither would ever fight
for all the stories Donne read within
that little corner of our skin.
No one forgets—
not even the man, uncapped, in grey
strolling through space time bid offset
frustrated and sweating through the summer decay
praying for the breath that weaves
through the door, but out the window leaves.
The Waking Den 
hey!! so cool seeing you chris – hope life treats you well…
i like how you start it with him hanging his hat in the corner where you made love.. felt invasion here…the it wasn’t always rainy… really deep emotions in this… ah – and good to see you..smiles
Life is definitely in a good place right now…haven’t been as happy in a long time. Glad the emotion of the piece resonated through you, Claudia. You’ve always been the standard to aspire to for that emotional depth of writing, so it means a lot!
The word nether haunts, as does the image and memories in the corner.
A word of many meanings, all of them probably perfectly appropriate here. But that haunted quality…that’s how I know it worked. Thanks!
Great writing, I enjoyed reading this 🙂
intriguing verse chris….
particularly the second stanza for me…the not always rainy, moments tucked in our night of shelter…the little corner of our skin….
Even the night has the moon; even the darkest moments, the deepest regrets, have their hours of light…
Yes, Donne is perhaps the most sensual of poets to have under your skin.
Wondering, haunted, by the lines:
‘praying for the breath that weaves
through the door, but out the window leaves’
I have a great affection for Donne. The man had a knack for capturing romance and beauty far beyond the capability of most earth-anchored minds…he has always been an inspiration. Seemed the perfect reference for the moment, and he obviously struck the right chord. Good to hear that ending line left things on exactly the note I sought to end on, too.
Oh I love the vehicle here. Taking a stranger into a room where you entertained a tender but illicit passion. The contrast of time continuing steadily in one place as you two move away and in different directions – the poem encompasses all four dimensions with emotion. Excellent work as always! Missing you too btw. 🙂
But is he really a stranger, or an old man reflecting on a person he no longer is? Questions, questions…time is the vehicle that moves us forward, and provides the contrasts we must all come to terms with.
Always missing you, Gay! Thanks for your words and interpretations–they mean the world, as ever.
a brilliant, nostalgic write that takes me into its journey
No one knows what happened
to the images our jury pardoned.
It was not always rainy when you came.
particularly evocative for me in their (spoken or unspoken) contexts
The shadows silence leaves behind can be as powerful as any word delivered. Glad you took the time to walk down the lanes of nostalgia with me.
“we found shelter in our tender shame”
this line echos, haunting…
So brittle, so frail, these tender moments of the mortal vale…
Very vivid scene that you have brought to life with your words.
enjoyed the stirring images of revisiting with a stranger a corner where one a sensual love was shared.
Good to see you Chris. Vivid poem…love the first lines and this…t was not always rainy when you came.
There were moments, tucked into our night
we found shelter in our tender shame
Great write.
I love all the lines. Each so rich with emotion. Especially loved It was not always rainy when you came.
“to the images our jury pardoned”
Gorgeous.
Great entrance hanging his hat. Good job Chris
It made me feel dirty…And that is a compliment because it’s not often poems make me feel something.
In that case I’m honored! Everyone reacts differently. For some, poetry can stir the heart; for others, it takes the vivid visuals of a well-strung movie; for still others, it is only the experiences of their OWN lives that will unlock the true capabilities of feeling. Pleased my poem was able to touch you in some way, and that given your general feeling, you took the time to read and to say as much. All the best!
Nice wording. I especially like the second stanza.