I rise from my body
My fall à l’envers
Through cold brilliant sunlight
And thinness of air
Past floating ions
Into almost bare space
And I shift my gaze back
And I wish for your face
I’ll one day return
With the wind in my hair
Some bright afternoon
And all devil-may-care
With that kiss I’m left owing
Until it is paid
With our love I left holding
When I fell away
Á l’envers is French for upside down or wrong way to. It is pronounced a bit like “ah lon vair”. The s is silent.
22 Sept 2024: C.B., “Love this.”
N.B., “Beautiful”
H.A., “So wonderful. So light. The perfect blend of rhythm and wording and sentiment.”… kjt reply, Y’know, it is double the pleasure to know how a poem arrives. I was reading this poem again just before I hit the POST button and although the poem works for me I had a twinge of uncertainty (as I almost always do) about the readers’ perceptions. Thanks [H.A] for sweeping all of that away.
S.S., “Kevin! Your poetry is always amazing. Always. Never let any pinpoint of doubt creep in when you are about to give us your gifts!”, kjt reply, “I know it’s not me… it’s just baggage that I’ll some day notice isn’t there any more. Thank you!”