When this cranium added the seat of memory
It commanded two hands to reach into the sand
And bring up two fistfuls.
The sand was dry and empty.
That top synaptic white labyrinth, waiting.
Not prepared to accept
What was represented by each grain?
Instead of storing or keeping:
As a sand clock,
The grains sifted through the knuckles
Through the bottom fist, gripping.
Watching disappearing opportunities
To learn, see, hear and be of that world
My mind knew.
Never would lost grains be found…
It was never known but sometimes remembered
A thing of memory.
Some grains are still stuck,
In an aging hand, under those fingernails,
As the white matter hardens, as the synapse closes
They were the past.
Perspective changes with time and place.
This is movement within a chemical fluid.
We are still precious lights reflecting,
Handing back new sites, incidents, friendships.
They were the people, the opportunities.
And since the freshness and the knowledge of what they were
When they were is present and alive
I can make them mine.
How would the grains be recognized?
They were the Wildcats.
David Sabosky
December 7, 2007 at 7:07 am |
Thanks for the “Memory,” David! And what a memory it is.
You have, in my opinion, captured a moment in “synaptic time” — greatly deepening and expanding that moment of magic when you fully realize and appreciate that you are a WILDCAT. Apparently in the past you did not have this realization. I venture to say that the memories and little treasures posted and shared on our CHS blog are what have brought about this moment of lucid “Memory.”
So I view your very special poem as Homage to this blog site, and to all of us and you – WILDCATS alive and well(?), living and breathing and remembering. Or in your words:
“We are still precious lights reflecting,
Handing back new sites, incidents, friendships.
They were the people, the opportunities.
And since the freshness and the knowledge of what they were
When they were is present and alive
I can make them mine.”
Ray
March 18, 2008 at 6:02 am |
I don’t believe that I’ve ever felt a true belonging as a WILDCAT. I appreciate that you have shared your insights though, David.
Thank you.