NaPoWriMo/ GloPoWriMo 2019 Day 3: Elapsed Time

Today’s prompt is based in a poem by Larry Levis called “The Two Trees.” It is a poem that seems to meander, full of little digressions, odd bits of information, but fundamentally, it is a poem that takes time. It takes its time getting where it’s going, and the action of the poem itself takes place over months. Today, the challenge is to similarly write something that involves a story or action that unfolds over an appreciable length of time. Perhaps, focus on imagery, or sound, or emotional content (or all three!)

Here’s my poem that highlights the feelings at the last stage of life.

                                                                        Elapsed time

Startled by the sound of his footsteps

She slowly turned in her bed

… to face the door

…with great effort and greater expectation

With eyes fixated at the entrance

She barely managed to murmur his name

But it seemed it was too late







It was too late…

For he had quietly exited the gate

Without even looking at her face

Or caring to inquire her state







Was it really too late?

How long she had been lying in her bed

She frantically tried to recall

How long had it been that he played in her lap

She couldn’t fathom him so tall

How long had it been that she told him tales

… of love, care and compassion

How long had it been that she scolded him

For being callous and offensive to his friends







Was it really too late?

Had she forgotten to reiterate

… the value of ethics despite being wise

Had she not reminded him the essence of life,

the meaning of relations that never stigmatize







Was it really too late?

Was it not a few days

or maybe a few years

That he demanded her attention

for each of his choice

That he needed her embrace

To sulk or rejoice







Was it really too late?

Had the time flown away

or was her memory at play

When did her son learn to ignore his mom

While ensuring his comfort was her only concern







Well, it seemed it was too late

A lifetime had passed

A life well lived was all she had

And she took with her, all her good memories

While he’ll come home to realize

That it was indeed too late!

                                                                                                         ©Vandana Bhasin