I received a second place prize (and even money, when does that ever happen for a totally amateur poet!) in an international poetry competition. I entered a poem which I wrote decades ago in college.
The poem “came through” me, like most of my earlier poems, in just a few minutes time.
Whether I was channeling a past life or the collective unconscious, it certainly points to an experience I have never been anywhere near in this incarnation. (Fair warning: it is rather intense).
After They Named My Granddaughter
I stood
and thought
arriving, open and ready
Alexandria Jai
Such a solid first name
invoking wisdom of ages
the famous ancient library
in the middle of the world
Middle name like a bird
flying though the forest
betraying
no one in its flight
alighting, just to look
A name stable yet fluid
ancient and of the moment
a name fitting
a name just right
for my granddaughter
so apt
for that precious little
bird
who came through the
thighs of the one
who emerged from my
own
You did not get to fly
or even be a scholar, dreamer, dancer
born and dead at the same instant
the flame cold
little hands frozen
forever
Did I not love deep enough
Did I not burn bright enough
to make the flame last
one more round?
©Elizabeth Good
Tricia Meier says
Wow! Powerful and such a sad surprise.
Elizabeth Good says
Yes, I considered adding a line warning people in the intro…but then I don’t know that it’s good to second guess one’s poetry.
Susie says
Whoa! Thank you for sharing. So vivid. So moving.
Elizabeth Good says
Thank you so much Susie. Yes…it surprises everyone, and surprised me when it came through me in 10 minutes in my 20’s.
Ruthanne says
So simple in the emotion it covey’s. Just beautiful, I can see why it won.
Temitope Ayodeji says
Thank you very much for this wonderful piece
Elizabeth Good says
Thank you for your appreciation!