Odilon Redon, Panneau décoratif
A signpost
symbol-scarred but faint,
faded from
time’s passage.
But on your heart, ancestors
created a map
of past words
and worlds, crisscrossed, or
parallel?
Infinite
possibilities exist—
light-time blends and bends
and you know
the road circles round
with tangled,
never straight lines.
There –the traces of stars’ dust
shimmers at your feet.
Now has passed,
the future’s ahead
like headlights
on night roads,
a guide. Turn into the spin,
drive to tomorrow.
This is for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday where the theme word is map. Ken’s poem inspired mine. I had intended to write a gogyohka in response, but instead ended up with another shadorma sequence, which is not exactly a response, but when I read his, I thought of signposts.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
How funny. I’ve just posted something on a similar theme. I like the relentless pace of this and being reminded of the road, the car headlights, driving on to tomorrow.
Thank you very much. I thought of signposts the other day when I read Ken’s, and then this one just kept going on. 😀 He was a truck driver so maybe that’s how the car headlights slipped in. I’ll go read yours now.
Mine is nothing like as good a poem as yours. It felt satisfying to me, but it doesn’t go very deep.
Sometimes “satisfying to me” is perfect and just what you need to do. 😀. But thank you.
I agree. Often the poems what have been sweated out aren’t nearly as ‘satisfying’ 🙂
That’s true. 😀
🙂
Merril, this is so good! I love the reference to the ancestors and the road to tomorrow. I feel a clear connection to your words. ❤
Thank you so much, Colleen. I’m so pleased! 💙
I love those poetic emotional connections… that’s what we strive for. ❤
❤️
I love this, Merril. Ancestors might have created the road we travel on, though we take our own detours, create more paths; moving ever forward.
Thank you so much, Dale. Yes, that’s all true. There are traits we inherit, and there is knowledge we learn, but the rest is up to us.
Love that…
😀
But it is a response. There are signs, when we know where to look, that remind us of options that were available to those in our past while leaving us open to make our own choice.
Yes, exactly. That’s what I had thought of when I read your poem.
Loved this, Merril. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading, Jill. I’m pleased you liked it.
Such a beautiful map of the heart’s journey
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Terrific Merril bringing the past, present and future into perspective.
Thank you so very much, Sally!
Really lovely! We are not the sum of our past, but there is stardust when we look back. We press on, a blend of all that has ever been within us, moving forward. It is there we find that the starlight waits for us in every passing day…
Thank you so much, Linda. Yes, we see the light of stars that no longer exist, but yet the light exists because we see it. . .
Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger for all Genres as well as craft books and commented:
Very nice!
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Merrild!
For me, the whole poem comes together on “Turn into the spin.” I assume it’s the same as steering in the direction of the skid on snow or ice, that if you try to steer in the opposite direction, you will go off the road–as counter intutitive as it seems.
Thank you, Liz. The phrase just came to me, and it seemed like the right metaphor.
Those come-to-me phrases are just the best!
Yes, indeed. Thanks, Liz.
Pingback: WEEKLY POETRY CHALLENGE STARS | #192 Theme prompt – MAPS: Franci Hoffman | Word Craft ~ Prose & Poetry