Before the before
of star-danced light
and rippling time, before
there was what is now,
what was
wonder
in the after, in the bang and crash
of stellar flare and dust, there was
a time of infinite possibilities–
chance,
our meeting, or fate? All that was before,
leading to it. In the crash and bang of bodies,
we’re born
and give birth to others. And in the after,
the wonder of infinite possibilities,
chances we take, paths to follow, as the light
of the past twinkles on future dreams.
For dVerse, where Peter asks us to think about turns in poetry.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I love your choice of imagery, which made me think of cosmology and then you turned it into a story of relationships…. lost and found in the endless possibilities
Thank you very much. That’s exactly what I was trying to do.
Me, too as my mind was churning about cosmology then seamlessly transitioned into relationships. Well done, Merril!
Thank you so much, Frank! 😀
Again, your poetry moves me. I am always so joyful to see that others think in similar ways to me, which means in a way that is definitely hard to explain except when done in poetry such as yours. Exceptional.
Thank you. I so appreciate that, Pam!
XO
💙
This turn, in the cosmos and between two souls, from before and after is a reminder of endless possibilities.
Thank you very much, Ken.
This is absolutely OUTSTANDING, Merril! 😍 I love the progression from cosmos to deeper emotion .. especially; “In the crash and bang of bodies, we’re born and give birth to others.”💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa! I’m pleased you liked it. 💙
Very much 🙂
❤️
💝💝
This is strange, isn’t it? We had the same pondering with the stars and fate, same questions. We don’t have the answers, but nobody does. We wouldn’t need oracles otherwise 🙂
It is funny. And I had written a similar one earlier that I want to work on some more, so it’s not like we saw each other’s. The Oracle is probably involved though. 😀
She has a direct link to the stars 🙂
Oh. . .that’s true! 😀
“And in the after…” I love that phrasing Merril. and the close with the future dreams under the twinkling past…Marveloso!
Thank you so much, Ron! That’s very kind.
Beautiful, Merril. Great job!
Thank you so much, Jill!
So beautiful, hopeful, poignant, and it’s full of creative wonder. Life, in-between, then death along with what we contribute to life and nature ourselves to continue the cycle. It’s amazing how you captured it all in your poem. It mesmerizes me completely and it is so beautifully penned.
Aww–thank you, Lucy! What a lovely comment! It made my day. 💙
Lovely turns, cosmic! I just ready Lucy’s remarks … mesmerizing is an apt description.
‘read’ LOL
😀
Thank you very much, Helen! I appreciate that.
A lovely piece Merril – I particularly liked how you’ve brought together the themes at in the final couplet – destiny and circumstance – cosmos and chance combined – and there’s our brief lives – a flickering moment between the stars. Wondrous stuff.
Very cool. As has been said, the description of the cosmos, not the cosmos, though I suppose a universal story.
Thanks so much, D.!
Wonder is one of my most favorite words, and most favorite states of being. Excellent piece Merril! 🙂
Aww–thank you, Rob! I hope you experience a bit of wonder today. 💙
This is so lovely! I love how you handled these turns.
Thank you very much, Dale!
My pleasure! 😊
Love this, Merril. Lots of passion. 😍
Thank you very much, Colleen!
makes me thing of the REM song, Begin the Begin ~
Thank you?
Merril,
This poem banged and crashed all over my mind – and I had to read it multiple times out of sheer appreciation. It’s so, so well crafted.
-David
Wow, David! Thank you so much! I’m so pleased you think so.
Beautiful imagery and a stunning turn, Merril! I love the phrases ‘star-danced light’ and ‘rippling time’, and the way your poem-coin spins on chance, linking the ‘bang and crash of stellar flare and dust’ with the ‘crash and bang of bodies’.
Thank you very much, Kim. I appreciate your close reading!💙
So beautiful! I love:
‘In the crash and bang of bodies,
we’re born’
So true – and what follows is one set of infinite possibilities leading into another. A very hopeful poem 😊
Thank you very much, Ingrid! 💙
My sentiments exactly, Ingrid! I love this poem!!
Thank you so much, Liz! 💙
You’re welcome, Merril.
You make the turn a vast proscenium to eternal wonder! How stellar this poem, and us!
Thank you very much, Brendan. That’s lovely.
Quite amazing rendering of creation – then and now
Thank you so much, Derrick!
A great before and after poem. I love this line…
In the crash and bang of bodies,
we’re born
and give birth to others.
Thank you very much, Dwight!
Superbly evoked poetry ❤🌹
Thank you very much!
It’s a pleasure
a gentle transition from the universal to the mundane well punctuated with wonder and chance … stunning wordsmithing Merril
Thank you so much, Kate!
The questions and answers are all mixed together. You evoke them all so well. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
A well done work of words, Merril. I read it several times.
The first stanza is brilliant! It’s like a tongue twister, but for the brain. It is a brain twister. I feel so smart after reading it.
Hahaha. Thank you, Resa!😀