all poems and photographs
© by Maya Stein

all poems and photographs
© by Maya Stein
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Monday, June 19, 2006

the glance backward


























isn't it remarkable, how one decides, finally,
to do away with the old habits and eccentricities,
to chase away the squirrely demons of indecision and avoidance,
to be better, and wiser, and more generous of a person?
isn't it amazing, how on the cusp of this great leap
of loving someone more fully than you thought possible,
because it's time and because you are ready,
and because you are more than the sum of your fears,
et cetera, et cetera,
isn't it strange how just then
the neck swivels wildly to the left,
and the eyes arrow downward, near the shoulder,
then careen to the side and back,
and the ears cock to the wind, listening
listening
as if feral animals were chasing close behind,
as if danger were looming and near-vertical,
as if there were, finally, no stage curtain to dip behind,
some soft velvety thing to fold you in like a caress,
as if you were stripped of skin and down to the barest
of your bare bones,
isn't it funny, the glance backward,
the making sure, the strange, prickly desire
to rewind, start over, and be lost again?

It's as if we know full well
what exactly we're leaving behind
and what we're incapable of escaping -
the ecstatic, liquid momentum
of this body and these legs,
this unstoppable heart.

6 comments:

daringtowrite said...

You've done it again. I love it!

GoGo said...

remarkable.

GailNHB said...

It is in the looking back, the last minute reconsideration that we realize not only how much there is to leave behind, but also how much there is yet to enjoy. Most people don't admit to looking back, and therein lies the danger of dishonesty. Denial. Disrespect of oneself and one's own intuition. Look back. But then press on. All the best to you, Maya, on your journey. And thanks for your beautiful email. Peace, Gail

snowsparkle said...

"It's as if we know full well
what exactly we're leaving behind
and what we're incapable of escaping -
the ecstatic, liquid momentum
of this body and these legs,
this unstoppable heart."


shakespeare would have been frightened had you lived during his lifetime.... i can think of no more beautiful expression of love than this poem now. exhilarating! thank you!

Anonymous said...

hey this is really nice. very insightful,

the funny thing is i came upon ur sight while reading a blog on gaming....

http://gamedruid.blogspot.com

stephoto said...

Ah...I know this is an older post, but I'm behind on my Blog-reading. This is quite simply the most beautiful thing i have read today (or in a long while).

Thanks,
S.