Disasters, Delights and Other Detours - 20. Unanswerable and Idle Observations

Ah, the universal 'what if'... often asked and forever unanswered. There was a powerful sadness I felt here... a feeling and a question I am well acquainted with. It is a superb poem, Parker! 

We all make those idle observations... in yours I see school kids perform the ritual of each new day... finding their place in a sea of humanity. It is that time, in hallowed halls, we prepare ourselves for the world to come... if we are fortunate enough to make it out. It's no longer a given. Well done, Parker. Cheers... Gary....

Oh Parker ... wonderful poems. There's a sadness that runs through them and i'm sorry for that. xo

8 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

Oh Parker ... wonderful poems. There's a sadness that runs through them and i'm sorry for that. xo

The first recounts something I remembered from long ago; it was sad then, but remembering it has me thinking about the 'what if.' The second came from a day of prolonged watching and waiting at a ski lodge. I felt lonely in a sea of people. Funny how that happens. Thanks so much for reading these, and for your response. 

19 minutes ago, Headstall said:

Ah, the universal 'what if'... often asked and forever unanswered. There was a powerful sadness I felt here... a feeling and a question I am well acquainted with. It is a superb poem, Parker! 

 

We all make those idle observations... in yours I see school kids perform the ritual of each new day... finding their place in a sea of humanity. It is that time, in hallowed halls, we prepare ourselves for the world to come... if we are fortunate enough to make it out. It's no longer a give. Well done, Parker. Cheers... Gary....

It was sad to remember the episode in the first of these, both then and in the present time. There is no answer to the universal question. The second of these came from feeling lonely in a crowd of people; a situation that seems to happen more often as I get older. Thanks so much for reading these, and for your thoughts on them. 

The sadness is felt in both. First is is regret and lost chance. That’s one that nags through life.

The second poem shows sadness in being overlooked. The need to be desired. Both are beautiful in the way they get straight to the emotion.

Ahhh but what might have been if only ... choices made oft appear different in hindsight and yet what is life now might not be if only.

To be alone amongst many ...

the craving to be wanted and the unanswerable questions merge in this offering. sad, moving, you write it so well.

Single by choice, I resonate with both. To the first, the opportunity lost does not sadden me. Companionship remains a mixed blessing. I am most comfortable alone at home. But away, in a sea of paired strangers, though they pay me no mind, yet I might feel rebuke.

7 hours ago, BlindAmbition said:

The sadness is felt in both. First is is regret and lost chance. That’s one that nags through life.

The second poem shows sadness in being overlooked. The need to be desired. Both are beautiful in the way they get straight to the emotion.

Thank you jp. You really got to the central point of these. The first has a mixed kind of regret. Being overlooked and ignored in the second  shows that can sometimes be the hardest thing of all.  Again, thank you. 

7 hours ago, dughlas said:

Ahhh but what might have been if only ... choices made oft appear different in hindsight and yet what is life now might not be if only.

 

To be alone amongst many ...

Thank you, Dugh. Reflection is rarely done in a perfect mirror. Often, it is the sense of isolation in a crowd that can trigger that reflection. Thanks again. 

4 hours ago, Valkyrie said:

Unanswerable, indeed.  "What if..."

 

When I read the second, I picture a sea of school children reuniting after a semester or summer break.  They are both powerful poems, and written with your usual finesse and infusion of emotion.  Well done, my friend.   

As a child, I was discouraged from asking “what if” questions. My poor parents wearied of them. Yet they still remain. I loved your characterization of the second sonnet. That was wonderfully done. Thank you for reading and for your kind comments. 

4 hours ago, mogwhy said:

the craving to be wanted and the unanswerable questions merge in this offering. sad, moving, you write it so well.

Thank you, Moggy. These powerful emotions and desires continue to haunt. They probably always will. I really appreciate your thoughts. 

8 hours ago, knotme said:

Single by choice, I resonate with both. To the first, the opportunity lost does not sadden me. Companionship remains a mixed blessing. I am most comfortable alone at home. But away, in a sea of paired strangers, though they pay me no mind, yet I might feel rebuke.

 

Thank you for your thoughts on these. It is not that particular opportunity I mind missing, so much as not knowing at the time that it was significant. Loneliness in a crowd is yet another sadness; it makes connection to the world, if not companionship, difficult. I am grateful you read and responded to these. 

The first one is heartbreaking. I suppose we go through 'things' at young ages and only see significance in them later on. Many can be happy re-mintings of events and their significance, but others - those are the ones touched upon by Unanswerable. 

The second Sonnet expresses an emotion I've often felt in crowds. I think poets by some definition or other are observers, internalizers, or else we would not create what we do. 

As always, thank you for sharing your gift with us. 

1 hour ago, AC Benus said:

I the first one is heartbreaking. I suppose we go through 'things' at young ages and only see significance in them later on. Many can be happy re-mintings of events and their significance, but others - those are the ones touched upon by Unanswerable. 

 

The second Sonnet expresses an emotion I've often felt in crowds. I think poets by some definition or other are observers, internalizers, or else we would not create what we do. 

 

As always, thank you for sharing your gift with us. 

You are certainly in tune with my thoughts in Unanswerable. There is no way to know what the time ahead of one will - or will not - bring. One acts, and the world reacts, or passes by. You are also absolutely right about the intrinsic observational nature of the poet. That indeed may isolate a writer, even in a crowded room. 

Thank you so much for your comments, and for reading these.