The Path





The Morgue File
Withered Flowers of Winter by Modnar


One foot in front of the other
their patterns old
like toes that
tread the sun

I walk.
It is the only way I know--
one foot
then another--
without the sight of youth.

Its mirth
parsed out,
cards fluttering
between spokes
singing their rhythm in the wind.

I hear them laughing.
pause.
I know the secrets
that their rhythms guard
That life flutters
by us
touches our cheeks
when we sleep,
mourning when we forget
that all we must do
is continue.

One foot in front of the other.
It is the only way I know.
one foot
another.


copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2016

We are challenged today to write about identity at Poets United
This is where the prompt took me.



Comments

  1. This is phenomenal Audrey, especially touched by "like toes that tread the sun." Powerfully expressed!


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  2. One foot in front of the other is the only way to walk through life. There is no other way.

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  3. Oh yes! I love this. One foot, then another, the only way we know. Sigh.

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  4. Oh, that is so true one foot in front of the other one step at a time. Sometimes it is all we can do in the journey.

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  5. Lovely Audrey..
    That life flutters
    by us
    touches our cheeks
    when we sleep.... beautiful.

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  6. Nearing seventy, I fully understand that flutter. And one step after another is the only way, even though at times we'd like to run and leap.

    Elizabeth

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  7. yes as long as we live and whatever we do we have to keep one foot in front of the other and continue...could so much relate...

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  8. "One foot and then the other" allows us time to think and dream, the warmth of the sun ti nudge us on. Your are traveller in time. Very nice Audrey

    Much love...

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  9. That is how...and sometimes we must not allow why to stop our feet from moving no matter how loudly it screams...'mirth parsed out' - what a brilliant line and i hope life brushes all our cheeks as we sleep

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  10. Beautiful writing Audrey. A progression of steps towards death. It's all we can do.

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  11. This is something that my mother used to say...and I've been touched by an angel in your words. Thank you.

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  12. Excellent poem. Yep, one foot...another...

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  13. Most creative and wonderful poetry Audrey.

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  14. I feel that you wrapped us around younger versions (identities) of ourselves; for what child thinks about tomorrow? What adult does not?

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  15. Tackling the vagaries of our world (both outer and inner) step by step is the only way to live and survive. Nicely penned!

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  16. Courage and endurance: One foot in front of the other. An awesome piece of writing ... echoes of a billion stories.

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