It is Day 10 of Writing 101 Poetry Course. The Prompt is Farewell by… yours truly, Lucile de Godoy.
Ben Huberman, WP editor and host of the Poetry Course, has asked 10 alumnae and alumni of Writing 201: Poetry to come up with themes to inspire brand new poems for this new course. I am delighted and honored to be one of them. I’m deeply grateful to Ben for the trust, and for this unforgettable opportunity to share my ideas and photo, which I will always treasure. Heartfelt thanks.
Why Farewell? Here is what I proposed to the course participants:
The image above was shot during a ferry departure from an island in the north of Holland. It was a déjà-vu moment that took me back to airports, train stations, ports, and even to the famous goodbye scene in Casablanca.
This young man waving to someone on the foggy shore evoked a common emotion: that misty, deep, and painful moment of separation, when all we have left are the last words, the last hug, the last kiss… Bodies are physically untied but nonetheless connect through sight, with the eyes refusing to be set apart.
Write a poem about a farewell today: perhaps this image may bring back memories of loved ones who passed, or revive memories of those that departed from our lives. Or you could focus on the more mundane, but still powerful moments of your daily goodbye rituals, whether it’s a friend, partner, or member of your family.
I also had the pleasure to once more join the poetry course. So, here is my interpretation.
I wrote about a beloved friend who decided to depart from this life. I still remember the last day we spent with him; a day of celebrations, and unbeknownst to me, closing with the last goodbye.
Farewell
— Dedicated to my late friend Jeremy B.
Sailing in the Hong Kong bay
Friends celebrating his life
Plastering an old pain
Healing ingrained emptiness
Coating love in his heart’s walls
Watering a dehydrated soul
Spreading friendship seeds
That never germinated
His innocent and deep sight
Intensely searched for anchors
And a safe shore to mourn
A child that never died in him
A man that was never a child
Jump-started in life’s jungle
Birthmarks imprinted as scars
Deeply rooted stingy pain
Rejection, dejection, no affection
Reminders of a senseless life
Controlled by tyrant emotions
Imposing its will on him
Living off what never was
Angst bubbling in his veins
Draining his light and will
Until there was no more
Eyes locked. Casablanca.
Peace.
So long my friend
I decided to also add this post to WP Photo Challenge: Gathering
powerful image and words. And congrats on being selected to contribute! well deserved
Thank you so much. It was a big surprise, and I have once more immensely enjoyed learning to write poetry.
you’re gifted at writing and photography!
Thanks Lisa, I’m humbled.
Very nice tribute to your friend.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
You write great poetry. No doubt you’ve been highly recognized on WordPress. Congratulations. May the light keep shining in you Lucile!
Wonderful prompt and wonderful response!
Beautiful xx
This was a deeply painful poem to read, and beautifully written, too!
I’m so sorry about your friend — and glad also that he had you and some others like you to help him while he was here.
These lines tugged at my heart:
“Plastering an old pain
Healing ingrained emptiness
Coating love in his heart’s walls
Watering a dehydrated soul
Spreading friendship seeds
That never germinated …”
And there are many powerful, moving lines throughout the poem!
I agree with you these are my favorite lines, too. For me, because there is a glimmer love, kindness and comfort from a friend.
“Plastering an old pain
Healing ingrained emptiness
Coating love in his heart’s walls
Watering a dehydrated soul
Spreading friendship seeds
That never germinated …”
A moving piece – you took us to the pain in his heart. Makes me wonder what happened.
Sad words! Sorry about your friend.
Congrats on the nomination and well done once again Lucile!
Thank you dearest! I may have to start believing in your faith in my poetic ability, and write more often! Thanks for the encouragement.
Lucile, my jaw has once again dropped onto the keyboard! Your photos and poetry go wonderfully well together and what a honor to be chosen to come up with a prompt for poetry 101. I seriously love your photo and indeed your poem illustrates the the emotions depicted in that photo. Beautifully done and well-deserved, my friend!
Terri, my dearest friend, it was a honor for this amateur to be selected amongst so many accomplished poets. It gave me a ‘hint’ that I should dedicate time to writing more than I have done lately. I must listen more to comments like yours and believe in this newly found love to write poetry. The marriage with photos has been a two way process of inspiration. Heartfelt thanks for supporting my endeavors.
Isn’t it wonderful for this art of blogging to open up new avenues of creativity? Your photography has been an inspiration to me and to see how your love of writing in any genre has blessed you and all of us! You go, girl!
What a lovely prose.
A truck load of heart tugging imagery succinctly placed in words.
Beautifully done and with flourish too!
I love the photo. And the poem is too moving to even comment on it…
Lucile,
Great suggestion and an absolutely beautiful and heart felt poem.
Oooohh, I only noticed now that it’s your own prompt!! Wow, huge congrats to you, who said poetry was not her thing 😀 It most definitely is. Excellent work.
What a beautiful poem and what a fine way to round off a great couple of weeks, congratulations Lucile!
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You are so gifted, Lucile…!
Thanks for this precious contribute….
Anna, I’m grateful and overwhelmed by your comment. Thank you.
This is a wonderful post, the power of the poem intense and moving. I love the photograph it’s so evocative.
Thank you so much, Annika. It was the photo that inspired me first.
A wonderful photo, Lucile, and beautiful words. A fine and poignant farewell.
And congratulations on being selected to inspire future WordPress course participants!
Happy holidays!
Hi Terry,
Thank you so much. It’s was a honor and I’m grateful to them for the opportunity
Happy holidays and a joyful New Year!
Nicely conceived and imagined…
Thank you!
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What a beautiful tribute to your friend Lucile, I’m sorry to hear of your loss. All the best to you.
Thank you, Deb. It’s been many years ago but I have never forgotten the goodbye scene when we saw each other for the last time…
That pictures was worth 10,000 words and then you follow it up with beautiful poetry that brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations on being selected for the prompt. Ben is very wise indeed.