Gone
Gazing out, a stripped landscape
gazes back. Houseplants, relieved,
grateful to be in, still grieve.
Garrulous jays, glass-muted,
grouse at feeders fit for wrens.
Ghosts of gatherings past haunt
grey day; misted memories.
image: “November First,” by Andrew Wyeth
Sanaa is today’s host for Open Link Night Live.
Tao Talk 
You aced the prompt, wonderful sad imagery.
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Thanks Glenn.
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This is achingly beautiful, Lisa! ❤️
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Thank you, Sanaa.
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A lovely pleiades, timely for family gathering:
Ghosts of gatherings past haunt
grey day; misted memories.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Grace. Happy Thanksgiving ❤
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We had our Thanksgiving for Two, would have loved to have more loved ones over, but that will have to wait for next year. So much this year has been muted by windows into other times and memories, so much is gone, so much has changed. I hope we will be able to keep our values, our loves, our democracy with all that has changed. So much seems not fit for our purpose, and we grouse like your garrulous jays (love that by the way!). I think our poems are indeed synchronous! 🙂
I was grateful to see you today too here in your fine verse my friend. And I am adding the Glass to my playlist, it is beautiful!
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What a lovely comment, dear Lona. Glad you like the Glass!
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Such a fine piece – full of inside/outside dichotomies – the image of the jays grousing at feeders fit for wrens – ha (wonder how many more birds you could have squeezed into those lines). And while I was smiling still I came to the melancholy end. Thanks also for the perfect choice of tune – (Philip Glass and Michael Reissman the vocalist?)
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Delightful comment, Peter, thank you. Bernard Fowler on vocals. Reisman on piano (and also musical director.) The CD is a very good and an interesting musical amalgamation.
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Sounds like you are having a sad Thanksgiving Day.. Cold and stark out the
window seems to be a bit depressing. Well done!
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First Thanksgiving EVER without my kids 😦 I spent about an hour on a video call with them but not the same. I pray this is the last time without them. Thanks for your comment, Dwight.
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Very sad! Hopefully next year will be better!!
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So poignant and touching Li
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😦 thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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Sadly beautiful, Li, nice take. By the way, I loved the opening lines. 🙂
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Thank you, Kitty 🙂
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You are welcome, Li. 🙂
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Awesome poetry I loved it very well written! ❤
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Thank you, Carol Anne.
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Another great take on the Pleiades prompt and so appropriate to the present time.
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Thanks, Ingrid 🙂
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Marvelous work indeed, lisa; I esp like those glass-muted jays. I didn’t even notice the alliteration until I was almost finished, which is how it SHOULD be, I think. Great stuff.
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Thanks so much for your feedback, Ron.
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The initial ‘G’ echoes through your Pleiad like a gong, Lisa, summoning the ghosts of gatherings past, and great use of alliteration – I love the ‘Garrulous jays, glass-muted’. I also like the Janus face gazing outward at the stripped landscape and inward at the grief and the misted memories. It’s hard not being with your loved ones at certain times of the year, but I keep telling myself it’s only one year out of many.
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Kim, thank you for your lovely feedback and support. I keep telling myself that too.
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Sad and poignant–a lovely poem. Perfect for November, and especially this year.
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Thank you, Merril. Really feeling it yesterday.
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Great. Good. Gorgeous. Gratifying. Gob-stopping. Gripping. Ghostly.
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ha ha Thanks, Helen!
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Relieved and grieved. That is just right. (K)
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Thank you, K.
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“Houseplants, relieved,
grateful to be in, still grieve.”
These lines say so much to me about being glad to safely stay inside while also grieving the loss of freedom.
I enjoyed your poem. It brought together an interesting combination of images.
Be well.
Ali
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Thank you for your feedback, Ali.
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Yes Lisa, when we are driven indoors by the whims of nature, there is a peaceful melancholy that falls gently. We have but memories of those bright sunny days. Excellent poem! 🙂
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The “whims of nature” with “peaceful melancholy” so well termed. I can see the light hovering just on the edge of my view. Thank you, Rob.
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That is a haunting song…if that is a good description.
Off Topic… you are a Steely Dan fan…is it just me or is one song in particular not talked about by them? “Dirty Work” Is it on the collection you have?
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That Philip Glass album is quite a mish-mash of musicians and vocalists. I love that kind of electronica even though I don’t listen to it a whole lot. Glass, Vangelis, Brian Eno, Boards of Canada…
Yes, it is the 2nd song on disk one of the box set. Yes it comes a close second to me to Aja. I’m guessing you’re a fan?
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It does have a Phil Spector kind of big sound to it.
Steely Dan…yes since I have been reading blogs I’ve become more of a fan…I liked them anyway…Good I’m glad it’s on there. Dirty Work has a place in my heart for personal reasons…when I was misbehaving while young…I like the song alot.
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Ooh would like to hear about those stories of your misbehavior 🙂 but then you might incriminate yourself 😉 Did you happen to listen to that podcast I shared last week on All Things Must Pass?
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Yea I’m too open and honest with these comments sometimes! Then I think….the hell with it I am who I am.
Yes I heard it when that Beatle Blogger posted it. It was good. I got interrupted but I like it. George was special.
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I didn’t realize that Phil Spector walked out halfway through the album! When I heard that it struck me that there does seem to be some really lush (Phil) sounding tracks on it and some less wall-sounding ones. Amazing I didn’t notice it before.
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Yes he did walk out AND…he walked out on John Lennon’s Rock and Roll album…plus had a gun shooting it in the studio…but the guy could make that wall like no other so I get why they wanted to use him.
I actually like that about the album…it gives it a little variety…too much wall can get to me.
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Oh wow didn’t know that about Spector. I know they were talking about him wanting to have a gun but he was shooting in the studio??? Makes you wonder what was going through that head of his. Yes, I like it too, gives it a good balance. I know Wah-Wah was a “putdown song” to the industry, but what a bang it was to start the album. Every other track was trying catch up.
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John had to sue him to get the tapes. Just think of poor Ronnie Spector and what she went through. He is crazy and now he is where he should be…I hate saying that but it’s a wonder it took him that long to kill someone.
I would say it’s the best Beatle solo album…the only one that comes close is Band on the Run…but they were two different kind of albums.
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Yes, Keith Richards liked to live dangerously, messing with Ronnie Spector. I think Keith grew up on the mean streets and knew how to take care of himself — and Phil knew it.
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Yea you don’t mess with Keith…I think her and Lennon had something going on also or almost a romance…Keith and John…they were/are mens men no doubt.
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p.s. Don’t ever apologize for being open and honest, Max. Refreshing attributes from my perspective. I was just ribbing you a little.
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Rib all you want! You are one of the few I can be that way to. Some people clam up…
I’m open in person also for the most part…when I talk.
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Cool! You strike me as an easy-going and approachable person — on blog and in real life. You been practicing your guitar any?
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I try to be Lisa…I am laid back that is for sure…that is just my nature.
Yes and I want to start recording again since I have the time…I can do everything myself…I just have to do it.
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Now I know what I missed… sadness captured so beautifully. Li, sending you hugs. I hope Christmas will be family time. ❤️
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Punam, thank you for your kindness and hugs ❤ Sadly the Christmas time probably won't be face to face 😦 Hoping things are good for you and yours.
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These are such tough times. I do hope the new year will usher changes we all look forward to.
You are welcome and yes, all good here. 🙂
Take care. We are here for you. ❤️
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A fitting poem for the season.
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Thank you, Ken.
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