You all know the wild grief that besets us
when we remember times of happiness.
– Ernst Junger, On the Marble Cliffs,
John Lehmann, 1947
If, if only we could choose them, severed
threads cauterized, polished and shining
like coins rolling end over end in sunlight,
when it’s always what we call it — where
we win. Where jackpot lights get stuck
flashing and bells peal our blessings
of happiness.
Instead, neither tails nor heads, they land
with soon-tarnished tin, hollow, raw laments
that make the dog howl. As all who have
loved, as all have, you all know the wild grief
that besets us when we remember times
of happiness.
Basking but a moment in the bliss, scrub
tendrils soon sprout and tangle into the
aftermath of absence, leaving bloody, soon-
to-be vacuums of grief that throb like root
canals when the anesthetic has worn off.
Oh that there was such a procedure to
grind out the nerves and pulp of the heart
of happiness.
top image is “Tangle Doodle,” by Rob Stevenson
Linda Lee Lyberg is today’s host of dVerse’ Poetics. Linda says:
So, dear readers, I have chosen 12 opening sentences from Opening Sentences of Famous Novels, by Leon Mazzella, published by Fitway Publishing for you to ponder over and choose one that will serve as a jumping off point for your poem today. [Choose one of] the sentences, with the Author and book title. Please reference which sentence you chose, either as an epigraph or author’s note.
Tao Talk 
Stunning and very powerful Li! <3
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Carol Anne, thank you!
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It’s such an odd combination- grief and love. Your words have made me feel both. Incredible Lisa. And I am a huge Elvis Costello fan- this song is perfect.
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Linda, thank you for the high praise. Much appreciated. I’m a big Elvis Costello fan also <3
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Such visceral imagery, Lisa!
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Thank you, the starting quote is like the first domino. Linda chose some great lines.
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Yes, I agree. You’re welcome, Lisa.
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Have you ever seen the movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”? Once when I was in misery over a broken relationship, the best friend of the one i was miserable over heard me say I wished I’d never met them, and recommended I watch that movie and i wouldn’t say that. i did, and bawled my eyes out and they were right–I never said that again.
I was curious to see which line you would choose as your inspiration, and this one is an excellent choice. You’ve caught that root canal type pain.
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Yes I saw it and it does feel like you’re damned either way.
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Those lines. .the hollow coins spinning grief…stunning.
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Ain, thank you.
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Love and loss, always intertwined. That is one of Elvis’ best albums, too.
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Elvis and Burt, a formidable combination!
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Love and loss, always intertwined 💖
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<3
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Wow! this is really intense. Your last verse especially…
Oh that there was such a procedure to
grind out the nerves and pulp of the heart
of happiness.
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Poetry makes a wonderful tool for venting doesn’t it :)
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Yes it is really great!
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This hits too the core of the soul with its truth.
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Sadje, that line I chose to write to absolutely sings the truth you’re right. Thank you for reading and your comment.
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You’re welcome my friend
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Ooh, that analogy! Loss of love does leave a nerve-jangling pain. Very visceral write, Li.
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Punam, thank you. The quote is so brilliant and says so much. A perfect jumping-off point.
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Indeed. You are so welcome.
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I have always thought of loss like this is like the phantom pains after loosing a limb… very strong poem
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Thank you, Bjorn, that’s a good comparison.
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“Oh that there was such a procedure..” indeed. There is only time, and that is not always the great healer it’s often touted to be, and tends to be inefficient and incomplete in what it scissors away. This is a poem that captures a universal experience and its lingering aftermath of mood and loss, and makes its point with great eloquence.
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Joy, I appreciate what you see in the poem. You say it so well. Thank you <3
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