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| Review of Amour by Dave Calhoun |
If we pull apart, do we balance
me leaning on you and you lifting
me slightly so I do not fall, my eyes
thanking you though lips stay still?
If leaning, am I whole still, needing
you to hesitate that much longer
from your own care, in the circle
of my body’s sunken belly, fisted
hands screwed on to straight arms?
If dying, may we still assist each
other to eat, drink, and wash up,
to silence, to freedom from grief,
gawkers and guilt, to swiftly escape
the keening of those who fear death?
I melted in the face of the character study in the film Amour, which is in line to win a 2012 Oscar. Posted for Poetry Pantry - #138 at Poets United.
PS: Check out my blog "What is "True Vogue" ?" a short riff after Margaret's poem "True Vogue" which is here.
PS: Check out my blog "What is "True Vogue" ?" a short riff after Margaret's poem "True Vogue" which is here.
I haven't seen the movie but your lines are lovely Susan ~ I like the pulling, the leaning and specially the dying stanza ~ Don't we all fear death, but perhaps in the end, it might be grace ~
ReplyDeletei like how you explore the pulling apart and the leaning esp...still able to stand on our own..? still whole? the depending on each other without falling apart if the other's not so close for a bit...themes that i thought quite a bit about..being more the detached type by nature..
ReplyDeleteI saw a review if this movie in the newspaper. It looked thought-provoking and difficult. I'm so sick of superheroes and fantasy....give me something i can think about, as this seems to be.
ReplyDeleteI like the ends of your first two second lines: wobble/longer. It makes the whole thing flow.
i haven't seen it yet but am determined to before the Oscars. (though unlike Shay, i *love* superheroes too, hee) "keening" is such a great word here and I like those G words in the last stanza, too.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing of the movie but the poem itself riveted me with its questions and deep understanding of love and human nature. Very human and very relatable. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteYou make me wish I had seen this movie--you ask the questions that are hard to answer--but so important to answer
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the movie, but that doesn't detract from my enjoyment of your piece. Really lovely, Susan.
ReplyDelete"thanking you though lips stay still?" - I loved this line ... this conveys so much about how our heart speaks !!!
ReplyDeletei found the last bit particularly moving...the caring for one another in age...made me think a bit of the notebook...have not seen this movie but will add it to the list...
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Susan. I haven't seen the movie, but now I want to. I love watching you grow.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I haven't seen the movie. Haven't heard of the movie, but from your poem I would like to see it. Very poignant to think of people dying and still assisting one another. That would be, I think, true love!
ReplyDeleteYes, I want to see it, too, very much. Makes me think of the wonderful Canadian film Away From Her, love and aging. Your poem is wonderful, I enjoyed it even more this time around.
ReplyDeleteindependent with strings attached! perhaps...
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the movie, though
Akila
your poem makes me want to see the film.but the poem stands on its own and is a fantastic piece of work.
ReplyDelete