The Initial Scene by Natalie Jones The Initial Scene You: standing, forming a straight line with your long & lean body, a vertical horizon of hope up ahead. What a horizon means to me right now you could not know. I saw you standing ankle-deep in water in the present. You called me your future. I saw you standing near water so many times you became a part of this town’s scenery— a familiar arrangement of water & skin. The Time In-between the Beginning & the End There was that brief moment of streetlight forming shadows & light along cheekbones. An encounter with promising light, a face which held an unfamiliar beauty, but beauty nonetheless. We tried to hold these things, hardly carefully, but to hold them, still, to hold them despite this, to hold them anyway. I watched you thrash around in water. I could hardly stand still in those waves myself without losing balance entirely. You were reckless, I just tried standing steady so at least one of us was. I stood steady to make an example for you. I hoped you would mimic the motions. What I wanted was for you to be strong for me. What Became of Things This latching & unlatching of hands we participate in – written out in a movie screenplay lying on the table for the whole room to see. Some choose to notice the prearranged gestures, some walk on by. The setting called for a summer of trouble. We were there, shuddering in the sun. Running from our own shadows cast onto the ground, the soft sand. Images which in literature & film usually symbolize inner reflection, suggest a balancing act with the other. I only just wish I could give this a happy ending. You standing in sunshine, arms outstretched forming a circle for me to walk into. You could have been the northern star in a sky full of stars. 10/29/2006 Posted on 10/29/2006 Copyright © 2010 Natalie Jones Member Comments on this Poem Posted by Marie Andreas on 10/30/06 at 12:28 AM This is truly lovely! Wonderful heartfelt descriptions and I enjoyed the unique way you wrote this poem in a sort of screenplay form. Well done :) Return to the Previous Page   pathetic.org Version 7.3.1 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 1 member(s) and 17 visitor(s) online All works Copyright © 2010 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)