“alone is the star I follow. In love & in solitude”
– from February & my love is in another state – by José Olivarez
to live with the one you love
Is to immerse one’s self
in the illusion of not being alone
but alone we truly are
Coming into, leaving &
passing through the life of this world
so when illness, short of death
physical or mental, intrudes
we are shocked by our solitude
reminded we are alone even
in the presence of the other
and all the constructed togetherness
house, history and family
are all props in the play
& all of us but strolling players
not to disrespect the construct
which is our way of fighting entropy
creating meaning amongst disorder
we weave our fabric and let our flags
flutter in the winds of vicissitude
for friends and family to rally round
but in. the end, we are all
fallen soldiers in a battle
that nobody can win
Take the timely reminders
of essential solitude
to wrap your flag more tightly
around you & your loves
and Reaffirm the meanings
you choose to fight for…
© Andrew Wilson, 2024
Over at dVerse Poets Pub, Punam – paeansunplugged in OpenLinkNight offers us the chance to post a poem of our choice. This is one from my writing group after discussing and writing in the shadow of “February & my love is in another state” – by José Olivarez
