God jumps in first with a belly flop.
But everything God does is beautiful, and this starts all of creation.
Just don’t tell this to the Abyss.
Not that you can. Be certain of this. You can’t.
Next the swimmers, tattoos of birds on their bodies, in search of fish,
Along the roads in the air of October the first frost between their teeth,
As the sky unfurls into handfuls of dusk.
At night, the moon is the butterfly on the city stoop,
Crayon crossed out by crayon.
The wind is the blueprint, said the parachute.
And the Earth is our wind. The sunlight is both even and odd.
I purchase sheet music, and some boxes,
Because my head is cluttered
With the snow
Falling into the street lamps,
With unsighted poems and handfuls of dusk.
What else can I do?
In this city, and this poem like a periscope. And
When beauty hurts, when it is ugly, ferociously so, and it will be,
Try a belly flop in the neighborhood pool.
Mouthing your every adieu to the Abyss.
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Jesus Christ, Bob. If you’re not careful you’re going to make poetry more popular than food. Hold my Abyss for a minute, I have to go find a pool.
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Thank you Andy. You’re comment make me smile. Much appreciated!
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This is fantastic.
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Thank you!
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This is wonderful. Will leave me with a memory.
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked it.
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This is really something special. I am reminded of many things, but it’s also just very much its own great thing. “What else can I do” made me think of Rilke.
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Thanks!
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[…] Neighborhood Pool by Bob Whiteside. […]
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Thanks Chris.
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Aces, Bob!
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Thanks Nick, glad you liked it!
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Unique thought, beautiful it is!
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I’m glad you think so. Thank you.
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“God jumps in first with a belly flop.
But everything God does is beautiful, and this starts all of creation.
Just don’t tell this to the Abyss.
Not that you can. Be certain of this. You can’t.”
But the whole poem ❤ Everything about this poem is exquisite.
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Thank you Sunra! I’m very glad you think so.
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