The Long Reach

[dafydd manton]

I shouted,
But the birds just lifted off,
Fluttered, settled again,
Uncaring,
Vaguely unconcerned.

I waved,
But the onlookers all thought it was trivial,
Merely that I was drowning.

I signalled frantically
But every dot and dash
Ended up as a heartbeat
On a distant beach,
Lost in the grains of sand.

I tried semaphore,
But the gaudy flags
Melded with some horizon.

I thought of trying to phone,
But that cold, blue screen
Would only glow,
Wasted,
In the dark of your night.

My message in a bottle fell into the wrong hand.
Hers, not yours,
And was discarded with a laugh.

I've reached across,
Minute by minute
To touch your hand.

Was that a fingertip, or merely
A passing wish?

[PrinceMyshkin]

Beautiful ending to a very touching poem. Thanks.

[Maryd.]

Oh my sir... Very touching and beautiful... Lovely.

[dafydd manton]

Thank you both, so much.

[symphony]

The helplessness cried out from the beginning. But it was the steady progression to this:

I've reached across,
Minute by minute
To touch your hand.

Was that a fingertip, or merely
A passing wish?
that made the poem beautiful for me. Great ending, and also my favorite part in the poem.

[dafydd manton]

Thank you. Do you know, I wrote this at about 5 this morning, when I couldn't sleep, and I can't actually believe I wrote it at all. Strange!

[hillwalker]

A touching piece, daf. Romantic, yet with a certain dot dot dash of wry humour (and even a passing reference to Stevie Smith).

[dafydd manton]

Sorry, Hill, there you have me, with the reference to Stevie Smith. You'll have to explain that one to a thick Saes!

[hillwalker]

Duw, boyo. Haven't you ever read that wonderful poem 'Not Waving But Drowning'?

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=7089

[symphony]

Thank you. Do you know, I wrote this at about 5 this morning, when I couldn't sleep, and I can't actually believe I wrote it at all. Strange!

HAH tell me about it!
Sometimes a poem passes like that passing wish you talk so well about in that poem. You dont even always pen those down. When you do...well, it's always wonderfully strange to come back to those later on and realize with surprise that you ever even felt like that, let alone write it all out.

[dafydd manton]

Duw, boyo. Haven't you ever read that wonderful poem 'Not Waving But Drowning'?

http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=7089

Bingo! Of course!

[dafydd manton]

HAH tell me about it!
Sometimes a poem passes like that passing wish you talk so well about in that poem. You dont even always pen those down. When you do...well, it's always wonderfully strange to come back to those later on and realize with surprise that you ever even felt like that, let alone write it all out.

What a lovely explanation. I hadn't really thought that far ahead, but you're more than probably right. Thanks for that.

[Delta40]

I think this a beautiful emphasis on issues of communication.

[dafydd manton]

Thanks, Delta. I try very hard not to get too serious, but sometimes..............well, sometimes, there's somebody.........................Oh! You'll know!

[Jerrybaldy]

Daffy. funny, I too thought of 'Not waving but drowning' also. Was great Daf. I think your old tally of two is going to grow and grow here.
Cheers mate

[dafydd manton]

Cheers Jerry, I appreciate the thought!

[Bar22do]

This one, Dafy, moved me deeply! When you give up trying to be funny, your genuine voice is the finest Poet! Many thanks for this poem, a real experience:

I've reached across,
Minute by minute
To touch your hand.

Was that a fingertip, or merely
A passing wish?

is sublime.

[dafydd manton]

Thank you so much for that, Bar. I truly am flattered. I've been writing so-called funny stuff fur ages, but I'd never had the courage to try anything serious until recently. I still don't feel 100% comfortable with it, because I'm not that keen on giving too much about myself away. Being stupid is easier, somehow. Now you've said that, though, I'm having a re-think. Watch this space.

[Jerrybaldy]

Daffy. splash yourself all over the page. Dr Pepper. Whats the worse that can happen?

[dafydd manton]

a) Make a total berk of myself.
b) Embarrass myself.
c) Alienate one or two special people.
d) Upset Matron.
e) Mnk.

[Jerrybaldy]

a) you are a poet for Godsake
b) refer to a)
c) eggs omlettes
d) she loves you
e) all goons would

[neilgee]

Love it, Dafydd.

The way you create the sense of isolation that is unique to everyone, but make it individual. Brilliant.