Resistance
Monday, September 6, 2010 at 04:56PM This poem was modeled after Robert Graves Counting the Beats and was written in
In Memory of Noor Inayat Khan and all those who still resist
One pale break, love
(they touch fingers) one pale break
“Will we meet tomorrow?” one pale break
Is this one last break
Counting the stops
Counting the dark train stops
The flagellation of time, in dark train stops
Parting always tempts fate
Wait for the door
Blank-faced, wait for the door
Soldiers smoke and laugh, wait, wait for the door
Why that double-take?
Where will you be
(she whispers) where will you be
If I’m still free tomorrow, where will you be
No gloves, her hands ache
I will be waiting
Rue de Sang, I’ll be waiting
In the alley, behind the café, I’ll be waiting
Smile, love, for my sake
Counting the stops
Counting the dark train stops
The flagellation of time, in dark train stops
Parting always tempts Fate
Reader Comments (1)
Perfect, you play to your strengths in historical storytelling - what's more, your confidence in your art and ability is growing, and it shows! Wonderfully executed, making great use of Robert Graves' original rhythm and rhyme structure, this commemoration of the British operative who was a staunch supporter of the French resistance is a remarkable imagining. Punctuated with beautiful moments - I especially like "Counting the stops / Counting the dark train stops" which manages to be at once lyrical, and yet ominous. Beautiful poem.