“When did you know you were lost?”
he asked. And I said, Is it wrong to feel
my life’s work is a vacation? Have I
succumbed to worldly temptation?
Once I thought I could spend my whole
life in endless farmland, open
prairie I knew like the back of my hand
and the flock (barring the occasional
black sheep) was mostly of a type—
familiar gifts, familiar sins. Then
I got the Call and found myself
here, all Europe at my feet: London,
Paris, Rome, beaches, mountains,
and my home overlooks a vineyard.
The wine is red and good. God help me
sometimes I feel I shut my ears
to all else, will be unable to hear
even the still, small voice,
the amazing grace.
I like both of these “siren songs” very much! “When did you know you were lost?” Excellent. You have many layers in this one…
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed. Usually when I first read these prompts, I think, yikes, I got nothin’. But then they percolate…
You must be up early?! Or up late??
LikeLike
A little of both 🙂 “percolate”…I love it!
LikeLike
I agree with Jetgirlcos and love the first line/question and the last sentence.
God help me
sometimes I feel I shut my ears
to all else, will be unable to hear
even the still, small voice,
the amazing grace.
Thank you Jennifer!
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
I love how these two poems work together, how they bring more out of each other. Great job!
LikeLike
Thank you. Maybe I’m trying to poke at this “temptation” thing from some different angles, too. 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful writing, pulls the reader in–and I wanted it to keep going.
LikeLike
Oh, thank you! What a nice thing to say!
LikeLike
This is perfectly beautiful. It’s warm and welcoming–like buttery caramel and coffee. That’s probably an odd metaphor…but, it’s what comes to mind when I read something I really like and want to savor.
I can’t wait to read Siren Song No. 1!
LikeLike
So sweet, thanks so much. I love caramel and coffee…and buttery anything. 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful poem. You’re so lucky to be living in Europe.
LikeLike
Thank you, and yes, I agree! We take visitors. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha. 🙂 I’ll be right over. 😉 (just kidding, though I’d really like to live in Germany like you.) 🙂
LikeLike
Two lovely poems! I like that you kept the song going; both of them are in such a wonderful, tumbling and rhythmic style.
LikeLike
Oh, I like that–“tumbling and rhythmic style.” Thanks for your comment!
LikeLike
Loving life’s work so much that it feels like a vacation is a blessing. Amazing grace, indeed 🙂
LikeLike
Agreed, 100%!
LikeLike
This was beautiful and the imagery…just amazing.
LikeLike
Thanks so much!
LikeLike
You have a multitude of emotions working together here, and they are all easily accessible to the reader. We never forget where we grew up, even if we move thousands of miles away, do we?
LikeLike
“Accessible”–thank you for that! Yes, “home” is definitely always part of us.
LikeLike
I love the whole thing, but those last five lines are perfection. Wonderful take on the prompts, Jennifer! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Suzanne! Your super comment makes me smile!
LikeLike
I love how the first question turns into something more. This is a great work! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, what a lovely comment. Being “lost” does conjure so many possibilities!
LikeLike
I really like the musical, rhythmic quality of your writing – it carries the reader along. Btw I’m intrigued as to what “the Call” was. Is that explained in another poem?
LikeLike
Hey, thanks for your comment! I was thinking of our pastor over here, and his “Divine Call” to serve in the church…that’s why I went with the capital C (but have been second-guessing my choice every time I read this again. It kinda sticks out?).
LikeLike
Oh no, the capitalisation underlines its significance, that’s all, which is why I wondered about it – could be a divine call, or love, family, vocation, etc. I think the capital C makes it clear that a single, particular event is being referred to and so is entirely justified.
LikeLike
I was just talking to my friend who married and moved to Sweden about these same themes of expatriotism. You wrote about them to great affect, Jennifer!
LikeLike
Sweden, very cool. Certainly lots to think about on that theme…thanks so much for your comment!
LikeLike
This is both strong and lovely. To me, it reads like a fable from the great Paulo Coelho. I really enjoyed this.
LikeLike
Fable, I like that…and now I have another author to explore, thanks!
LikeLike
So beautiful — guilt, joy, temptation in between the lines. You are such a good poet, Jennifer. I don’t think you should second guess the Call — it was a signal for me, anyway.
LikeLike
Thanks for the encouragement, Meg. I truly appreciate it, coming from a writer I respect so much!
LikeLike
…internal rhyme scheme… **faints**
LikeLike
🙂 *administers smelling salts*
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this! Very well written – now I have to go look for Siren Song No. 1
LikeLike
Thank you…a couple different takes, but somehow (in my mind) related.
LikeLike