Poem(s) of the Week

I had an email conversation with my friend Joan this week. She said something along the lines of "I have no answers... only questions," which made me think of this first poem. I told her I'd try to find it and post it. So here it is. I added the second one because it seemed to sort of "go" with the first in some way. No idea why. They are both quite old. Unfortunately, I never had the good sense to date my poems, so I'm not sure when they were written. Before some of my readers were born, I suspect. God, I'm old.

It is not the knowing which matters
But the seeking after
The need to see the dark side of the moon
To touch the bottom of the sea
The answer always seems a little pale
A little disappointing
Beside the miracle of curiosity
But the riddle teases on and on
And we forget
That only the questions are real.

- Katherine E. Rabenau

~~~~~~~~~~

My reality is of my own making
But I forget, being human,
And wandering in vanished universes
Become confused
Succumb to moments
Instead of eternities
Believe in limits
Not limitlessness

My reality is of my own making
Moment by moment
I create my self
In shades of light and dark
Joy and sorrow -
But like an artist blindfolded
Refusing to concede her skill

My reality is of my own making
I sculpt my life
From thoughts and hopes and hidden fears
Molding and remolding
In search of some as yet unknown perfection

My reality is of my own making
A play continually in progress
Each actor working with a different script
Improvising as she goes along
To make the plot more interesting
Until some denouement can be achieved

My reality is of my own making
Although I close my eyes
And try to abnegate my power
It will not leave
But like a faithful lover
Awaits the ecstasy of mutual embrace.

- Katherine E. Rabenau

I added one of my favorite pictures of Angel here just because it seems in an indirect way, to go with the first poem. She is, after all, seeking answers.... seeking something, anyway...