I was thinking this morning of that wonderful love poem by D.H.Lawrence, The Elephant Is Slow to Mate, which meant a great deal to me the last time I attempted such, back in 2000. (I must be part elephant, I might manage it by ninety, at the rate I'm going!) I was reflecting on how the solitary and peaceful heart is loathe to trade in its serenity for the roller-coaster ride of love, generally fraught with alternating mania and angst, at least in my admittedly limited experience. So these few lines arrived in time for me to tap them onto the screen. Wild Woman's Advice for the Aging Lovelorn, hee hee.
The aging heart will take its time
in choosing one with whom to rhyme.
In search of comfort and succor,
it finds it needs contentment more.
It loves its slow and steady beat.
When that is threatened, it retreats.
No more a plunging over falls.
It's tired now. It needs four walls.
If you would woo an aging one,
shine strong and steady like the sun.
Be patient. Plant love's little seed.
Grow it with kindness in word and deed.
Maybe, a slow heart
will be freed,
and to the suitor will concede......
if promised a love
that doesnt bleed.
Haha! I am so totally with you on this. I love that you rhymed this as if to show how comfortable it could be.
ReplyDeleteSo very true, Sherry. Definitely nothing I can add or disagree with. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good poem, Sherry, full of truth and promise. I have always liked elephants.
ReplyDeleteah but just imagine all that passion you will have saved up when you do....smiles...when young we are quick to love and think little of it...i think the wisdom comes in the slowness later on...
ReplyDeleteoh how serene and heartfelt. I enjoyed every line. love the words used. Just pretty-cutey
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet advice ~ Wooing sure takes time for aging heart but surely love makes us all feel young inside, smiles ~
ReplyDeleteYou want one that doesn't bleed but isn't anemic? Worth hunting for.
ReplyDeleteYou are very right in this... So much that this warm love can give without getting burned.. And building a passion slowly make sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe in any of that...it only exists in the movies or on poetry blogs. At any stage in your life men are always a pain in the arse. It's the nature of the beast:)
ReplyDeleteha ha, I am often of the same opinion! I was just aiming for whimsy here! Tired old elephant heart that I am.
DeleteSweet. There is a nice rhythm to it and I also liked the rhymes. :-)
ReplyDelete-HA
Beautiful. I think we should all take the time to savour the process of falling in love. :)
ReplyDeletecute, sweet and wise :)
ReplyDeleteThats a cute one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful perspective you bring to the ancient dilemma. Much wisdom here, and so artfully rendered!
ReplyDeleteSteve K.
Agree with Steve. A lovely sage poem; the rhyme and cadence work so well. K.
ReplyDeleteand if all that fails, apparently resthomes are hot beds of sexual proclivity ;P
ReplyDeleteI have always figured that's where I'd meet him!
Delete...smile, when your heart is aching.
ReplyDeletethe four walls should be the sky, the earth, the oceans, the forests.
lovely piece, mi amiga
"smile when your heart is aching"......that is my theme song, kiddo!
Delete....and I LOVE the walls being the earth and sky, ocean and forest!
DeleteLuv your wit, luv your rhyme, Luvnyour reason,
ReplyDeleteHave a nice Sunday
Much love
There are many kinds of love. :)
ReplyDeleteSlowly and gracefully can be most rewarding. Love can certainly be given time to be nurtured! Great write Sherry!
ReplyDeleteHank
"The aging heart will take its time / in choosing one with whom to rhyme"---lovely, lovely lines i will treasure from you, Sherry. When heart grows old, the wiser one get, the braver one feels. The wisdom we earn from time & countless misery laughs are what will define our hearts true desire---to love more or be loved more. Smiles. Thank you for the poem.
ReplyDeleteVery cute and nice..:)
ReplyDeletesmlies... i think it's good when love takes its time...and not only when old... it's good to slow down to cherish and let those emotions time to develop
ReplyDeleteOh yes, there comes a time when one needs the quiet life :-)
ReplyDeleteloved the elephant poem - not sure I had read before - so thank you for that! And love does take time - at any age - wonderful! K
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Sherry. As your contemporary, but also as someone who married every 20 years whether I needed to or not, I must say it didn't work out well at 20 or at 40, but at 60 it seems this elephant was finally ready. Hasn't been perfect, by any means, because I was a contented elephant before I moved to Alberta, and am a growly old one now. LOL
ReplyDeleteLove your poem, though.
K
Well elephants have a long memory and don't get over hurt easily . . . . Ironic though that courting when the years ahead are few takes so much longer than when the years ahead are plentiful . . .
ReplyDeletei can almost relate to your poem... its beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteLike a fine old wine, love should not be rushed. Love your wise words Sherry.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
Used to have a friend and when we would spend an evening together, we would often end up speaking about how we were far too selfish to do that love and sharing thing again. I think we had the wrong word. We'd both been to hell and back in marriage. We were not selfish, we were self-preserving (a bit late, but always essential). I will now wish for both us (meaning you and I) for a love that fully understands and accepts that second definition, and still loves despite how selfish it might appear.
ReplyDeleteInstead of "falling" in love You remind me that we should and we will "rise" in love. :-)
ReplyDeleteLoved your piece and your intro...
ZQ
Quite a bit of wisdom in those words Sherry, so much truth love is not something to be rushed and the wait is well worth the time. Great write
ReplyDeleteHere's to love that doesn't bleed, Sherry! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteSherry another great poem..I enjoyed the rhymes as well it gives it a carefree heart..Hope you are doing well my friend..
ReplyDeleteWow, Sherry! Your rhyming pattern and the subject amazes me. Yes, there is so much to learn with love and your words remind us-to wait!
ReplyDeleteI love the elephant reference-beautifully done~
Whimsical and wise - a lovely combination. And great job on the rhyming scheme.
ReplyDeletewise woman, indeed ~
ReplyDelete