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empty

 

 

 

 

 

among sagging trees

bowed and heavy with fruit

a house now sits empty

rushing streams restless
on the stones of their beds

against bright night sky


silent crows circle

the sharply pitched gables  

mistaking life for moonlight
off eastern windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author notes

For Tim Russert 1950-2008



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Comments

1 - 43 of 43
  • Alpha-Q
    September 30
    Edit | Reply
    I like the title.


  • norah
    September 27
    ?
    Edit | Reply
    The first two lines remind me of a poem I've written myself - yes, branches: heavy with the weight of fruits and flowers... you have your own special way of saying things. That is what makes your writing splendid. It reflects so well here.


  • DogFish silver member
    September 13

    Edit | Reply
    The poem is strikingly beautiful in its own right!
    But how much more poignant with your dedication!!


  • LiMarie silver member
    August 24
    Edit | Reply
    Beautiful and poignant


  • XxYoru-OkamixX
    August 10
    Edit | Reply
    this is very pretty. i love the imagery.

  • Gwenevere
    August 9
    Edit | Reply
    Only 58.So sad.An expressive poem as a tribute, Ros

  • poetryality silver member
    August 5

    Edit | Reply
    I was a fan of Tim Russert's. As I sat pregnant with my last child, I watched Meet The Press faithfully. I was saddened, and completely taken aback when I learned of his sudden death.

    "a house now sits empty"

    Yes it does! I feel the absence. I watched the memorial service eight times on MSNBC, and finally realized what the world had lost with his untimely death.

    Thansk for this AJ.



    Much Love ♥

    Renee


  • Cannonsfire silver member
    July 31

    Edit | Reply
    I heard the news report but never knew him, but this tells a story so I don't need to know him at all, I just met him and I am sad too. Love, C


  • dp robertson
    July 30
    Edit | Reply
    this is just one beautiful piece of writing


  • Perfect Insanity
    July 25

    Edit | Reply
    This piece is rich with imagery, which, of course, serves to illustrate the title; empty. There is a lot more veiled behind your words than what is displayed upon here. The format in its simplicity allows for the reader to take in piece by piece to be completed as a whole by the last stanza. The last line is brilliant in its emptiness... Very sad.


  • Erica Carnea
    July 9

    Edit | Reply
    your such a beautiful writer its amazing i love your poems i take lessons of you anyday!
    love always
    Erica Carnea


  • sandybeaches gold member
    July 9

    Edit | Reply
    This poem really makes one feel the sense of missing what is no longer there. Very beautiful. ***Pam***


  • Suzanne Dia gold member
    July 8
    Edit | Reply


  • james119
    July 3
    Edit | Reply
    one of the best I've read to date...


  • Namita silver member
    June 29

    Edit | Reply
    amazing - you're just the most amazing writer ever, Al. Excellent one. I love the closing lines- very beautiful.

    ~ Namita


  • Amarige
    June 26

    Edit | Reply
    Beautiful dedication to Tim Russert. Wonderful imagery through the whole piece..I am sure he will be missed
    Ruby


  • Nature Song silver member
    June 24

    Edit | Reply
    Nice dedication to Tim. Silent as the night's sky, the crows circle the pitched gables. Devoid of life, under the moonlite sky. Creative and so full of imagery. ~Sie

  • pithyaplomb
    June 22

    Edit | Reply
    awesomed tribute for Tim! It just doesn't get any better than these thoughts of solace.


  • Gwenevere
    June 22

    Edit | Reply
    I don't know of this person but it seems he will be sorely missed.A descriptive write which like the tree is laden with sadness, Ros

  • Whoochi gold member
    June 22

    Edit | Reply
    Awesome tribute...he would be so proud..he definitely will be missed....love the feeling..Once again your words give me goosebumps....

  • Apparition
    June 21

    Edit | Reply

    Incomparable

    How deep you dug, grief must have helped loosened the soil. (Taking nothing away from your innate talent)
    This seems so personal. Tim really drew viewers inside making you feel as if you were in a chair at the table just observing. Thanks for saying what so many feel, but would have trouble expressing.
    I'm sorry this sounds so left handed, but I was in awe
    of your expressiveness and imagery.


  • jantastic
    June 20
    Edit | Reply
    remarkable


  • zochit2me gold member
    June 18

    Edit | Reply
    You take a very sad moment and make history with your words. How sad to have lost an icon on Sunday mornings...so so sad indeed. You have a magic like no other Al...no other! The images were brought to life here.

    Becky


    • AJ Morelli gold member
      June 18
      Edit | Reply
      that was an incredibly nice thing to say Becky, thank you...


      al

  • ArtFullyMe gold member
    June 16

    Edit | Reply

    Is it just me? I swear with each post you continue to refine an already amazing skill.
    The brevity, never removes a thing for me, contrary to what others might say, instead it adds and adds.

    Your eye is so damn sharp.

  • Desiree Darkk
    June 15

    Edit | Reply
    No one makes it to the halls of congress or 1600 Pennsylvania Ave without going through Tim Russert first. He will be sorely missed

    though I do have a suggestion for his replacement ... Chris Matthews.

    Go Bills

    Desiree


    • AJ Morelli gold member
      June 15
      Edit | Reply
      I think Chris Matthews is probably the first in line for the job, no doubt... if it is him, he will have very big shoes to fill... today's meet the press was so incredibly sad, i cried a few times, at one point tom brokaw welled up and could barely continue and mike barnicle jumped in to let him regain his composure... america has lost one of its best, but his family's loss must be simply enormous...

      thanks Des

  • account disabled
    June 15
    Edit | Reply

    .


  • Rowan gold member
    June 15
    Edit | Reply
    I love the stark imagery of the bird...
    excellent.


  • Dalaney gold member
    June 15

    Edit | Reply
    i don't know...Sunday morning is definitely not going to be the same...he was a brilliant commentator, and he made sense out of a very confusing world. Very well done. Love, Lane


  • April Renee
    June 15
    Edit | Reply
    very nice. enjoyed.

    blu

  • Michael P
    June 15
    Edit | Reply
    wonderful


  • katfair
    June 14

    Edit | Reply
    lovely sad tribute to that moonlit emptiness
    that hovers over the emptiness in a family when one is subtracted
    just like that
    just like that
    you capture the heaviness of loss well here al, kat


  • ardentMarch gold member
    June 14

    Edit | Reply
    I see people with the imagery of sagged, bowed & heavy with fruit, like mourning/grieving...and yes...it is the people that fill a house, not only his or family's...but all the houses he filled..the last two stanzas make me think of disbelief...this is beautifully written, Al


  • Cvillelisa
    June 14

    Edit | Reply


    I keep thinking about Big Russ. Who told him? How is he? He must be broken hearted. The best story I think I heard yesterday was the one Howard Fineman told about having dinner with Tim a few weeks ago and Tim getting up and taking phone calls -- not business but the people who he arranged to drop in on his dad and cook him dinner -- all without his father ever knowing that Tim had arranged it, letting his pop keep his dignity.

    And of course his kid Luke and his wife...

    the rushing streams stanza is quite good.

    Sad news but such an amazing legacy he will have..

    Lisa


  • Nicolette gold member
    June 14

    Edit | Reply
    Sad but so beautifully written, Al...

    there is nothing as empty as an empty house...it is death itself and this poem shows us exactly that...

    wonderful poetry...

    ~ Nicolette


  • mantis180
    June 14
    Edit | Reply
    Its beautiful, AJ... almost makes me want to cry all over again with the imagery... stunning piece.


  • Zayra Yves gold member
    June 13
    Edit | Reply


  • Arzab
    June 13

    Edit | Reply
    This had nice imagery in it, but also the parts of the empty house and the part of the crow seemed to bring a hint of sadness or loneliness to the poem. Well written, though. Keep that pen flowing.

  • celadia
    June 13

    Edit | Reply
    I almost don't know what to think of this except I like it, I don't know, is this the delusions of life or the uselessness of it, it's all up to interpretation. Each word was in it's proper place, I felt, it is all good.

  • Cat gold member
    June 13

    Edit | Reply
    i've been so sad all day-
    each time oberman chokes up
    each time andrea mitchell tears up
    each time i think of big russ

    each time i try to imagine
    an election of this magnitude without his grace and level head

    but mostly each time i try and decide how i'm going to make sunday morning coffee feel like sunday morning coffee without him

1 - 43 of 43