Friday, August 25, 2006

A Return to Tucson
By Don Iannone

Tucson,
Late August,
Rain,
Blistering sun,
Hot,
More rain,
Scorching sun,
Even hotter.

So begins--
the long
and almost lost replay
of earlier wild poetic adventures,
Just the sort of thing
for a hopelessly romantic 50-something
still possessed by good times,
fun friends,
and rock and roll.

Where did it all go?
The years,
The dancing,
and carrying on till two,
Pulling all those all-nighters
to write papers
and cram for exams,
All those candles--
burning out of control,
Wild flames--
shooting in all directions,
Tethered to roller coasters,
everyday was an adventure.

Life-shaping memories--
seemingly lost,
but then...
rushing back,
like the Columbia River Gorge,
while just standing there
at the sage-scented,
date palm-lined entrance
of the U of A campus.

I saw myself then--
back in 1969,
and now--
yes especially now,
My smile hasn't changed.
Deep down,
the same spark burns--
well into the night,
illuminating the path
I must follow.

All gray hair aside,
it's all the same--
inside me,
nothing has changed--
inside me.
And guess what?
I'm glad.

21 comments:

Molecular Turtle said...

Nice Poem:)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Molecular Turtle...you caught me in the revision process. No matter. Thanks anyway.

Margie said...

WOW!
I love this poem Don!
I feel very much the same ...
about not changing after years have passed!
And, you look great with that silver hair!
Wonderful imagery in this poem!

starry said...

Love this poem Don. we all have memories and sometimes when I look back I feel the same and I am also glad I stilll have that spark in me.

serenity said...

Don,
How true it is that no matter what the calendar tells us or the mirror shows us of that silver in our hair, we are unchanged on the inside; we are spirit beings that remain unaffected in that existence. Once again, a stunningly beautiful offering and gift to all of us, rich with imagery and flowing with heart and sincerity.

Blessings, peace, and joy to you....

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Starry Nights, Margie, and Serenity for your kind remarks. So much appreciated. Tucson is a place for me...magical!

PS: I started getting gray hair when I in my early twenties. As they say, so long as you have hair. LOL Seriously thank you. We are eternally young in our hearts. Invite that inner child out to play!

dumbdodi said...

Summer of '69
You are young at heart..may nothing change that ever

Anonymous said...

Just visited bonita's blog..She said....I get to play like a child, but converse like an adult....
Nothing more like that here,Don..Yup..you're one of the most admirable persons,i know in dis blog world..

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Dumbdodi and Gangadhar...thank you both for your kind comments. My best to both of you. Our inner child is always there--ready to play. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

Its that time of year again....

Dan said...

I'm glad, too!

Bob said...

I went to University about the same time as you. How the years fly! I love seeing old friends from that time. My taste in music has changed however!

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Rob, Anonymous, and Dan. Rob...so you like Country Western music now and used to like Classical in your college days? LOL

Dan...6 days and counting for you!

polona said...

enjoyed your time travel, don!
everything changes, yet the essence remains.
thank you!

Pat Paulk said...

Grey hair, gravity shifts,true, but, they all succumb to good ole rock an roll!! Enjoyed!!

Kathy Trejo said...

All gray hair aside,
it's all the same--
inside me,
nothing has changed--
inside me.
And guess what?
I'm glad.

perfect ending! :)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Kathy, Pat, and Polona. Much appreciated. Hope you are all well. Buried in work these days.

Jim said...

Really right on thoughts and feelings in this poem Don, as you put into them all, but this one is me quite a bit, everyday was an adventure, that candle burned hot, how did I ever do it? I don't know, so much energy, so much to do.

Life is still the adventure, calmer and more easy now, but still the same inside. Like you said.

Thanks. Stay with your studies, see ya later.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Jim. Keep your love light burning bright!!!

CE said...

At college I became converted to the C. S. Lewis brand of Christianity, became, baptist, pentecostal, spoke in tongues, fell in love and out of love. Adventure? Not much.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Imemine...thanks for sharing about yourself. Sounds like we had some similar experiences but at different points in our lives. I only speak in one tongue now: poetry! Blessings to you.

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