Always Here in Heart
I am not at home in my place,
yet transplanted by choice.
Such is what the heart will do
to be fulfilled. And it is.
She will always be my muse; has been
since our eyes first met. Many times
the words I write have been
taken from the joy she brings.
I see the birds, am inspired
by cedar and oak, as I walk
along magnificent bluffs, paddle
on muddy rivers and streams.
But they are not the maples
I have known all my life.
Not the blue waters of great lakes,
nor mighty falls with their mist.
Yet happiness is mine, by choice.
One I would repeat again
and again. A choice made clear
when I was there and she was here.
The prompt from Gina for Poetics: your poetic hum asks about your life when you are not writing. How does it influence your writing? I moved from Western New York to mid-Missouri nearly seven years ago to be with someone special, and she is now my wife. I bought a house in October 2013, but it has only just occurred to me that, as much as I miss New York, I do consider Missouri my home.
Image: Autumn at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Missouri
rivrvlogr 
You are lucky to have your muse. Yes, a home is where our loved is.
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🙂 Thank you, Grace.
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Nice last two lines which explain well why the choice was made.
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Thanks, Frank.
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I’m thinking you are home. I get dis place.
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🙂 Thank you.
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Ah, life choices. Glad yours was a good one.
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It’s not where I expected to be ten years ago, but it’s where I expect to be, now.
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Love that life continues to throw us curves.
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moving cross country is scary and daunting at any time in life, I am so happy to read this beautiful story of you two. you chose happiness over everything else, that is brave and wise. i loved that line the most, it makes the entire poem more meaningful to me now. I also appreciate how you give full credit to your muse, confident poets and writers do that. thank you for participating in the prompt, you have brought a new perspective to the tanpura principle of writing.
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Thank you, Gina. I wasn’t sure if I could do anything with your prompt, But it was there as soon as I started writing. I blame my muse. 😉
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she should get some candy for being such a sweet and inspiring muse! i do think you have proved the theory right, the poetic beat is constant and in the background, it guided your pen.
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The power, mystery, and elation of love – wonderfully expressed Ken… excellent write!
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Thank you, Rob!
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“When I was there and she was here” struck such a cord with me. Beautiful write from a transplanted heart!
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😀 Thanks!
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I identify with your poem, Ken, especially:
‘Yet happiness is mine, by choice.
One I would repeat again
and again. A choice made clear
when I was there and she was here.’
My husband made a similar choice 26 years ago.
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Ah! Ain’t love grand?
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“Yet happiness is mine by choice”
YES…it is…
Blessings my friend…beautiful writing!
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Thank you, Lorrie. 🙂
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Wonderful to be fully “here”! I can relate as my heart was transplanted too…love is a delightful muse!
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You’ll get no argument from me!
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I think I could have guessed the source of your drone. And beautifully (as always) noted in verse. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. 🙂
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What a perfect inspiration… and it sounds like you are at home by now… sometimes roots grow faster.
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Thank you, Björn. Incentive makes all the difference.
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I really like how your choices allow you to adapt and find inspiration. Looks like a beautiful place! Congratulations on your new marriage!
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😀 Thanks!
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It’s not the things, the place or the house, it’s the person. I hope your muse continues to make you forget anything you might have given up.
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My muse has never been a distraction – more the main attraction.
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🙂
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a beautiful way to show your love for nature.
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🙂 Thank you.
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Beautifully expressed, Ken, and how wonderful that you feel this way.
I particularly like the final lines: “A choice made clear
when I was there and she was here.”
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Thank you, Merril.
That last line had an interesting effect that I don’t know if I’ve experienced before. It made me glad that I had written the poem that brought me to that line.
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Oh, that’s interesting–and really kind of wonderful.
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The beautiful side of life expressed so well. Bravo!
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Thanks!
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Beautiful, especially your closing stanza.
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Thank you, Jazz.
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My husband transplanted himself for love and it does come down to choice….the only one….haha. I live near the Great Lakes and I’m surrounded by maples but I do miss the canyons and mesas from his Land of Enchantment. I’m sure he does too.The heart has a mind of it’s own.
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Yes it does!
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