Poem: A Yesterday (Harry/Ginny, G)

[ginger_veela]

I suck, because I still haven't finished my hg_silverlining  songfic On A Night Like This, but I went ahead and signed up for the hpgw_otp  Passage of Time Challenge.  Don't ask me why I do this to myself.  I have no idea.

Anyway, here's my submission, inspired (sort of) by Dan Radcliffe's pseudo-anonymously published poems recently come to light.  I totally bent the rules -- for one thing, it's supposed to be either a piece of art or 500-2000 words of fiction, and this is neither.  I'm not even really sure what this is.  Eh, whatever.

 

A Yesterday

 

If I could live a yesterday

It wouldn’t be the day we met, the day

It all began, my world, my brand-new life

Ginger plaits and bright brown eyes

That saw instantly what took me years

To see – that you belonged with me

And I with you – fast footfalls fading

From view, laughing, crying, running

Toward the train, the boy who sped away

 

If I could live a yesterday

It wouldn’t be the day we kissed, the day

I overcame my fears, and took the chance

I’d missed for weeks and months and years

Through timing, luck and circumstance,

Mad monster in my chest.  You ran to me,

Your lips met mine, a sweet and fierce elation

For minutes, hours, several sunlit days

And then – applause, a twofold celebration

 

If I could live a yesterday

It wouldn’t be the day I left, the day

I walked away from you, each pace

A knife inside my gut, a twisting pain

My one best source of comfort, safe

The only thought that gave me strength

To meet my fate – the bitter cold, long nights

That followed, battles won, and then

You found your way to me, and I to you again

 

If I could live a yesterday

It wouldn’t be the day we wed, the day

I took your hands in mine, our bodies

Fasted magically together, bound for life

Your lucky husband, you, my lovely wife

The start of all that ever mattered, the notion

Of my one true calling shattered – not to

Save the world, but spend my life with you

A finer purpose no man ever knew

 

If I could live a yesterday

It wouldn’t be the day our first was born, the day

Our lives turned topsy-turvy for the better

Through years of sleepless nights and days

Of nappies, skinned knees, kisses, hugs and laughter

Our life completed, two sons and a daughter

A dream come true I never could surmise

Defying war and death and lightning scar

A family of my own, the sweetest prize

 

No – if I could live a yesterday

It would be the day passed one day now

I smoothed the white hair from your wrinkled brow,

Your warm brown eyes gone blind. We talked

About the full, rich life we’ve lived, the love we’ve shared,

The joy our children and grandchildren bring,

How we wouldn’t change a single thing.

I kissed your face, your beauty unsurpassed,

And held your hand until you breathed your last.



 

Comments

[katwoman-68.livejournal.com]

That was really beautiful.

I saw you had a new post and my first thought was Yay, the songfic. But then there was this little gem instead. This is great.

And a work of art can be many things. A poem can qualify.

~~~
now, get back to work on your songfic or next AS/S story. BTW, the story I sent you, my beta (the fabulous Mel) has it now so I will be posting it at some point soon.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. Glad you liked it.

Now I'm going to take a shower. And then work on my damned songfic. I'm going to finish that fucker if it's the last thing I do! Hee hee.

And how COOL is it that you're posting your two-and-a-half margarita story! Can't wait!

[katwoman-68.livejournal.com]

how about this: You aren't allowed to look at Brian Molko anymore until you finish it? Would that give you incentive? Then you could stare at him to your hearts content, once it's complete.

Just promise me one thing: don't change your current (adam) icon for a brian one. Adam really seems to be right for Al. Well, change your icon if you want, but don't name the next one Al.

Oh, and Jane said she'd read my story! She wasn't going to, but then Mel and I both told her it was canon-compliant.

Maybe that's too harsh? Here's some virtual chocolate!

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Okay, fine. You can take away my Brian Molko -- when you can pry him out of my cold, dead fingers.

Just kidding. All right, it's a deal. No Molko-scoping until I'm DONE.

Thanks for the chocolate. Got any virtual booze?

Okay, now I'm off to shower. Seriously.

[hitokirichapin.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful. I love how each stanza (is that what each part is called?) relates to an important time in their lives. Nice work.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it.

[sunshine1112.livejournal.com]

Beautiful poem!

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I just finished Chapter 5, btw...pm'ing and e-mailing you shortly...

[turkeyish.livejournal.com]

this is so lovely. :)

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :D

[mhersheybar.livejournal.com]

wow - what a beautiful poem. For some reason, reading about Harry and Ginny's end of life always makes me sad, even where they've lived full and happy lives - but it's a good sad.

Great job, and I think it fits perfectly within the challenge parameters.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad you liked it. I've contemplated writing an end-of-life fic for H/G, but yeah, it's almost too sad to go there. I kind of think this poem covers that subject enough for me.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!

[ginny88.livejournal.com]

You summed up well all the beautiful memorable moments of H/G's life in a poem! Nowadays, it's rare story telling form, and I love it! Well done :-) a happy ending coz they've live a full life, but sad coz she's gone now.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I haven't written poetry in ages; it was a fun departure for me. I'm really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.

[pokie4389.livejournal.com]

Aww that was so sad and beautiful! Great H/G moments-- very touching! Great job!

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed!

[rumpelsnorcack.livejournal.com]

That was gorgeous! I love the moments he thinks of while deciding which yesterday he would relive. It was lovely and poignant, and a little sad.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[ginevrawp.livejournal.com]

I am at a loss of words here. I found your poem to be so lovely, so loving, and I feel as if my words just can't be enough to describe all the levels in which your work made me all happy and tingly inside. I love how you raised the bar in this challenge and it will be an honour to have my fic resting alongside your beautiful artwork!

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a nice comment! Thank you so much for all your kind words. I look forward to reading your fic when it's ready.

And btw, I LOVE your icon!

[blueeyedgrl.livejournal.com]

Just ... wow. That was beautiful and magical and fit Harry and Ginny so perfectly.

Loved this and can't wait for more of your song fic!

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Glad you liked it. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

And btw, the next chapter of my songfic is here: http://paukenfrau.livejournal.com/15816.html

[emmacmf.livejournal.com]

Poetry really isn't my thing - not even when the ever awesome DanRad writes it, sorry Dan - but that really was beautiful.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! G-rated *anything* isn't usually my thing, either. Glad it worked for you.

[lemaljumellen.livejournal.com]

Beautiful poem! The language flowed together brilliantly. It always makes me so sad when Harry or Ginny die, even if they've had a long and wonderful life together :( hahah. Really wonderful job, I love how you decided to write a poem instead of the usual story or piece of artwork, very unique :D

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I haven't written poetry in ages, but this is what the muses decided it was going to be. I'm glad you liked it.

[r-becca.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful! I love the way you used the prompt to take us through all these different moments in their life together -- I think my favorite is the first section, especially the line bright brown eyes / That saw instantly what took me years / To see. It's a great depiction of their first meeting in hindsight.

I know you were worried about going outside the bounds of the challenge, but I think this is great. Our challenge rules aren't really set in stone anyway, and it's always fun to have something different. :)

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've only ever written R- and X-rated poetry -- oh, let's be honest, I've only ever written R- and X-rated anything -- so this was strange new territory for me. To misquote your other fandom, I boldly went where I'd never gone before. :D

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and commenting.

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful--what an excellent poem. *sobs*

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hands you hanky*

[ladywhizbee.livejournal.com]

Just gorgeous! I'm at a loss for words, it's just so beautifully done.

Each verse is just so stunningly beautiful in its own way. I particularly love all the direct references to the Harry we know from the books--'bright brown eyes', 'sunlit days', 'best source of comfort'--just to name a few. What a perfect tone you've set--it's made me all nostalgic!

I really, really love this. Well done.

[ginger-veela.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a nice comment! Thank you very much.

To be honest, I was wary of doing this. It could have been either good or horribly cheesy. I'm glad you thought it was the former!