All which, because it was
flame and song and granted us
joy, we thought we'd do, be, revisits
turns out to have been what it was
that 'once' only; every initiation
did not begin
a series, a build-up: the marvelous
did happen in our lives, our stories
are not drab with it's absence: but don't
expect now to return for more. Whatever more
there will be will be
unique as those were unique. Try
to acknowledge the next
song in its body-halo of flame as utterly
present, as now or never.
"Only Once"
by Denise Levertov
Note: poem was part of Rhonda Miles "Somewhere Between" entry at the Del Mar Fair / Fine Arts / 2nd place | 6/30/2011