Poetry Sunday

As you all know, and as many of you have experienced, I like to write long and chatty letters. Postcards are condensed letters - the few notes we write on the back of a small card to say things like wish you were here or you really ought to see this or I miss you. They aren't quite the same as a full-up letter, but they fulfill much of the same function: a message, written by hand, that provides a tangible connection between people who care about each other enough to take the time to put pen to paper. Or a picture card. Whatever. This short poem by Wendy Cope reminds us of the magic of written communication and the desire of friends to remain in touch.

Postcards 

by Wendy Cope 

At first I sent you a postcard
From every city I went to.
Grüsse aus Bath, aus Birmingham,
Aus Rotterdam, aus Tel Aviv.
Mit Liebe. Cards from you arrived
In English, with many commas.
Hope, you’re fine and still alive,
Says one from Hong Kong. By that time
We weren’t writing quite as often.
Now we’re nearly nine years away
From the lake and the blue mountains,
And the room with the balcony,
But the heat and light of those days
Can reach this far from time to time.
Your latest was from Senegal,
Mine from Helsinki. I don’t know
If we’ll meet again. Be happy.
If you hear this, send a postcard.


Have a good day. If you'd like a postcard from my next travel destination, or a personal letter now, let me know. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo