For Rommy’s prompt at Real Toads, Words to Live By. I read this in my early teens. These words have held my mind all these years.
Like the Waters
I heard the old, old, men say ‘all that’s beautiful drifts away, like the waters.’
William Butler Yeats
We cast the ashes of our regrets
into the waters.
We cast the ashes of our sorrows
into the waters.
We cast the ashes of our dreams
into the waters.
All of our beauties we cast into the waters.
They ride the currents to the ocean
and become one with it.
We watch them drift away from us,
we say goodbye and look up at the sky.
The clouds drift by in the water
of the sky and drown themselves
in the horizon.
kanzen sakura 
Dec 02, 2019 @ 17:49:45
Hopefully the ashes will find more peace in the water than they did during their restless sojourns on earth.
Dec 02, 2019 @ 18:11:15
I am sure they will. And who is to say the ashes are restless?
Dec 02, 2019 @ 18:14:56
Melancholy and moody in a sadly lovely way, Toni.
Dec 02, 2019 @ 18:15:34
Thank you Shay
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Dec 02, 2019 @ 19:02:09
…. ashes to ashes. Lovely write.
Dec 02, 2019 @ 19:30:19
Regrets and sorrows have their own sort of beauty, even as we let them go.
Dec 02, 2019 @ 20:36:15
We may change but we should never forget what we have done and been proud of it.
Dec 03, 2019 @ 04:23:31
I fell in love with Yeats a long time ago and, when I first moved to Ireland, I immersed myself in his work. His words are very Irish. I like the repetition in this poem, Toni, like ripples and waves running through the lines. My favourite lines are:
‘The clouds drift by in the water
of the sky and drown themselves
in the horizon.’
Dec 03, 2019 @ 07:57:19
I fell in love with Yeats a year after I fell in love with T.S.Eliot. yes his words are very Irish. He was quite a man.
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Dec 03, 2019 @ 10:19:01
All our experiences become part of the ocean of our lives. And like rain, they come back to us. When we are very lucky–and more than slightly stubborn–the bad stays drowned… and we are cleansed and refreshed by the new precipitation.
Dec 03, 2019 @ 10:19:26
Also, I love that this reads like a chant.
Dec 03, 2019 @ 13:40:38
This melancholy and yet at the same time very affirming and restful. Your words are like a melody, a lullaby, a sweet goodnight.
Dec 03, 2019 @ 13:45:37
Thank you. I intended it that way. I am so glad you picked up on it
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Dec 03, 2019 @ 15:24:05
Toni, this is one of my all time favorites of yours. I love the way your words flow.
Dec 03, 2019 @ 19:49:29
Thank you Linda Lee
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Dec 04, 2019 @ 04:28:31
Truly so and sublimely said.
Dec 04, 2019 @ 15:58:07
hank you so much
Dec 04, 2019 @ 21:16:15
Somewhat sad, and beautifully written, Toni!
Dec 06, 2019 @ 17:02:04
Such powerful imagery! The thought of casting all into the waters and the clouds drowning in the sky – perfect!