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Saturday 2 August 2014

ANDROGYNOUS



I plucked this photograph from the general memorabilia
of that age of mass trauma and shared history.
You in your Captain's uniform. Sombre, visibly apprehensive.
Billie, please don't enlist. From here, I see your future!
Your patriotism. That cropped hair, so immaculate in contrast to the later you I met in hell.
Nowadays, I keep your unsuspecting eyes in a special box,
as if to hide from them the devastating horrors to come.

Point of intersection: my bedroom. There, you collided with my brain,
releasing suppressed memories of a past life in which I was a young second lieutenant
you rescued from the Somme's carnage (minus my right arm).
In the casualty clearing station, you wiped the blood from my eyes
with such tenderness that I fell into an all-absorbing forbidden love
that turned my world upside down. But you were strictly heterosexual,
so I never dared reveal my feelings, just buried them deep inside.

Against impossible odds, we both survived that monstrous artillery. But you were broken.
After I left for Blighty, I never set eyes on you again - not in that life anyway.
Neither did I love again.
Your image possessed my heart and mind
so exclusively that I expired years later a lonely recluse.
But such longing does not die with carnal flesh.
I found no peace: not in the Light above, nor in the grave below.

Then Karma kicked in: I was re-born in female form.
And you came back, because those deep-seated taboos had vanished with my testosterone.
As I read your disembodied mind, I recognised what it was
I had seen in your eyes that day in war-torn France
but failed to understand at the time. A pure Love
that transcends gender and physical separation.
We are two halves of a single Spirit.

Today, I am your body.
You are my mind...


At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
we will remember them.
1914-2014

29 comments:

  1. interesting...the connection with this soldier...the rebirth from a friend and comrade in the war, to being within you...there is def a love that develops between soldiers and saviors...the keeping his eyes in the box to remember him from before as well was quite emotive....

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    1. Many thanks, Brian.
      I found it difficult to write this...couldn't find the appropriate words...so eventually had to leave it as it was.
      There was so much more to say...

      Delete
  2. love the new facebook photo as well...

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    1. Ha...the "Witch" photo! LOL
      Hadn't noticed the shape of the hollow in the tree, until I read the comments on fb - does look so like a seated Witch!!
      So happy you like it! :)

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  3. You makes good lyrical story out of one vintage photo. Relation between comrades that develops into romance after rebirth. Lovely.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sonam.
      So glad you liked it. :)

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  4. Well, hell I'm speechless that love lost or otherwise could ever show its face during WW1.....I wonder how any survived WW2, lives entwined relived every reincarnation until peace between the two lovers, enemies, torturers, and monsters, how can one be all, and all be one, I can't begin to imagine writing this. I am awed....

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    1. Oh Lorraine, you are so kind...now is my time to be speechless.
      You do me such honour.
      Mine is just one past life memory/link...there must be so many millions out there with more like mine. I think wars have a way of heightening emotions and imprinting them so much more deeply upon the psyche and the Soul...so deeply, in fact, that they transcend what we call "death" to resurface later.

      Thank you again, Lorraine. I can't begin to express how much your understanding of my personal experience means to me.

      Big Hugs xxx

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  5. I do love the story as it evolved, and the idea of so much love holding through the horrors of war, and time, and gender to such a touching conclusion.

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    1. Thank you so much, Anthony.
      I guess this reads like a story...but then, fact often is stranger than fiction eh? *smiles*
      So happy you liked this :)

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  6. Ygraine,
    So often I am in awe of your writing ability and this is one of those times.

    These words really touched me....
    *A pure love
    that transcends gender and physical separation.
    We are both halves of a single Spirit.

    Amazing and wonderful writing.

    Big Hugs
    xoox

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    1. Oh how kind, Margie!
      Thank you...thank you from my heart...:)

      Big Hugs back xxx

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  7. A great mystery beautifully articulated.

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    1. Thank you so much, Geo...I so appreciate that...:)

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  8. We be one and "life" goes on androgynoUS.

    Yg, you've done it again. Wonderful.

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    1. Oh thank you, TUG!

      So good to see you're writing again...and WOW, what writing!
      Fabulous!!

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  9. just to let you know dear Ygraine that I wanted to let you know that Google pushed me to the limit of my patience so I have deleted my blog as well as all the photos that google so freely shared, but I will have a new blog, it's not some company I'm familiar with and it doesn't cost much for now, but it'll be mine and nobody can frig it up anymore...anyhoo should be within a couple of days, it will be called Lorraine Photos, and I don't know the quality ...but I love you all so much that I have to have something to post for your to comment on lol oh you make my day happy!

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    1. I do so hope you are happier with the new blog...it does get so frustrating at times, doesn't it?
      Can't wait to see the new one!

      Big Hugs xxx

      Delete
  10. I love the way you wrote this! The past lives, the love! Beautiful! Big Hugs ;o)

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    1. Oh thank you Stacy...you have just made my day!

      Big Hugs back!
      xxx

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  11. and until I find that photo blog that doesn't cost a fortune, I'm just writing so if you miss me or want to check me out until further notice i'm here: http://outofsightl.blogspot.ca/

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    1. and i re-opened a new blog again with google watching me, anyhoo I will not miss out on my favourite blogs because of them I am now
      here: http://forevermyphotosl.blogspot.ca/ I've kept the writing blog for fun but it seems that google has taken that too...oh well

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    2. It is a nightmare at times, isn't it?
      Really hope everything works out OK for you soon.
      I will try to find you now!

      Big Hugs xxx

      Delete
  12. hey i thought i saw something new...but its gone...
    i didnt want to miss the chance to say hi though...
    smiles.

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    1. You have sharp eyes, Brian! LOL
      I meant to save to draft, but hit the wrong button. There was still a little editing to do...:/
      Well, better late than never...it is finally posted!

      Hi Brian! *smiles*

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  13. Brian's flirting, tsk tsk, o btw i have posted a poem although the html is alittle off and i managed to post a photo on my forever photo blog ahhh maybe i'm allowed two a week oh man, created by the man who made something lik 55 million out of google you'd think he'd let post photos, how are you sweetie and how's your son doing? I hope he's better and that you are more rested

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  14. Hi Sweetie!
    I finally managed to leave a message on your blog (or at least I hope it went on!)
    I do so feel for you...all those problems with your pictures.
    I had no idea Google limited the amount you could post!
    Really hope you get sorted soon. Your beautiful blog cheeres so many hearts :)

    Yes, we are doing OK, thanks. Ayrton is awaiting the results of blood tests, and I am off to the wilds of Cornwall in the not too distant future!

    Do hope you are OK, and are having a fabulous weekend! :)

    Big Hugs xxx

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  15. BTW before i decided not to be on google they not only wiped out lall my photos they took everything form picasa and i have no blogs or visitors thank God i found Anthony then you then Margie...i realized i didn't care about sharing my photos I didn't care if they took all my phtos away as long as i had my friend to visit but all bookmarks disappeared, now i have Brian, you, \margie and hoping to get more from your blog it's horrible, not to be able to visit my dearest friends

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  16. Please if you can visit tonight i'm afraid it'll be gone by morning

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I really appreciate hearing your opinions...:)