So Far Away

Along the passages of the times come and gone,
There are various thoughts that come on strong,
Where I see you as being so far away,
Images that may go astray,
While I am here and you are there,
I reach out with concerns and care,
As I think of you,
For as much as I wish to do,
Just to say “hi” and then “good-bye,”
I can only sigh,
And so I think,
Not just in passing,
Of the cordial greetings I extend,
Days of old well spent,
Whenever I may reminisce,
About what may have been missed,
With but an open ear,
That I attempt to be most sincere,
As it is each and everyday,
You are really so far away.

The Words to You and Me

For it is the unsung song,
And a search for words that help me along,
That I may create a new way of expression,
And yet another impression,
From the diversity of meanings,
In all that I am thinking and feeling;
While the descriptions may be free flowing,
It is then that I am knowing,
About thoughts and ideas that are foregoing,
As I then go on to feel,
A goodness that I hope to reveal,
Within each description,
There is new anticipation,
For how to express words,
In an endless and relentless search,
From a free flowing style,
That becomes most worthwhile,
So as to coincide,
With the many feelings and several thought,
Approaches, at times, inconceivable and unsought.

Thine Eyes

To walk and talk in your way,
I may be amazed,
At who you are to me,
While I lift up my heart,
For you to know and see,
Through character and dignity,
As to how much of it to be a part,
Of who “we” are,
When I find you to be there,
From thine eyes that watch,
What is shared,
For us to behoove,
The real goodness and importance,
As our blessedness,
Within a continued search,
Along the many twists and turns,
That leads us to each other,
From one to another,
In all that I say and do,
That brings me to You,
As it is the blessings to be true.

As I Then go on to Feel

As I then go on to feel,
A goodness that I hope to reveal,
Within each description,
There is new anticipation,
For how to express words,
In an endless and relentless search,
From a free flowing style,
That becomes most worthwhile,
So as to coincide,
With the many feelings and several thought,
Approaches, at times, inconceivable and unsought.

Russell Bassett (Passamaquoddy) is a respected writer from Sipayik who has shared many of his poems on the Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy tribal website. He has also been published in the collection Timeless Voices from the International Library of Poetry, and in the anthology Dawnland Voices. Bassett ran away from home when he was five years old and lived with the attorney Don Gellers, who he says inspired him.