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Grief

General Poetry - post, comment, review, critique
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Dave
Posts: 1991
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 am

Grief

Post by Dave » Wed Dec 12, 2018 5:56 am

I cannot help

these young men
to thread their tapestries of loss,
knot the unraveled stitching

in their imaginations.
Balanced on their chairs
over a widening pool of grief,
they can only divine for signs,

eyeless smiles,
upturned hands emploring
ancient gods,
self sacrificial wounds
that presage the unthinkable.

How can the hopeful know
ageless despair cannot drive
straight or far but veers

towards trees, empty verges
and potter’s field?

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: Grief

Post by indar » Thu Dec 13, 2018 1:34 pm

Hi Dave,

I've revisited this one several times. It addresses a number of situations in many parts of the world. No matter the politics, struggles, drought, famine, inhumane actions of others, at bottom is the despair, hopelessness, and seeming unsolvable problems facing many millions of people. It is heart-wrenching. Poignant writing that, as you have often said, needs to be out there---stated in as many ways as possible, kept before the hearts and minds of good people until some global shift takes place---or die trying.

Thank you for this poem

Dave
Posts: 1991
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 am

Re: Grief

Post by Dave » Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:00 am

Thank you Indar i always appreciate your poetry and comments about poetry plus your interest in wider concerns ratger than seeing poetry just as a reflection of autumn leaves falling

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: Grief

Post by indar » Fri Dec 14, 2018 8:04 am

seeing poetry just as a reflection of autumn leaves falling

:) :)
 

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Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: Grief

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:01 pm

This poem presents a strong theme eloquently. The unraveled fabric is particularly strong - what grief does to lives.
I agree with Indar about how these intensely personal lines achieve a universal.

T

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Marc Gilbert
Posts: 145
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:02 am
Location: Chicago, USA
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Re: Grief

Post by Marc Gilbert » Sat Dec 15, 2018 7:25 am

I read and reread this a bunch of time since coming back and have failed to comment. I still can't other than to say, "yah".

The balanced chair image of S3 is a standout among a field of gems.
"Poetry is not speech raised to the level of music, but music brought down to the level of speech." - Paul Valery

Dave
Posts: 1991
Joined: Mon Jan 08, 2018 9:07 am

Re: Grief

Post by Dave » Sun Dec 16, 2018 8:18 am

Thanks Tracy and Mark, glad you found Things to like.
Dave

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Dansinger
Posts: 865
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:29 am

Re: Grief

Post by Dansinger » Sun Dec 16, 2018 1:29 pm

Like others here, I keep coming back to this poem, reading it again. And again and again. And I'm at a loss for words. It's powerful and gripping. Don't know what else to say.

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