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?
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Grief
Re: Grief
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
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
- Tracy Mitchell
- Posts: 3451
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm
Re: Grief
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
I agree with Indar about how these intensely personal lines achieve a universal.
T
- Marc Gilbert
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:02 am
- Location: Chicago, USA
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Re: Grief
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.
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