I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

11 August 2011

A Hope


Damaged people, the expert said,
have drama and confusion always
following them around; that’s the way
you know that they are damaged people.

I don’t know how this boy, our friend,
a young man now, will learn to shake
dramas and confusions from his life.
Yet he survives all, I don’t know how.

We, too, survive all: frightful tales
half farce, half tragedy; the tension
that obscures his kindness and ideals,
hard for friends ... only we two survive.

Friends only, we’re not family
but he knows that he can come to us 
when there’s nowhere else to go; and so
I guess we are more than friends only.

Must be karmic, our connection.
I know we can’t mend his damage, but
maybe we can demonstrate this thought:
positive progress must be karmic.

(The form — consisting of repetitions and syllabics — is my own invention. I haven't called it anything, and I doubt if I'd use it again. It doesn't seem to serve the poem very well.)

Posted for dVerse Open Link Night #4
By -

20 comments:

  1. Brian Miller11 August 2011 at 14:23

    i think in some sense we are all damaged people, but yes there are those that drama tends to follow and to really change you just have to get out of it...nice write...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rosemary Nissen-Wade11 August 2011 at 15:49

    Thanks Brian. I'm sure you're right; there must be few if any of us without some damage.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anna @ waysidewordgarden11 August 2011 at 16:42

    Glad that you can be a source of friendship for this young man...we're all damaged or broken but there is hope.... Thanks for your kind comments on my blog-- let me know if you write that sestina... :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Claudia11 August 2011 at 18:33

    i agree with bri - and too know people that seem to attract all the evil in the world and i have no idea why...but so good for this young man he knows that he can come to you when there’s nowhere else to go...that's precious...enjoyed the write rosemary

    ReplyDelete
  5. Rosemary Nissen-Wade11 August 2011 at 21:59

    Many thanks, Anna and Claudia. Sometimes the hope is slender, but — so far so good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lady Nyo11 August 2011 at 22:48

    I think it serves this lovely insightful poem very well.

    We are all damaged people. Life, family, etc...all damage, burn us, but the human spirit will survive, as long as there is something, someone compassionate to cling to.

    Life damages, but we learn also to make better choices. We can control some of the potential damage. Sometimes we are much more normal than we realize.

    Really like your poetry. It has essence and substance.

    Lady Nyo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Leslie11 August 2011 at 23:29

    i, too, am glad this boy has two people who are a refuge for him when he has nowhere else to go... as brian said, we are all hurt, all damaged, in some way or other. your poem eloquently expresses this hurt.

    I recently read a beautiful post by a friend of mine about her experience with woundedness as a young girl, and her subsequent spiritual and emotional healing. Perhaps it would interest you - if so, here's the link:
    curious acorn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Timoteo12 August 2011 at 01:12

    I feel your poem will give me some insight into a similar situation. THANKS!
    (And LOVED your comment!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rosemary Nissen-Wade12 August 2011 at 19:18

    Thanks to you too, Lady Nyo, Leslie and Timoteo, for your very complimentary remarks. It was a hard poem to write, and yet a necessary one. You make me think it must have worked better than I had believed.

    Leslie, thanks for the link, which I'll certainly check out.

    ReplyDelete
  10. ayala13 August 2011 at 09:09

    I think we all are damaged in one way or another....lovely piece.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rosemary Nissen-Wade13 August 2011 at 10:13

    Thank you Ayala.

    Perhaps it's a matter of degree ... and/or learning over time to deal with it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ella13 August 2011 at 14:19

    This was raw and truthful; I agree we all are damaged. Some on the outside, some on the inside, some both~
    It is good to be there, no man or woman is an island or should be~

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rosemary Nissen-Wade13 August 2011 at 16:49

    Very true, Ella, and one of my favourite sayings! Thanks for the comment.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Pearl15 August 2011 at 00:38

    interesting idea. some people walk under a storm system to the an exceptional degree. it makes sense that that extends backward to being hurt. valuable framing.

    chronic pain may be longitudinal in behaviour. maybe a pain before it can be seen. http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/04/chronic-pain-patients-disobedient-children.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Rosemary Nissen-Wade15 August 2011 at 09:11

    A very interesting idea, Pearl. This lad has certainly come from a troubled background.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A Curious Female22 August 2011 at 23:30

    I enjoyed this poem. Life damages us all but it also gives us wonderful experiences.

    ReplyDelete
  17. madhumakhi23 August 2011 at 00:19

    I like your style of repetition. Very original.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sherry Blue Sky23 August 2011 at 02:52

    There is a lot of empathy and understanding in this poem. Wonderful writing, and a poignant portrait.Love the last line.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Raining Iguanas23 August 2011 at 09:27

    Rosemary, all my favorite cars had dings, my favorite bikes were scraped and traveled, my best friends had stutters, bumps and torn shirts- damaged? That is a beautiful poem, form be damned. Karma lives close by.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Rosemary Nissen-Wade23 August 2011 at 12:13

    Thank you all for reading and for your thoughtful remarks.

    ReplyDelete

Comments are moderated and will be visible after being approved by the blog owner. If you can only comment anonymously, please include your name in the comment, just so I know who's talking to me.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)