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.

2 May 2013

Life's Confusing, In'it?

Two confused young men
stopped being ordinary and bombed Boston.
Others, confused by smoke and noise, 
but with clear hearts,
ran back to try and help.

When my dear was alive, exhaustion 
thinned my patience; 
love had me hope 
for his swift release. But now ...
Be careful what you pray for.

In the monsoon season
weeks of battering rain
gutted my strong geraniums.
The weeds, though, flourished.
Those with glossy leaves I'll keep.

Poetic Asides Wednesday prompts: write a confused poem

Submitted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry #149

28 comments:

  1. LOVE AND HOPE CAN CONQUER ALL.

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    1. I do believe that love can conquer all. Thank you for the reminder. While hope can be a comfort, I personally consider intention more powerful.

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  2. Be careful what you pray for - that is ever so true. I believe that what we ask for is always granted, just not in the way we expect.
    Dropping by from Poetry Pantry.

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  3. Wow Rosemary. Such a strong piece of poetry. I love everything about it.

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    1. Oh, thank you! What a great reader you are. :-D

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  4. I enjoyed the ending stanza. Sometimes one CAN find beauty in the weeds. If nothing else they ARE survivors, and that is no small thing. Strange that the geraniums did not survive though, as they ARE generally strong. What lives and what dies...it seems we are not in charge of deciding, and life is indeed confusing.

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    1. The geraniums have survived, but what was a tall abundant bush has been reduced to next to nothing. The rain-storms were very fierce and tore bits off trees, let alone geraniums!

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  5. This is a confused world to start with. Lots are utterly disarrayed but one can be disciplined in thinking. In one's own way one can make things better for oneself and thereby help others as well. Nicely Rosemary!

    Hank

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  6. a very strong poem.

    "Be careful what you pray for." : that's probably very true.

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  7. A very powerful poem with amazing imagery

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  8. This poem packs a real punch it speaks of great tragedy, love and hope wonderfully done!

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  9. Perhaps all three scenarios really speak to be most about how we can grow some loss and confusion---Very powerful piece

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  10. There are always weeds. Hopefully the garden is nourished enough that it can withstand their ability to smother.

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  11. what a wonderful poem reminding us to have hope

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  12. I understand the confused emotions of exhaustion very well. Love the geraniums making their sturdy way into this poem. Hopefully they will regain their footing.

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  13. Wow. I love the last verse of this thought-provoking poem. Clear images and a sense of place in each stanza. How you manage to take three events and connect them successfully is worthwhile. Thanks.

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  14. Wonderful description of our confused world. I love the power of your close about the weeds, "those with glossy leaves I'll keep."

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  15. Thank you all for understanding this poem so well, and taking the trouble to say so. :)

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  16. O, Rosemary! Sometimes it seems unfair/tragic and not just confusing. I feel saddest about the second verse where good and bad are indistinguishable.
    (An aside: I always thought the son that stayed home should be at least as celebrated as the prodigal, but it is the one who is hardest to save, hardest to love that we must learn to take by the hand. Can't say I'm always willing.)

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  17. Ah! yes we do get torn between what to do and not. But such is life!

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  18. Those with glossy leaves I'll keep.

    After all, weeds are only wild flowers in the wrong place. I guess the same can apply to people...

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  19. be careful what you wish for and sometimes a weed is really a rose. it's all about perception. this is wonderful

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  20. Life, and its many confusing aspects, tied up in a neat little package here, Rosemary.

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  21. Life is confusing and it is true that sometimes we don't really want what we wish for.

    The glossy leaves - an excellent close.

    Anna :o]

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  22. Ah poignant and not over done. I like this very much!

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