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.

4 October 2015

The Seeming

Today in my quiet garden
Spring settles, clear blue,
above rooftops and treetops
and the glisten
of slightly-moving leaves.

In some other reality
wars are fought, madmen 
attack communities, burn homes,
hack heads off bodies.

In some other truth
children starve, drown,
are raped, beaten, enslaved...

For a moment I put down
heavy Excalibur.
At 'imaginary garden with real toads' it's time for FlASH 55 PLUS, where we write a piece of exactly 55 words – plus, this time, the option of being inspired by this doom-laden Carl Orff song featured in the film Excalibur:






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18 comments:

  1. Susan4 October 2015 at 16:05

    Oh, yes, breathe for a moment. Powerful piece!

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  2. Susie Clevenger4 October 2015 at 16:38

    We must rest if we are to keep any strength to continue the fight. Yes, powerful!

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  3. brudberg4 October 2015 at 17:21

    I think we need those moment.. Love the thought of spring nettles.. Hope you can make soup :-)

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade4 October 2015 at 18:23

      That puzzled me a minute, Bjorn – then i realised you had misread 'settles'.

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  4. Kerry O'Connor4 October 2015 at 19:32

    I have listened to this piece, so many times in the last few days, yet I could not resist the chance to hear it sung again. It is dramatic, and dark and I love the approach you took, to seek the balance in your garden, to acknowledge the chaos of the world but also to give yourself a break from carrying the heavy sword.

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  5. Outlawyer4 October 2015 at 22:59

    A lovely poem that brings in those terrible dichotomies and the irony and blessedness of escape. Thanks, Rosemary. K.

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  6. hedgewitch5 October 2015 at 00:16

    Mood and feel are so genuine, and the end line is perfect.

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  7. Gillena Cox5 October 2015 at 00:30

    oh yes the last verse resonates the sorrow with us all; i do wish we all had the joy of the Spring verse

    thanks for dropping in to read mine

    much love...

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  8. Fireblossom5 October 2015 at 03:26

    There's nothing wrong with having a sanctuary, and I can't think of a better one than a garden.

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  9. Anonymous5 October 2015 at 03:59

    You nailed it, Rosemary. We all carry that Excalibur, fending a falling world: but how good to set it down and know the world is still perfect in Avalon (inside here).

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  10. Gail5 October 2015 at 10:09

    That we all could have a perfect world...knowing we can stop to rest a moment and all is good...that is a blessing.

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  11. Margaret5 October 2015 at 14:45

    Beautiful. There will always be battles to fight while we are here. But one day, in another place ... Perhaps we can glimpse it in moments of respite.

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  12. Sherry Blue Sky5 October 2015 at 15:13

    I often feel the same way, kiddo. This is honed to perfection.

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  13. Jim5 October 2015 at 17:47

    Very contemporary, Rosemary. Fitting for a reprieve that most of us need. Thank you.
    p.s. The move is over, boxes are the order of our time. But I came out of hiding for this.
    ..

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  14. Marian6 October 2015 at 07:37

    Gah, gah. Hard to put it down even for a moment. Harder in autumn with the cold on its way, starting to settle in the bones already. I wish to put it down.

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  15. Hannah8 October 2015 at 11:34

    Heavy poem...you've painted that contrast well.

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