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serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

0 posted 2003-01-01 07:57 AM

I have been more stalwart
while in defense of dogs.
I campaigned
to spare the pain
of slaughtering of hogs.

I took an oath
to fight the choke
of insecticide.
I watched the
wither of the skin
of apples hiding poisoned lie.

I fed the children--
ladeled soup.
I swept a kitchen clean again.
I prayed and wept
holy oil tears
upon the track-marked arms of men.

I placed the comfrey
on the bruise
and fed your women chamomile.
I knocked on back door
restaurants
and begged the fat
to spare a meal.

I cradled tadpoles
as a child
and watched them grow a spine.

I stomped my feet
in the puddles--
enraged--oh tell me--
where is mine?
Incomplete
of mind muddle
I beg the shadow to define--

Tell me there is grace in me...
tell me I can pirhouette.
Watch the sun paint colored leaves
Autumn
trancing
mystery
dusted by a snow's regret.

I crumble. Fall.
I Die. Beget.

I release
the green in me...

inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-19

Posts 7392
Ohio

1 posted 2003-01-01 08:35 AM

give yourself a break,
youre allowed to , sometimes.

like your style too, concise/no bs.
dont know if i always understand it,
but then again, ?

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2003-01-01 10:15 AM

I shall tell you
there is grace in you...
and you can pirouette.
You shall watch the sun paint leaves
in Autumn's
trancing
mystery...
but nay, never
dusted by snow's regret...

~*~

I have a

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

3 posted 2003-01-01 10:18 AM

serenity,
If your not green than I'm color blind.
Have a good year.

jjote
Senior Member

since 2002-12-25

Posts 1088
Ontario, Canada

4 posted 2003-01-01 11:12 AM

Your poem is such a kaleidoscope of images - from dogs, hogs to sun painting leaves in autumn..and shadows defining them? I find your style intriguing, quite a read..

But spare the fat from off my meal, please - holiday cheers and holiday food have taken a toll on my weight.*groan*

Krawdad
Member Elite

since 2001-01-03

Posts 2597

5 posted 2003-01-01 11:30 AM

k,

Beware the cast of the shadow . . . it defines that by which you stand, especially it's "edge".
But of course you know that.
Looking forward to another year reading your shadow.

e

garysgirl

Member Laureate

since 2002-09-29

Posts 19237
Florida, USA

6 posted 2003-01-01 12:26 PM

Karen, sweet friend, you just told me things about yourself
that I knew all along. Your inner self shows through in your
poetry and your replies even more than you, yourself, realize, sometimes..........

"Love makes the world go around"
~~with love and hugs from Ethel~~

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

7 posted 2003-01-01 02:29 PM

Tell me there is grace in me...
tell me I can pirhouette.
Watch the sun paint colored leaves
Autumn
trancing
mystery
dusted by a snow's regret.

====================================
grace??

every time you rhyme baby...every single glorious time you rhyme...

Will the wind remember the names it has blown in the past?
With this crutch, its old age and wisdom, it whispers no ... this will be the last.

jh

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

8 posted 2003-01-01 03:07 PM

serenity

You do amaze me with who you are...every time! Yes, you are grace and more.

Paul Wilson

Member Elite

since 2002-07-07

Posts 4711
United States

9 posted 2003-01-01 09:43 PM

Serenity~ This touching write totally amazes me. I am in awe of your talent.
Just when I think I have you figured out you change like one of those lizzards (Chameleons) I think they are called.
So I guess I will stop trying to figure you out, it hurts my brain to much LOL...Paul

"To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you"

Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

10 posted 2003-01-01 10:29 PM

You have a wondrous way of releasing, serene one...

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-18

Posts 7350
the ass-end of space

11 posted 2003-01-01 11:25 PM

Hugs Karen, you have healed many and so it's time to heal yourself. You are strong always remember that

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

12 posted 2003-01-02 02:16 AM

Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy dancing in your shadows?

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

13 posted 2003-01-02 07:30 AM

I think it's safe for me to hug you all through the screen. so...HUGS and a Happy New Year.

I think I need to go back to couch. smile (flu quarantine over here...me and the two kids--dunno about HIM..he'd have to quit drinking long enough to figure out the differences between the flu, a hang over and a bad buzz) and hey...I'll be around. chuckle sighs and beating my head against the desk..apparently the insanity is unceasing.

Happy New Year all..I love you guys.

kaile

Member Ascendant

since 2000-02-06

Posts 5146
singapore

14 posted 2003-01-02 08:01 AM

serenity,
an intriguing read...not entirely sure what it all meant but enjoyed the directions my mind set off with this musing...

LOL about your comment about telling the difference between hangovers and bad case of flu

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

15 posted 2003-01-02 08:36 AM

Serenity,

Your words make me want you for my best friend. I could learn so much. Such depth and intellect.

Susan

scorpio
Member Ascendant

since 2002-10-02

Posts 5178
right...there

16 posted 2003-01-02 08:40 AM

If green is the colour of compassion then that truly is your colour, Karen...powerful words in this write..

believe in what your heart feels...

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

17 posted 2003-01-02 08:50 AM

ya'll are so sweet...

and sometimes I don't mind explaining. I usually like to let the reader draw their own conclusions as they tend to be more interesting than my intent, but this'n, I thought simple enough. The opening stanzas are simply me pondering all of the causes I have taken up in a lifetime. And my own incredulousness at the ability of myself to neglect ME while I am apparently so eager to rectify injustice for other people and situations.

And there is a turning point, signified by a wish to pirhouette--to dance symbolically, and take up once again the cause of MYSELF, instead of using the distraction of causes to avoid my own issues. I used the nature symbolism at the end, to indicate that it is indeed an ongoing cycle, but at this particular point, I am like the leafless tree in winter, but feeling the potential for green, (regeneration or healing) in the upcoming spring.

geez...wasn't that all apparent? laughing..

more hugs and aspirin. smiling...the hugs are for ya'll, the aspirin is mine--but then again if ya really need it? here ya go, I'll just go over here and chew on some white willow bark. (there I go again, I am so weird..grin. I blame it on the fever.)

bsquirrel

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-01-03

Posts 7855

18 posted 2003-01-09 12:32 PM

And they used to *burn* witches?

Sheesh, the world can use this healing you bring.

And so often, the healer is unable to help herself heal... But that's what friends are for, right? *hug*

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

19 posted 2003-01-09 03:06 PM

Oh, wow. *S*

I couldn't resist the title. *S* (Not when I define myself as Toe's shadow. LOL)

And I applaud my lack of resistance, for it led me to a remarkable read. *S* So many facets... such a fascinating whole... and yes... grace. *S*

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius

since 2000-10-09

Posts 13989

20 posted 2003-01-09 03:11 PM

Karen, I have enjoyed them all, but this one.......this my friend is the

this is a healer,
to bad the entire world don't read it....it would be such a better place.
Hugs to you!!

RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

21 posted 2003-01-09 05:27 PM

I like this! You're entitled your blush of green.

Astro
Member

since 2003-01-08

Posts 69
Ca.

22 posted 2003-01-09 06:53 PM

Wow. What could I add to the the already constant stream of praise for this poem? I usually don't give enthusiastic replies for poetry because I too often see where the poet is struggling to define themselves and their feelings. Not so here. I felt that as I read your poem I was totally in your world, confident that what you described was exactly how you wanted it. This was not a glimpse of your feelings but a vision. Great job.

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach