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Open Poetry #34
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Martie
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since 1999-09-21
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California

0 posted 2004-11-26 06:07 PM


It is cold
the pails of summer are stacked
and emptied of the last rain
as the sun touches leaves

One bird died last night
blue and fragile beating soft
falling on the floor of a wire house
where only last week he was singing

Winter risks the lives of many
clothed in dirty cotton layers
sitting on the couch of a hard life
in any city

What is the temperature of death
a cold hand is sleeping now
I covered him myself
and left a note to say
the day was too short to be alone

he hasn’t read it yet
and the day is almost gone

Here    where the sun is pretending
it touches the variegated leaves in the garden
even making shadows of the black cats tail

A bird died last night  
and I am cold

© Copyright 2004 Martie Odell Ingebretsen - All Rights Reserved
nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
1 posted 2004-11-26 06:40 PM


it is exactly 5 months tonight..that I lost my sister...and I can still feel the coldness
that filled the room

hugs
M

Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
2 posted 2004-11-26 08:22 PM


OhSis~
This leaves me wanting to hug both you and Maureen~ and

Love you both~
*Huglets*
~*Me*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

Email noles1@totcon.com

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
3 posted 2004-11-26 08:34 PM


Sending warm heart hugs your way sweet lady.
Sunshine
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
4 posted 2004-11-26 09:12 PM


What is the temperature
of aged hand
or feathered wing
or a life gone five months
when all live on
in the ones left behind?

It is the temperature
of memory, and flight,
wings of hope, and dreams
yet to be born...

Maureen, Martie, I share with you tonight
a love lost here, but one that for all of us
will live on...

I see a hand on a shoulder, and in the other,
a bird of flight held...warmly, welcome,
all entering a new world...

and thankful for our understanding
that there is one more place
for some to be, that place
being a permanent hold
in our hearts...

Yes, this I see...

Thank you Martie...

Susan
Member Ascendant
since 2004-03-27
Posts 5104
walking the surreal
5 posted 2004-11-26 10:08 PM


This is heart touching and stirs compassion-

warm hugs on this cold night -

  susan

Happiness isn't something that happens to you, it's created from within you.  Joy is a state of mind.

passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
6 posted 2004-11-27 12:22 PM



Dark Angel
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since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

7 posted 2004-11-27 12:33 PM


You move me, everytime.



Mxx


RSWells
Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

8 posted 2004-11-27 12:39 PM


A world less rich for the loss of one songbird. And winter is always a test for the poor and elderly.

And indeed, the day is too short to be alone. That I read. Enjoyed

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
9 posted 2004-11-27 12:52 PM


Another expression of the depth of your caring Martie.
A very compassionate read!

Eric

*Alli4000*
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since 2004-03-21
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The World of Poetry
10 posted 2004-11-27 01:26 AM


       

~Alli~


*:.AIM = Alli4000.:*
Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened...

icebox
Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383
in the shadows
11 posted 2004-11-27 07:04 AM


You need a warm summer rain
to help you ease the pain
but it is winter soon
look to the waning moon
follow its steady path
knowing it will return
remember all dances end
allowing souls to breathe
for in their given time
music will resume

Ratleader
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since 2003-01-23
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Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass
12 posted 2004-11-27 10:42 AM


You know all my thoughts, and all my wishes for you in this and in so many other things. No need to say, because you know.

....but I will say this: /pip/Forum91/HTML/001484.html

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

kayjay
Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015
Oregon
13 posted 2004-11-27 11:10 AM


Sunshine said it all.  What elegant phrasing you both find to describe such irrevocable events.  Well done.  Ken

Through rubble and trouble and dark of night
The yawn of a dawn will hasten the light

Magnus
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since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
14 posted 2004-11-27 01:06 PM


Amazing,  how you take a subject that looms
over our lives daily, hourly...and turn it
into a symphony...

Sending triple hugs and a budding rose.

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
15 posted 2004-11-27 02:54 PM


Martie, life is harsh for every species.  I was once told that there's a limit to how much one can care but some of us are just made to care and there's nothing we can do about it.  A most sensitive write.
Earth Angel
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since 2002-08-27
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Realms of Light
16 posted 2004-11-27 03:46 PM


No one with a heart could read this poem and not be affected by it.

Love & Light,
Linda

garysgirl
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Florida, USA
17 posted 2004-11-27 03:53 PM


Martie, you have such a warm, tender, compassionate
heart...and this poem is another proof of it.
Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

18 posted 2004-11-27 08:16 PM


        

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
19 posted 2004-11-28 11:40 AM


Dear Martie, this is deeply touching. It's your warm heart that pauses to care for those who are cold, whether in life or in death. It hurts always to observe such events.
You reminded me of a sweet little birdie I had tried to save when it fell out of the nest, but it died in my hand with a last good-bye peep and at that moment I cried not only for the bird, but for all the pain in the world ...
The following night I had a dream, in which the little bird was happily singing on a hedge, near my beloved uncle who had gone Home too .... And I felt joy! I understood  both wanted me to know they were fine.
Love and hugs.
Margherita

Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
20 posted 2004-11-28 05:43 PM


I think you already know the warm"ing" thoughts that I send and this one really rips at the heart here.  I like to think myself that the temperature of death however depends on the way we lead our lives.  At least I hope so cause I sort of depend on that thought.  Loved reading the raw beauty of this one but that you should already know as well.  Sending you warm and prayers.  
miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
21 posted 2004-11-28 07:51 PM


Martie,
    A tear jerker, you are!  This is so tenderly written, each word and tone heartfelt.  Wishing a bit of real sunshine your way... maybe a little something out of the ordinarty to come your way, a little serendity!  Sometimes it seems the sun is forever clouded, and then, some small event happens causing the whole sky to burst open in warmth.  A toast to the little things!
               miscellanea

LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

22 posted 2004-11-29 07:58 AM


life holds within a core of that which never stops beating, but continually gifts....
Martie, you are a collection of caring words...which reads tea leaves for others, only giving never taking....

Hugs to you poet friend....

Seymour Tabin
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since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
23 posted 2004-11-29 08:09 AM


Martie
Excellent.

Nan
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since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
24 posted 2004-11-29 08:24 AM


You're an amazing lady, my friend.  Your strength and compassion are unsurpassed.  Much love to you...
Goodknight
Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
25 posted 2004-11-29 11:16 AM


Martie - how deeply you write...this touches the soul and my heart and soul go out to you and Taylor - Paul
suthern
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Louisiana
26 posted 2004-11-29 11:24 AM


One bird died last night
blue and fragile beating soft
falling on the floor of a wire house
where only last week he was singing

How quickly things do change... song becomes requiem... and we're left to watch and mourn.

Such a beautiful, touching write of heart!

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
27 posted 2004-12-01 09:31 PM


Martie,
  When I was re-reading this and my response, I saw I made a mistake in my spelling.  I meant to say serendipity, rather than serenity (but that's not a bad wish, either).

              misc'e
  

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