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Open Poetry #50
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Pathways and Old Gods
| Open Poetry #50 |
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Pathways and Old Gods |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL 
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Halting. It means the dust will cease to shield her from view, and the fragile red cracks reaching in all directions in whites of eyes along with darkening brown would be exposed to things patiently circling, waiting to stab through plastic and pick out the meat of a carefully wrapped soul. But there it is in the middle of society's predetermined path Stone seeming alive thrumming with lessons, and she wonders does it bleed? Would broken away pieces serve as walls for a cozy fire? Does a contained fire even hold the same splendor as one that spreads along the ground with starving searing fingers that grab at the throat shaking knowledge loose for consumption? Resulting scorched landscape could be temporary like the aftermath of controlled burns clearing brush and thorns heralding the arrival of life reaching upward from the nourishing depths of decadent earth. They say that fire cleanses. For now she contemplates this and cool sand falling through fingers like tiny remnants of fabric that crumbled with age. What waits below her lack of courage?
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Hrmmm, the opening had me thinking of Newton: “An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.” Motion was (n)ever the answer for me? I could say that statement either way, with or without the (n) and it would be accurate. All I ever wanted to do was settle, and every time I settled I ended up running harder than I ever had from it. After awhile I discovered motion equals isolation, and can prove to be near perfect at it. This sounds like you have been residing here. “Halting”…one word never said so much. Had you hit the stone head on, Newton’s law would have prevailed and simply catapulted you off in a new direction, or worse, the crash would have been devastating. Might have even scared off those circling soul sucks above. No, some things are best approached slowly. Halting, opens up the door to question, to opportunity, possibly even planning. Things that are hard to find time for when you are always, always in motion. “Stone seeming alive thrumming with lessons, and she wonders does it bleed?” Aren’t all lessons written in blood? “They say that fire cleanses,” It does, and well, but such acts tend to push one further into isolation. There is no going back, but then again, some places aren’t worth going back to and the burn it absolutely necessary…but having to start anew always seems to come with a little more added hesitancy. I can see why the browns of your eyes are darkening…A lot of hard thinking going on in there. "heralding the arrival of life reaching upward from the nourishing depths of decadent earth." That statement brings a smile to my face. Only in stepping forward, free from the chains of the past, do we come to place where new growth, and new life, is possible. I love the way you bear your soul, Jenn. ..and the title. Michael [This message has been edited by Michael (06-14-2020 07:47 PM).] |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Temptress...Scratching my head the only thing I could think of is dying is only half of our life...being reborn into a different person is the other half. Some of us never get to experience the second half. Enjoyed very much. You and Michael have my mind all mixed up...Paul ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
The thoughts that your mind thinks. . . They show up like this. . . -- That which gives light must endure burning. |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Micheal, There is definitely isolation in motion, but there is also learning. There is preparation for the stopping. As I read the part about unbalanced force I had to consider that I think I have had that role. I seem to insert something into lives that isn't there and never was (or so they say). That is usually fine with me until it starts to be draining.
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Paul, If you're scratching your head I guess I've made you think. That is sometimes the only thing I hope to do in my writing. You're right. Some never get to the second half. I think it's often because we choose not to go. We get lazy. I know I have been guilty of that. All I can hope for as I get older is time to do more.
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Sven, If "like this" is a good thing I'll take the compliment. ;-) Thanks for watching.  "Maybe that's the way I should go Straight into the mouth of the unknown" Shinedown |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Jenn, indeed, slowing down and assessing is a good thing. Learning and preparing to stop also. I was never too good at any of those in the past, until after a crash. Been the object in motion a lot in my day. Crash into many things. Finally learning to exercise some control here. The unbalanced force by definition really just means unopposed, ultimately changing the direct of the object in motion. I’m not sure I ever got to play that role.  That there is isolation in motion is not a bad thing. One of its better aspects, truly. That that is typically one of the few places we can find it might be a bad thing, though. I think isolation serves us best when it allows for personal reflection and/or use of your creative side of thinking. That isn’t always found with the isolation in motion routine. I know I have to make time to open up these avenues of thinking for myself. I think I can relate to where you say you think you bring something to people’s live that wasn’t there, and it can become draining. I know with the lack of ability to feel joy in my life, I have unintentionally hurt many people who have went out of their way just to bring me happiness, share joyous things with me, and they never excite me like they should. It’s a very low percentage the times I may have even smiled with such attempts. It sucks the life right out of the person giving them to me, and definitely strains the relationship. Drains us both in the end, usually. Wow, what a depressing note to end on. Let’s get back to talking about that controlled burn maybe?Michael |
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Lori Grosser Rhoden Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202Fair to middlin' of nowhere |
Jenn, Your poem triggered all kinds of thoughts and feelings for me but probably not in a direction you had intended. Lately I have been very emotionally involved with BLM, torn between grief and shame. You took me there. Well, I was already there, but you put into words things I've struggled with. ~L |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Lori, I'm glad you were able to find something in it. Thank you.
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
"What waits below her lack of courage?" This is a good question. . . -- That which gives light must endure burning. |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Sven, Second round of reading? Thanks for coming back. I don't know if anyone could say. I'm accepting insight.
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
Dear Temptress, I am deeply stirred by your beautiful poem. It is one of magic and majestic. Ms. E |
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Starmcneil 1955 Member Posts 174 Alberta, Canada |
Your words had me viewing my life as a whole and I realize there has been many times I have started over to learn more lessons that now make me a person I like with visions I love...the past I would never live again but the lessons learned are treasures to me...I love where your words took me...thank you |
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Starmcneil 1955 Member Posts 174 Alberta, Canada |
Tenderness and strength wait below...such heartfelt writings... |
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