in truth
in her youth
she burned
her rhythms changed
with the seasons
as they later changed
tic tok tic tok
time
or was it?
#
They all had hope they said
grow straight
bend to love
understand life is not easy
nor meant to be
let your mouth bleed
before you speak of anger
close your eyes
to blind the world to your foolish thoughts
#
listen
listen
listen
to
others
#
for you have naught
of consequence
#
listen
listen
listen
#
she did
#
’til
her mouth filled
and spilled the blood of anger
#
’til
her lashes rose
and her thoughts flew
to touch the soft
clouds underbelly
#
tic
tok
her lips blood red
smile
#
listen
listen
listen
#
she watches
the sound of dew splatting
the morning sun’s heat
drowns her in it’s aroma
of colour
#
light
a formless key turning
her lips blood red
she smiles
#
#
Written for ABC Wednesday – have a peek at how other people see the letter H.
Also submitted to dVerse – Poets Pub – Open Link Night – Week 8
For some great poetry, call in for a drink and a read.
Brilliant – love it 🙂
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Thanks Juls – love it when you pop in and praise !!!!!!!!!!!!! It means a lot to me. 🙂
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Interesting work.
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Thank you for saying that. 🙂 And for stopping by. 🙂
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HI Jo, great poem i loved it you put some thought into it.
I’m going to have a try at writing a poem 🙂
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What a great compliment from you !!!!! I think you should have a go – can’t wait to read what you come up with !!! 🙂
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Thats what i’m afraid of as well.
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Hehehehehe – it will be all good as well you know. 😉
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My poem is ready and will be published to-morrow 🙂 and then i will be slated by everyone 🙂
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Slated ?? Don’t be silly – we will probably all be drooling with envy at your word crafting. 🙂
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I nearly feel of my seat laughing at that statement 🙂
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For God’s sake man – don’t break a hip – LMAO – I’ll never get over the guilt – that’s another thing I know about – guilt. Hmmmmmmm – perhaps a poem is on its way. LOL
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Sometimes it’s better to let rip and say what you need to say rather than keep it all bottled up the way she did and have blood red lips from biting her tongue and holding her peace. Very, very vivid imagery, poor woman.
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Thanks. And i agree wholeheartedly with what you say 😉
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Hi Jo
creative and interesting and if your inspiring others – what more could you ask?
cheers
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Not a lot Arron. Thanks 😉
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I enjoyed it, thank you. And I loved the photo too.
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Thank you for your comment – appreciated greatly 🙂
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Has quality of a sestina with repeated words and images, but compressed and hard-hitting. Thanks. K.
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Thank you – I had not seen that quality in it. It is always great to hear what other people see in something you create. 🙂
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Inspiring… is the right word.
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Well now that might be the word for “I” next week. 🙂
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Very efficient use of the words and spaces, all assembled on the page in a dramatic spill like the words of the “she” described by the narrator. This definitely has an explosive quality, a lot of pent up frustration–a very ‘red’ poem in feel, and definitely one that should be ‘read’ as well. Enjoyed it much.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I love that you enjoyed it so much. 🙂
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Jo, I am truly enjoying your journey through the alphabet. I really liked H. You did a wonderful job with this poem. xo
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Thank you madam poet. I love getting your opinion on these scribblings of mine. It means a lot that you liked it to me. 🙂
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yeah, i dont usually hold my tongue well…i should probably listen more…love the stanza on the dew splattering, it is offbeat a bit and fits perfect…smiles.
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Thanks Brian . 🙂 I love to hear what parts of a poem speak to someone – thanks for commenting and telling me what you liked.
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I feel we are lost without hope. Very effective. Love the visual.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
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Thanks Roger – so glad to visited and enjoyed. 🙂
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Wish I have that poet talent like yours Jo!
My ABC is about the only Horse ride I can tolerate.
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A poem can be about the simplest of things – these are often the most honest accounts – and they touch others. So don’t knock your poem about a horse ride – celebrate it. 🙂
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Takes time to unlearn all that proper girl stuff. Glad you found your fire; I’m still looking for mine.
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It will come – mine took half a century of searching LOL 🙂
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I absolutely loved reading this.. Creative and wonderful poem
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Thank you for saying so 🙂
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Written from the H-eart. I enjoyed reading this… // Peter.
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Hi Peter, so glad you liked it. 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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Thank you Jo, for sharing your thoughts about Hope. Without hope people will get lost. There are times in life that you could do with a lot of hopeful signs.
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I agree completely with what you say – we would be shells without hope in our lifes.
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Hope is something essential for us humans !
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It is – my daughter was just telling me about a Times article about people and hope and optimism. Can’t wait to read it.
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I loved reading this. “let your mouth bleed before you speak of anger” ~ Wow! As a southerner raised to be a proper young lady, do I ever identify with that! Your use of words is powerful. I look forward to reading more of your work.
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Thank you Cecelia – I know that many of my generation were raised to believe that it was not proper to speak of these things. Happy to hear you will be back for more. 🙂
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This is great, Jo. I love all the compressed meanings. I totally agree with the comment above about the line ‘let your mouth bleed before you speak of anger’. That’s very powerful imagery and says so much. (Loved ‘formless key’ too.) I also really like the question left hanging ‘ Or was it?’ – that’s very effective. Perhaps answered at the end by a powerful smile? Wonderful. I’d be very interested to know how you work – do you write and re-write a lot? Or do some poems and lines just ‘write themselves’?
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I have no method. Maybe I am strange in that. Some things I write and put away to be reworked, looked at again after I have managed to distance myself from the work. I get very attached to some of these babies (words). That makes it hard to be critical – so I need some space, then when I look at them again I can see more clearly what works/what doesn’t. At least I hope that is the case. Other times they seem to write themselves. I am actually surprised when I look down and see what has appeared before me on paper or on the computer screen. I wrote a piece called Colin Arthur Bryant and the third child like that. It started out because I was thinking of Dad on his 102nd birthday. I looked down and there it was – I did not edit or change a word. That doesn’t happen often though – mostly I edit, re-edit, then edit some more. Ahhhhhhhhhh – a writers life. 🙂
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Hope and love to help us deal with the anger — so wonderfully written and visualized. Thank you!
HelenMac
ABC Team
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Thanks Helen for you comment – it is appreciated greatly. 🙂
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Much of the world could be improved if only more would listen…but powerful words Jo, quite the journey you take us on here. It’s quite the learning experience!
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Hi Chris – what a lovely comment. Thank you for taking the time to offer your opinion here on this poem. 🙂
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a unique look at anger and especially how society encourages woman in particular to “just grin and bear it” – some of us just can’t do that and when we do it is not a healthy thing. great poem
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Very unhealthy for anyone to do that I think. 🙂 So glad you liked it.
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Hi, Rob Kistner here. Thanks for visiting Image & Verse Jo. This is a piece well written, engaging – good work… I have a new piece here: http://www.image-verse.com/disappearing
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Thank you Rob. I wish I hadn’t seen this same comment on every other post you have visited though – it might mean more then. 🙂
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Very powerful poem Jo, really enjoyed reading it – hope you’ll post some more!
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Thank you – I am glad you liked it. I have been doing the A-Z challenge with ABC Wednesday each week and my plan is to write a poem for a word each week. 🙂
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Jo, have you read Charles Wright? “Balm in Gilead” is my fave poem ever…it’s the one I borrowed for Spiritkeeper.
xo
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Never read him until now – just found “Balm in Gilead” – WOW – you did too you little borrower you !!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 Need to find more now. Thank you for the introduction. Oh how I love the way poetry finds us.
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Cool poem. I especially liked this line – “grow straight bend to love”
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Thank you my favourite cavewoman. 🙂 I like your liking it – a lot. 🙂
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I felt uneasy as I read, and the ‘listen, listen, listen’ refrain seemed to add even more intensity. Well done!
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Hi Lori – I am glad you felt uneasy. It is supposed to make to hesitate about going further. You could not have said anything to make me happier. 🙂 Thank you !!
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At first It reminded me of Cat Stevens Father and Son, but then it soon morphed into a wild ride a million times better. with fire, sky, and water. my eyes could see and my ears could hear. I think this is my new favorite now.
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Awwwwww – thanks Sara. I love your comment – it made my day – I have to say that this will be one of my favourites – I know it’s like choosing a fav among your children – but some just worm their way into you – this poem has done that to me. 🙂
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I wish I could mesmerize through cyberspace half as well, young lady!
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Awwwwww – I love your visits. I always feel uplifted and good when you leave a piece of your opinion on here. Thanks 😉
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Beautiful read……confession: I felt as though you were speaking to me! My lips should be blood red! Very tightly written, very efficient use of words… I enjoyed this a lot… Thank you for sharing……
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That is great to hear – thank you John.
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