Monday, December 24, 2012

Cautionary Tale


Her small fingers brushed paint in bold unconscious strokes
Painting her future without knowing of love undying
Picking flowers with a man who was dad, angel, love, accident
He held her firmly on his perfect broad shoulders

Roses open on gush of lust
White carnations, death and dust
Orchids seal unhappy tombs
Women weep in too small rooms

The instant he transformed into that man endearing
One could not catch the instant the light changed
Only that there, in her chest, flutters of what could be
Collided like atoms with what was, reaching for meaning

Poppies grew to meet our toes
Lilies grown to meet God's woes
Freesias stab through rich dark soil
Shining fancies wrapped in foil

Her gnarled fingers scratched experience in bold conscious strokes
Subtle warnings of life not wasted, but not lived
The sparkle in her eye now the light of ages captured
And doled out in precious flowers once picked for him

Flowers held to her quiet chest
Stems so strong to build a nest
Leaves divert the perfect rain
Winds that mask deaths dark refrain

Realization comes late for rendering proper decisions
So life greets the day with a lesson of what could have been
Eating that day with  honey and rice helps to cover
The bitter taste of regret born of living in the shadow of natures flow



11 comments:

  1. Cautionary indeed.
    Halfway between 'Gather ye rosebuds' and 'Non, rien de rien...'
    Liked the way age was denoted by the hands at work.

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  2. corey, how wonderful and true. the lesson, "Subtle warnings of life not wasted, but not lived..."
    i am paying attention!
    best wishes for a wonderful holiday with your family. xoxo

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  3. I love the alternating stanzas, one telling the tale, the other reflective. It works really well. Beautifully written.

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  4. I like the bold strokes and deft words ~ Vivid tale, weaving stanzas, reflective voice towards the ending lines ~

    Wishing you and your family Merry Christmas Corey ~

    Cheers to a joyful season ~

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  5. Dear Corey~
    You've offered a glimpse into varied possibilites and made this poet/reader ponder perspective and attitude, action and affection. The two part telling here, with amazing floral symbolism, effectively grabs and holds the attention, leading the reader to the next stanza for some sort of fulfillment.
    Thank you, and holiday cheer!

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  6. the transitions between the gathering of flowers and the alternate story are so elegantly entwined... and such is life no? many stories form one life entangled with the lives of others and all experiences... so beautiful... you are such a gift to us all.

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  7. I love the flower stanzas the most - the symbolism is so rich and they are also very visual. You always offer a multi-layered view of love and relationships in your poetry, more than give and take, the passion is always clouded by an element of pain, whether it be loss or betrayal. This is why your lines have impact on the consciousness of your readers.
    Case in point:
    The instant he transformed into that man endearing
    One could not catch the instant the light changed
    Only that there, in her chest, flutters of what could be
    Collided like atoms with what was, reaching for meaning...

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  8. How sad we live life but not really "live" it. How beautifully you have presented that fact. I have less tomorrows in front of me and I am living them as best I can!

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  9. I think this may be the first piece of yours that I have read; it won't be the last--so beautifully crafted and layered--I too love the richness of the alternating verses--

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  10. I love how you unearthed this treasure! I could so relate to the richness and yet the thorns of life. We always have to continue to grow through the bitter n' the sweet~
    Thank you Corey, I love this poem~

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  11. There are lots of possibilities and ways of fulfillment attending to them. These can be testing to many. Nicely said Herotomost!

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays!


    Hank

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