At dVerse Poetics today the prompt was to write a poem on one of the pictures shown by SueAnn of which I chose the picture shown.
Soldiers standing
in a row to attention
or was it a white picket fence
diminished in colour
yet glowing so the eye catches
the brilliance of the sun
and purple hues glint
just a hint
Then in a blink
the eye misses the glint
In a blink
no more fence
just a mask of
soldiers standing tall
to attention
Like a white picket fence
the wood a defence
marking a space
marking the grave
calling our attention
to the co-existence
of light and shadow
The shadows not first noticed
stretched out like death in a line
eluding to the dark side of life
hidden by the mask of sunshine
the eye drawn away
from the dread
of the black marks in the earth
A place held in the recess of hearts
a path not to tread
the path of suffering
of tears, of cries,
to the insanity of it all
This life
co-existing good and bad
white and black
a white picket fence and dark shadows
two faces, two sides, two masks
two of us inside
the good the evil
the angel and the devil
Focus away and see the light
the brilliance of the sun
and purple hues glinting
the eye catches and holds
yet can't quite erase, diminish
the shadows from the corner
of the eye
Don't fret
the light diminishes the dark
the soldiers stand guard
eternal warriors
a battle fought and won
good over evil
a war raging on
Soldiers standing
in a row to attention
or was it
a white picket fence...
linking with dVerse Poetics
linking with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads
whew....nice....love what you did with the fence...the contrast in the light and dark...and turning them to soldiers...i think each of us carries a bit of each in us...that is for sure...and the capability as well to bring out either...
ReplyDeleteHello Brian, thank you for your kind and encouraging comment. I agree we do have the capability to bring out either side and that is a scary thing but can be a beautiful thing to. Smiles.
DeleteVery cool! Your ability to visualize things is amazing!
ReplyDeleteSunny, you made me laugh with your "cool" it is something I would say, lol. Thank you and also thank you for your kind words Sunny, I appreciate it.
DeleteLovely! I love the contrast of the dark and light. You have a gift!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tina for saying you think I have a gift. I am always humbled and amazed that people like what I write. Smiles.
DeleteYou are so creative Behind the Smile... you find things where other people don't look:)
ReplyDeleteLaunna, thank you, as always you bless me with your gracious words. Smiles.
DeleteI really admire your writing. I'm intrigued by your mind and your ablility to see and write, the thoughtfulness of it all -the dream behind it all that comes out of you and onto paper.
ReplyDeleteWhat a God gift it is!
Blessings, Deanna
Deanna, I am so touched by your gracious and very kind comment, thank you. It certainly is a gift from God and I am amazed myself at times and humbled that people like what is written. Blessings.
Deletewow. you pulled so much from that image and brought it to life so beautifully. the struggle between good and evil, light and dark.... nicely done!
ReplyDeleteHello RMP, thank you so much for your kind comment :-)
DeleteThis shows me that my talent is not in writing poems. I could never of come up with these wonderful words. Thank you always for sharing your heart. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteJBR you give me such encouragement, bless you for that because to be honest I am always amazed anyone likes what I have written. I never know what words are going to flow from the pen but I keep going until no more come and then cringing a little I post it. Smiles.
DeleteSame with me. If my blogs flows freely without struggle, I know it is the Spirit. Blessings.
DeleteThanks so much for sharing this poem which pictures to controversy of good and bad of hope and losing hope in our lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you Beth, it is a constant battle isn't it of good/bad and holding onto hope. Smiles.
Deletehe light diminishes the dark
ReplyDeletethe soldiers stand guard
That really is beautiful. A white picket fence... I will never look at it quite the same way again.
Thank you Margaret. I won't look the same way at a white picket fence either :-)
DeleteI am with Margaret...I will never look at a white picket fence the same...this is beautiful! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Carrie, I appreciate your kind comment. Smiles.
DeleteThis poem slowly reeled me in as I read. At first it seems pretty straight-forward - then the narrator steps back and allows us to see an alternate reality, so much broader that first glance.......then you touch on human nature, widen the scope even more, and bring us home with hope, and with warriors winning the battle of good over evil. A surprising and really effective piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry I appreciate your analysis and your comment.
DeleteWhen prompted you deliver. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Raining Iguanas, I feel encouraged :-)
DeleteIt's so interesting how light can change shapes and the perception changes...nice.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true Katy and I think of when places even rooms that we are familiar with change in the dark and can become unfamiliar. Thank you for your comment. Smiles.
DeleteI like the way you saw the white picket fence as a row of soldiers: guarding and keeping boundaries intact.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kerry, I appreciate your comment. Smiles.
DeleteYour interpretation of the picket fence photo is lovely. Good vs. Evil. Dark vs. Light. It's everything we live with every day. I'm always hoping light and love win. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteI always hope the same Michele that even when it does not feel like it light, love and hope win. Smiles.
DeleteThe analogy is fantastic and hs alot of punch with repetition. I love the play on god and bad. light and dark, and I especially like the line "stretched out like death in a line"...great visual. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Herotomost for your insight and encouraging words. Smiles.
DeleteOh...the imagery...you should write more poems captured from photos and paintings! This is thus far, my favorite poem by you!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the way you tie soldiers and dark and light and evil and good. So beautiful and inspirational!!
Thank you Dionne. I had never thought of using a picture before to prompt a poem but I enjoyed giving it a go. I don't really see myself as a poet but when I write it just seems to come out that way. I will give it another go at some point. :-)
DeleteI like the contrast too and use of the picket fence as soldiers ~ Good weaving of words and pleased to meet you ~
ReplyDeletePleased to meet you Heaven. Thank you for your encouraging words. Smiles.
Deletepowerfully written and I like the analogy....You know how to spin words so incredibly
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah (Nikki) I appreciate your kind words :-)
Delete