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Silence
( after Louise Glück )
At no time, while the spirit
moves through you, are you dead.
You cannot be fooled,
You are not proud of this fact.
And all things being equal,
no matter the wasteland
or inclement weather,
is all there is, nothing you can do.
Still, I can’t bleed for new chicks
that have no history, this latest
generation that thinks
I can’t spell, or buy a chair.
Mine look at me as if I’m a typo
from a dead language
that lies in a silted harbor
where Trojan warships once stood.
They mimic a blasé-insatiable age
while I could no longer care less—
anticipating the lack of
what everyone else anticipates.
At no time, while the spirit
moves through you, are you dead.
You cannot be fooled,
You are not proud of this fact.
And all things being equal,
no matter the wasteland
or inclement weather,
is all there is, nothing you can do.
Still, I can’t bleed for new chicks
that have no history, this latest
generation that thinks
I can’t spell, or buy a chair.
Mine look at me as if I’m a typo
from a dead language
that lies in a silted harbor
where Trojan warships once stood.
They mimic a blasé-insatiable age
while I could no longer care less—
anticipating the lack of
what everyone else anticipates.
Written by
Heaven_sent_Kathy
Published 3rd Jan 2020
Author's Note
Inspired by Louise Glück’s “Averno”
https://static.poetryfoundation.org/jstor/i23068565/pages/35.png
and “The Past”
https://poets.org/poem/past-1
For the Classic Corner tribute “Archaic Fragment”, hosted by Ahavati & JohnnyBlaze.
https://static.poetryfoundation.org/jstor/i23068565/pages/35.png
and “The Past”
https://poets.org/poem/past-1
For the Classic Corner tribute “Archaic Fragment”, hosted by Ahavati & JohnnyBlaze.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 6
reading list entries 1
comments 10
reads 891
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Re. Silence
3rd Jan 2020 11:08am
written beautifully about how we age in cycles of life as a baby to an teen to becoming an adult nicely composed...respect
1
Re: Re. Silence
25th Jan 2020 8:07am
Thank you Stoney I appreciate your read and thoughts.
blessed and blessings
Kathy
blessed and blessings
Kathy
Re: Re. Silence
25th Jan 2020 11:03am
Re. Silence
Anonymous
3rd Jan 2020 12:27pm
Wow. This is quite a stunning engagement with the mind, especially that 4th stanza. Good luck in the challenge, Kathy!
1
Re: Re. Silence
25th Jan 2020 8:10am
Thank you JohnnyBlaze. I'm always glad to have your reaction to my CC entrees.
blessed and blessings
Kathy
blessed and blessings
Kathy
Re. Silence
3rd Jan 2020 10:09pm
The essence of Averno ( one of my favorites of hers ) is what matters. It illustrates the contrast between thought processes of old and young; particularly highlighting how the young tend to eschew the elderly in regards to intelligence levels when their memory begins to fade. I always loved how she equated their importance over a name of something as mundane as a chair to an elderly person's overall database of knowledge. If they can't remember the name of something so simply, how on earth are they to remember something important to advise me about life? This is the dilemma that faces age from the majority of youthful perspective. I think you captured that perfectly here.
The fourth stanza truly captures the essence of 'The Past', which is nostalgia and natural relations to current situations. I enjoyed that one of hers because of the pines - they do make an otherworldly noise when wind moves through them, and the image of the hammock, moving with them under that sound is stunning imagery and food for thought regarding spiritual talk. Stanza two also hints of this with words such as wasteland and inclement weather. Nothing may ever seem as it is when another can relate to what was.
Another excellent entry to kick the classics off this year. Best of luck in the competition!
The fourth stanza truly captures the essence of 'The Past', which is nostalgia and natural relations to current situations. I enjoyed that one of hers because of the pines - they do make an otherworldly noise when wind moves through them, and the image of the hammock, moving with them under that sound is stunning imagery and food for thought regarding spiritual talk. Stanza two also hints of this with words such as wasteland and inclement weather. Nothing may ever seem as it is when another can relate to what was.
Another excellent entry to kick the classics off this year. Best of luck in the competition!
1
Re: Re. Silence
Generous dear One
I've wanted so much to reply to your wonderful comment to my entry but I'm nothing close to the way you weave your word magic to those who feel fortunate that you've chosen them for the time you invest. And I'm a novice in the short time I've studied Louise, but I remember I once said how I am warming up to her work.
I moments ago published and entered my second poet tribute in the competition. Whatever anyone may think or not think of it, I wanted to see what else I could do before the time ran out. I'm glad I gave it a try with both my entries.
You have in turn inspired poets here like me when it comes to the CC tributes. Truly an honor.
blessed and blessed
Kathy xo
I've wanted so much to reply to your wonderful comment to my entry but I'm nothing close to the way you weave your word magic to those who feel fortunate that you've chosen them for the time you invest. And I'm a novice in the short time I've studied Louise, but I remember I once said how I am warming up to her work.
I moments ago published and entered my second poet tribute in the competition. Whatever anyone may think or not think of it, I wanted to see what else I could do before the time ran out. I'm glad I gave it a try with both my entries.
You have in turn inspired poets here like me when it comes to the CC tributes. Truly an honor.
blessed and blessed
Kathy xo
Re. Silence
4th Jan 2020 10:24pm
This is an uncommonly satiric piece to me on first glance, which I found intriguing. Nice allusion to the classics. Direct voice is engaging and has a sobering authority. Was unfamiliar with the author in tribute, thank you for the links. Great work I hope you do well in the comp!
1
Re: Re. Silence
25th Jan 2020 8:23am
With grateful thanks for your support Daniel and your thorough reads. I am not trophy material, but I am very thankful for the CC challenges that help me work on technique and poets of the past and present I would not have taken the time to learn about if not for these.
Please pardon my gush, I don't come here as often as I'd like.
blessed and blessings
Kathy
Please pardon my gush, I don't come here as often as I'd like.
blessed and blessings
Kathy
Re. Silence