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Sunday 1 September 2013

Poem: Summer Garden




behind a crooked smile
                you hide your memories of love
                safely sealed from treacherous hands of strangers
yours is the image of a girl
                who dressed as flowers and never said much
                but she offered a rose prize
in the tree house you broke your hearts
                but you forgave each other
                for the words were seams
yours is the image of fallen angels
                in the dewy grass of the summer morning
                sea salt on your skins
every seed carries life and death
                but you know that without mortality
                we could not appreciate the beauty
you picked strawberries off her bare thighs
                because you knew the colour of loneliness
                and how fast it can spread
touched her, like you would touch a flame
                running through the storm until the cold deafened your senses
                and you ran out of matches
it's strange to think we all look up at the stars
                and ask for our wishes to be granted
                as if they know the balance between making us grateful but not bitter
the drum keeps on beating
                and you keep murmuring
                until the day is done
then the shadow of her, which you carry
                becomes unbearably heavy
                and you trust to the moon, the one little secret
of how you wish to go back and tell her everything you know now

*

19 comments:

  1. A sad reflection on a romance that should have flowered. The lingering image that haunts this lovely poem is "you knew the colour of loneliness..."

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  2. Ive never come across another poet around here who handles romantic poems as painfully beautiful as you do. I'm blown over by the words. It just falls perfectly in place. Cheers to your poetry. Happy Sunday. :)

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  3. Love the reflective voice in this poem, Natasa. Hard sometimes to look back on what was...wondering what could have been done to keep it....So many beautiful lines. I like especially:

    every seed carries life and death
    but you know that without mortality
    we could not appreciate the beauty

    So very, very true. This poem 'touched' me deeply.

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  4. I love your format in this poem, the offset lines add to the overall pensive mood.
    I would like to invite you to share a poem of your choice on our Open Link Monday at The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads. All are welcome.

    http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/

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  5. Evocative. Some many lovely images drawn. Thanks for coming by.

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  6. you picked strawberries off her bare thighs
    because you knew the colour of loneliness

    dang what a great line and really the crux of this for me...the weight of her loneliness becoming unbearable as well...love the creative texture you use to create the mood in this natasa

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  7. At least he is now remorseful.

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  8. Oh, those regrets that stay with us...the heart related ones that do weigh a soul down. This is beautiful and tender, Natasa.

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  9. I enjoyed the wistful mood of your poem! You have used some very powerful imagery. Nice ending too.

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  10. i admire especially this verse:

    it's strange to think we all look up at the stars
    and ask for our wishes to be granted
    as if they know the balance between making us grateful but not bitter

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  11. An incredibly beautiful write with so many wonderful images......I especially loved "yours is the image of fallen angels in the dewy grass of a summer morning".....your closing lines really bring this poem home. Sigh. Lovely work!

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  12. Nice! I love your photos too!
    ZQ

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  13. the image of a girl
    who dressed as flower

    will stay with me, as will the rest of this poignant poem of becoming - & oh, the things we'd like to tell the child... live on

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  14. I specially like the last 4 ending lines ~ Very good reflection, enjoyed your share ~

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  15. Filled with beautiful images and captivating lines, so very lovely!

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  16. You know I needn't say anything about this one.
    Except that it is just masterful. And beautiful.

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  17. I love forlorn regret and this is an excellent conveyance of it. Very well done, and thank you for sharing.

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  18. one can feel love and regret in those lovely lines.

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