Tuesday, December 12, 2017

No title

Celebrate
stagnation
or even a slight decay?
The water 
does not stay
confined 
in the reflective lake
forever,
it is evaporating,
freezing,
expanding against boundaries,
and flowing
into deep grooves.
The landscape 
Is not flat, 
but ripples 
under motion, 
and feeds flames 
with wood and oil.
Celebrate 
the sun
warming our souls
from afar
and incinerating 
broken orbits 
and resurrecting bodies
as an incendiary. 

-Robert L. Jackson III


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16 comments:

  1. SusanDecember 13, 2017 at 6:47 AM

    The fire is frightening, of such mythic dimensions that we forget it is human made. "The water
    does not stay
    confined
    in the reflective lake
    forever"as you say, as you say. Thank you.

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  2. XDecember 13, 2017 at 7:59 AM

    Dang, this has some nice grit to it. I really like those last lines on why to celebrate the sun...resurrecting our bodies to burn in particularly. I also like the hidden wisdom of water. Everything is always changing, not just getting stuck reflecting (on itself). The progression in this is done particularly well.

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  3. Gillena CoxDecember 13, 2017 at 8:38 AM

    "freezing,
    expanding against boundaries,"

    luv these line best for its paradoxical appeal

    much love...

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  4. Anjum Wasim DarDecember 13, 2017 at 10:22 AM

    strange lovely so personally touching

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  5. PanchaliDecember 13, 2017 at 10:32 AM

    'Life' and 'living' are at the core of this poem but at the same time, it is contemplative. Thank-you for your wise words!! I am all for hope...
    Beautifully done!Loved it...

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  6. Sherry Blue SkyDecember 13, 2017 at 10:54 AM

    I love the water, making its own way, and celebrating the sun "warming our souls". Beautiful, Rob.

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  7. Anjum Wasim DarDecember 13, 2017 at 11:06 AM

    nature often gives us reason to celebrate

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  8. MaryDecember 13, 2017 at 3:04 PM

    Whew - thoughtfully depthful!! We do need to celebrate the sun - without which we would not have life at all!

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  9. tonispencerDecember 13, 2017 at 3:59 PM

    We need to celebrate the sun, the water - all of it. Life and death and hope are all contained in this.

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  10. Old EggDecember 13, 2017 at 4:03 PM

    We forget sometimes we are part of nature and should celebrate the awesomeness of Earth, seas, animals, trees and the atmosphere too that keeps us all alive and the sun of course that makes it all possible.

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  11. indybevDecember 13, 2017 at 4:28 PM

    Much to think about here. May the sun warm our hearts!

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  12. ThotpurgeDecember 13, 2017 at 5:43 PM

    and resurrecting bodies
    as an incendiary... love that last bit especially. We are nothing if we cannot be awed by nature and feel humbled.

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  13. Sumana RoyDecember 13, 2017 at 9:30 PM

    I love all the images of flux. Their movement is a kind of celebration, it seems. Life is all purposeful and joy. A lovely poem, Rob.

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  14. purplepeninportland.comDecember 14, 2017 at 11:20 AM

    Always on a precipice waiting to see what Mother Nature brings. Strong poem!

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  15. Khaya RonkainenDecember 15, 2017 at 6:05 AM

    There's a lot to think about in your piece. But the sun warming our souls is hopeful, and something to celebrate.

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  16. ✿February 11, 2018 at 6:42 PM

    Your endings are really strong.

    "incinerating
    broken orbits
    and resurrecting bodies
    as an incendiary"

    ReplyDelete

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