Friday, July 22, 2016

in retrospect


  i, stone of beliefs
  i, close-fisted, held it

sure as sun rising
everyday in my small tropical home

then tides came-
there are 4 seasons 
storms
& silence
for a reason

in my mid-life
  i, cup of water rivulet
  i, palmless traveller

roots & being adrift
are good companions-
while a heavy luggage
is a pain to carry-

and getting older (hopefully) means:
  i, sponge
  i, seed 


                                 

@ Grace


Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Part 5 of 5th Anniversary Celebration, Hosted by Gayle Walters Rose.   I have spent my vacation with my aging folks and I have thought a lot of my changing beliefs, and growing old.

Please check out the interview of Anthony Desmond here, and our short poetry prompt about changing beliefs.    So this ends our week's celebration at D'verse.   Thanks for all the visits!!!

25 comments:

  1. I especially like this part, Grace: "roots & being adrift/are good companions/while a heavy luggage/
    is a pain to carry."

    Life has a way of uprooting us and casting us adrift. I guess the test is to see how we manage. This evoked strong emotions, Grace.

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  2. Everything has a purpose. This is hard for us especially in light of some of the disasters and large scale tragedies...to wrap our minds around...especially when there is a personal connection. ...I think the older we get the more well rounded our beliefs become

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  3. Oh this is wonderful... to uproot yourself means to find new soil... truly great the way you use the short lines to show the change of purpose.

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  4. Being with our elderly parents does this to us. Carry burdens for other people is so very heavy and hard. It is hard enough for us to carry our own burdens.

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  5. Love this... def when you're younger and still figuring things out, you go back and forth; beliefs switch up quite often for sure... as you get older, you're more firm and confident in what you decide to carry in your heart.

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  6. There is such wisdom in this piece. Beautifully penned, Grace.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  7. To be uprooted is a tremendous change in life. It was a major decision but worth it, certainly! Rightly so,Grace!

    Hank

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  8. Words of wisdom Grace. Our experiences of life change who we are, alter our beliefs, yet often we gain strength because of it.
    I am sure you are well-rooted, strong as you appear to be.
    Kind regards
    Anna :o]

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  9. Yes, being forced to start again, then again, in a new place, with a new mind set--that is the stuff of life. Many of us who run with the dVerse pack of poets are in the autumn of things, & your words resonate with insight & truth & wisdom.

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  10. Such poignant words. As I come closer to being 64 I understand and relate.

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  11. I love what you did with your little (i) eyes. And it looks like they're even crying.

    These are my favorites:

    "i, close-fisted, held it

    sure as sun rising
    everyday in my small tropical home"

    "i, sponge
    i, seed" ... This makes me think that you have to soak up before you can give.

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    Replies
    1. Today, I realize that your hidden title is "Retro, I speak (t)." I speak of/in the past.

      Also, "Retro eye: speak." Maybe even "Retry I (me)." Or "Retry, eye.'

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  12. "i, stone of beliefs / i, close-fisted, held it"..." life begins this way & time gradually loosens the fingers...love this journey Grace, learning through experiences...so insightful...

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  13. 'i, stone of beliefs
    i, close-fisted, held it'
    Yes,beliefs are like stones and they can weight us down. I love the way you have encapsulated this in the opening line - a firm statement until 'the tides came'. I love the transition from stone to tree.

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  14. Very good description of your journey thus far Grace, although as I age, I see myself not trying to soak up anymore, but remaining close fisted to what I see and know to be violations of the eternal being of man.

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  15. The older we get the more open we do seem to be. Or maybe we just forget things easier lol

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  16. Love the transition from stone to seeds.

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  17. Loved the idea that the older we get the more we can learn.

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  18. WeLL.. my friend
    Grace.. as we gracefully
    Age as Maslow well puts..
    there are two paths
    one of stagnation
    and the other
    of rebirth..
    yes reborn..
    no different
    than that metaphor
    of Jesus2.. where we self
    actualize and the God head
    i becomes one with I.. every
    culture talks to this.. some in
    religion some in voice with
    Nature.. but the bottom
    line is.. when one is
    in balance with
    God one grows
    from birth to
    death
    and grows
    again.. it
    doesn't take
    a rocket scientist
    to see inside to
    outside.. to above
    to below.. to all around
    but sure books can hide
    it all
    in words
    that never grow
    uP
    with
    God
    more
    as a greater
    force of liGht
    and liFE as co-creator
    toGetHer in a grace of
    age where age is only illusion
    of humans hooked on form
    instead of essence
    of what
    we sense
    and FeeL
    of liFE of intelligence
    before collected words
    of yesternows
    that
    hold
    no
    new..
    of iSREaL with GOD..
    smiles.. and thanks for the
    inspiration along the way..
    i have to give you credit..
    winks.. at
    least you
    don't delete
    my poetic
    comments..
    as if any of that
    matters in the real
    Kingdom of God and
    Nature now same that
    focuses all
    on giving
    and
    sharing
    rather
    than
    taking
    in ways
    of likes
    and follows..
    money..
    etc..
    big houses
    that become
    God and
    cars
    that
    are
    Ladies
    in Red
    for Lovers..
    and suits with ties the same
    without
    human
    being
    before
    the
    Apple..
    with so much
    greater fearless Love iSREAL..:)

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  19. Lovely, Grace. Change - it can be tough, generally is, but it can be so worth the effort (even if we only realise that in retrospect).

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  20. This is quite wonderful, being in the late stages of my life, I can relate to your journey and say that, for me, your words ring true
    " and getting older (hopefully) means:
    i, sponge
    i, seed "
    It does for me, I hope it will for you :-)

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  21. This is just wonderful, Grace. That transformation from stone to water is the work of a lifetime. I do love the wisdom and truth in this.

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  22. Retrospect is what you have with each year you pass. Nicely done.

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