Monday, December 5, 2016

These scars of mine



They are wells 
with tulip's skin   

not welts from  
reckless kettle-burns 
nor winter-slashes
on black mirrored ice
and not splintered-stones
moon-stitched, 
lifeless 

you say:   
my memories are treacherously 
frail 

but inside this battle-weary heart
I keep a  
purse of scars
burning 
& stars writhing (still) 



Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Quadrille - 44 word post with the word SCAR - The pub opens at 3pm EST ~  Thanks De ~

39 comments:

  1. I love the way you keep those scars, a precious gift in the way you present them, love the word tulip skinned.

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  2. Oh, Grace. Just gorgeous. "tulip skinned" and THIS:
    "splintered-stones
    moon-stitched,
    lifeless"

    Wonderful.

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  3. Scars make us who we are, all adding up.

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  4. I am scarred up like a berserker, & have learned to cherish & own those lightning swathes outside & in; really enjoyed this one, Grace; terrific word-smithing--liked the lines /I keep a/purse of scars/burning/.

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  5. I love the list of what your scars are not, so telling of what they are. This is simply beautiful and heartwrenching at the same time.

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  6. Holy cannoli! This is insanely good!!!

    The title flowing into the first two lines is pure magic.

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    Replies
    1. I love the suggestion that they might be ink wells, from which you dip inspiration and draw your poems.

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  7. WOW. I love this. Wonderful imagery.

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  8. I liked the idea of keeping "a purse of scars burning".

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  9. Oh my...such a deep and powerful vulnerability in these words. Moving.

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  10. Wow, Grace! Tulip's skin and a purse of scars! The imagery in this quadrille is fabulous. I have so many scars from silly accidents. operations and self-inflicted ones that I can never get rid of - if only I had a purse big enough...

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  11. Beautifully penned Grace and the 'scars burning' makes it feel as if it is very raw and recent. Sending love your way xxx

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  12. Sad but beautiful capture.even through the scars...

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  13. A melancholy remembrance of scars gone by, never to be forgotten why they are there.

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  14. purse of scars
    burning
    & stars writhing (still)... beautifully written.

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  15. I really like this take on scars ☺

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  16. 'battle-weary' and 'tulip skin' phrases that will stick with me. Well done, Grace!

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  17. i love how you define your scar.

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  18. wow...simply gorgeous...I can read this many times...!

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  19. purse of scars
    burning
    & stars writhing (still)

    Gorgeous!!❤️

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  20. I have a purse like that where all the scars not on my skin reside.

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  21. I also love the phrase tulip skinned, and the last couple lines are especially beautiful. So delicate.

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  22. I too like the image of a purse filled with scars, and stars writhing.

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  23. but inside this battle-weary heart
    I keep a purse of scars

    Sometimes one feels the hurt but would rather not flog the issue. This helps maintain harmony!

    Hank

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  24. I keep a purse of stars.......
    I absolutely adore this line! I also like the idea of expressing the kinds of scars they are not. Affirmation in the negative :)

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  25. Mental scars always seem so fresh.

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  26. You've woven a fascinating tale. Love the tulip skin.

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  27. I think we might have the same purse. I think I'd like to replace scars with a purse full of glistening stars

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  28. Some scars last a lifetime but I believe are part and parcel to who we are. Not a bad thing in many ways. I like how this flows. Nice.

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  29. Love how at the end, the scars are like stars and the stars like scars

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  30. What a great way to show how scars make us stronger. Have a wonderful week!

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  31. Every "battle-weary heart" must hold a "purse of scars"...you expressed this so well!

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  32. The images are arresting, particularly the closing one.

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  33. 'I keep a purse of scars burning' I like this image...relate to it, particularly in the context of the whole poem. janice

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  34. "but inside this battle-weary heart
    I keep a
    purse of scars
    burning "
    Wow, I can feel not only the pain, but also maybe an undercurrent of hidden strength, of resolve. Nicely done.

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  35. Some incredible phrasing and images in this ... "wells
    with tulip's skin" (oh my). I am amazed at some of the places your words go to. Stunning.

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  36. How beautiful, Grace. That whole part about memory made me think of the visuals we are shown of the plaques of Alzheimer's--the scars in the brain. So well expressed.

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