i didn't think of myself
-not in the beginning-
until he commended me -
chaste daughter, kind tempered, patient
virtues that he valued
as silky pearls, layer upon layer
-seven times seven-
shimmering under summer sky
the affirmation is I am
-an ending-
by what I have sacrificed
laboriously, under repeated threshing
-seven times seven-
my vanity, anger, greed, envy, sins
my life for his
until my caring hands wrinkled
husking the grains
and my voice became hoarse
following his
reciting the prayers
for the dying
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - 7 times 7, hosted by Amaya. We are to write about seven virtues and seven deadly sins. Please note that this poem is not about myself; just my reflections about gaining virtues.
Your poem is very personal,Grace, even though you have said it is not about you, but personal to a reader especially the lines:
ReplyDelete'chaste daughter, kind tempered, patient
virtues that he valued
as silky pearls, layer upon layer'
and I like the repetition of 'seven times seven'. I also like the way you have contrasted the virtues in separate stanzas.
You brought a tear to my eye with the lines:
'until my caring hands wrinkled
husking the grains
and my voice became hoarse'.
I love the alluding to x7, which could also be interpreted as 70 x 7 in forgiveness. A beautiful tribute to your father and coming full circle in the end.
ReplyDeleteYour last five lines exemplify an endurance and love that few will know in a lifetime. A saintly compassion. Beautiful poem, Grace.
ReplyDeleteA powerful poetic, both tribute and lesson, memory and metaphor. Some incredible lines--the last stanza is killer.
ReplyDeleteNice last stanza about the prayers for the dying.
ReplyDeleteDeath can sure brings things back around, not always for the better.
ReplyDeleteYour last stanza is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love this portion 'by what I have sacrificed
ReplyDeletelaboriously, under repeated threshing'. It creates a really vivid image of trial and hardship. It's worded perfectly.
“...my caring hands wrinkled
ReplyDeletehusking the grains....”
A beautiful poem, and yet, sad for me, in memory.
ReplyDeleteSo Many ways to Die in Life
ReplyDeleteSo Many ways to Suffer in Misery
And So Many Ways to be Happy
As Long
As Passions
And Love and
Yes Rationality
are not
closed
off in School/Work/Church/Home Lockers
NeVeR EVeN LiVinG aT aLL Free TeMplE LoViNG WiLD.
the ending is so poignant.
ReplyDeleteI love how many ways this can be interpreted.
ReplyDeleteOne person's virtue can be another's lack of agency. I read the speaker's words and see a road regrettably left untravelled.
Thought provoking work.