can you imagine it
the world stops spinning
loud music simmers slow,
ice of a hard winter melts;
soft rain arrives
quiet and unannounced
we lay down our warring words,
set aside the practiced rhetoric.
streets remember safety
calm descends
a river's mouth curling in
we breathe the cool air in
what was fogged lifts, clears
we are flowers
thorns
weeds
rolling down the sidewalk
it doesn’t matter
you have to imagine this-
strangers, briefly kindred,
visible amid a polar-vexed skyline,
walking
crossing streets
without flinching
for once
Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight. Inspired by the poem, Proof, By Cornelius Eady, and with the line, You have to imagine it. See you at 3pm EST.
This is fun to read from the bottom to the top. Great poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and well-paced, Grace. I love how the ‘ice of a hard winter melts’ and ‘soft rain arrives quiet and unannounced’. If only those in power would lay down their warring words and set aside their practised rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteI love the way the winter is slowly being pushed aside, these days I cannot read about ice without feeling of what happens
ReplyDeleteYes, I can imagine it, Grace.
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDelete🎇much love
A very refreshing escape, that place.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it and I hope it comes to pass.
ReplyDeletewe are flowers
thorns
weeds
and we must plant a better future....
"we lay down our warring words,
ReplyDeleteset aside the practiced rhetoric.
streets remember safety "
Brilliant, and needed for the times that are in it.
JIM
Beautiful The poem is a breath of fresh air, an exhale. Just beautiful
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem, Grace. Urges the reader to think!
ReplyDeleteAs I read this John Lennon's "Imagine' arose, sweetly inviting with the possibility of peace. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLet's pause for a moment to enjoy a kindred kindness. Nicely done Grace đź‘Ź
ReplyDelete"can you imagine it" Grace, I love this opening, your words throughout, and the close gave me goosebumps. Wonderful stuff.
ReplyDeleteThank you for imagining a future of peace. I very much appreciate your poem. I especially like the streets, remembering safety and people being able to be at ease without flinching. Thank you for hosting. This is from Ali
ReplyDeleteVery nice one Grace!
ReplyDeleteSurely. I can imagine this. Kindred spirits all of us. Yes, please. Let’s all imagine this. Thanks, Grace. Xo, Selma
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautifully subtle metaphor of Winter for the current troubles - you show that it's not necessary to be shouty to induce deep feeling, Grace...
ReplyDeleteIt was beautiful imagining it, Grace! Love the world your words created. A differently paced protest poem!
ReplyDeleteThis speaks all our hearts. I love the last hopeful line: crossing streets
ReplyDeletewithout flinching
for once
A beautiful gentle reminder to imagine what should be the norm - and is in some places though it doesn't seem like it in the world at large. I love "streets remember safety" and the whole of that final stanza.
ReplyDeleteDear Grace, your poetry describes the "city of my dreams" ~ any thinking, sane person's dreams. We lived in MN 24 years, Minneapolis. I have many friends still there, my age and standing on sidewalks, bundled up, holding signs, singing songs ... not willing to leave the city, the State folks call NICE, ironic that is Minnesota's tag line. Thank you for gifting us your lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteNature's beauty appeals to everyone and does unite people, if only briefly.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pleasant wish/dream but for myself Grace I can imagine a world of friendship and a simple low clatter...I can ikagine it but not see it (yet)
ReplyDelete