Here is the truce
between us,
a little truce
that may not make the night
but let us keep it
like you keep a flame
alive with cupped hands
when the wind is blowing
let us nurture it
like a baby bird
that we suspect will not make it.
It is almost sweet
how we treat one another
when we know
it will not last,
let us survey the rubble
in the momentary
humanitarian pause
let us dig a little
in the devastation
and look for a hand waving out,
another reaching in.
You know how much I always like your work. And this is really good.
What I question - just a little - are the final seven lines that draw on the terrible images of life and death in all-out war and devastation. The collapse of relationships can be life-changing, but are rarely death-producing, such as these circumstances used for poetical effect.
We have always been honest with our thoughts. I express my opinion with respect, always. It is certainly at odds with the other comments.
this certainly resonates with me, a nice piece
great poem Tom, for me this works on so many levels as David has mentioned on a personal level but also in the wider context, perhaps I am stating the obvious. But none the less beautiful
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Tom Harding
Wed 19th Oct 2016 20:07
Hi all, many thanks for your thoughtful comments.
David - thanks for sharing, it's a strange and bewildering moment when you know things have moved to a irreparable state.
Cynthia - as always I appreciate your honest and thoughtful comments! I hope you know I wouldn't never try to put it on or fake it for the trivial for the purposes of a poem and i'm sorry if it seemed that way.
i know what a butcher shop the world is - I didn't mean to devalue one thing for another.