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The Fire and the Rose

The Fire and the Rose

 

If death greets us singly, one-by-one, alone

And asks why we should not be taken back,

The brave will say (or else the wiser grown)

That little terror lies along that track;

Since each knows well he lives in separate rooms

Though sometimes letting others stay awhile,

But still the doorway closes as a tomb

Excludes affliction, slights the sinner's guile.

So as the heedless, drifting years move on

And Good and Evil visit in their turn,

Be wary of the Fire of triumphs won,

The Rose's siren lure that strives to burn.

         I stood upon a rock in morning shade,

         Saw figures lost in darkness shadows made.

 

Chris Hubbard

Perth

2016

 

 

🌷(2)

deathbraveseparatedoorwaytombguiletriumphsshadeshadows

◄ Solitude

Three Nocturnes ►

Comments

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Chris Hubbard

Fri 27th Oct 2017 06:15

Harry,

Thank you for your comments. I enjoyed reading them, as indeed I find that writing and reading sonnets (and other forms such as the Petrarchan sonnet, and Dante's "terza rima" tercet) ultimately more satisfying than alternatives such as blank verse.

I do think you have captured a great deal of the essence I sought to convey in this poem, although of course each person will have their own set of understandings.

I wrote this with a sense of humility, and I wrote it both for myself and for others. I too believe in 'Hope' as the balm - of a simple life.

All the best,

Chris Hubbard

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Harry O'Neill

Thu 26th Oct 2017 14:38

Chris,
congratulations on the sonnet form of this, It makes
the points made clearer.

I like the clear abruptness of those first two lines , which then proceed a (warningly?) through the experiences of our own `private` rooms, the ends in a kind of misty world.

The form enables the power of that;
`Be wary of the `Fire ` of triumphs won`

(as it raises the plane of the whole poem)...It`s a gift from the past,

(as someone nearer the door now, I am personally very grateful for the presence of that word `Hope` between
Faith and Charity.) .

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