"Consider the fact that, before people can meet people, other people need to meet people just to create the people who will one day meet, fall down and sometimes make other people who will one day meet people. Follow the trail into the future and the line never ends. Head in reverse, you eventually arrive at the first meeting of seed and soil." Dave Jarecki - (Read Write Poem prompt #119)This part of the prompt struck a cord with me, as I just had a recent conversation about existence, procreation, and all things in between. This piece may not follow the prompt idea to the letter, but it sure got my mind working...(below the poem you will find a more detailed description of the conversation I had.)
From those brimstone prophets,
concrete in their message,
entrusted to them and
their fathers before,
to smug-lipped scientists,
with reams of equations,
pumped full of their knowledge,
and insistence to share.
While banging their fists,
they duel over theories,
but each is just worthy
of a bare, passing glance.
For no one that sure
should be quite believed in.
Have only they been anointed
with miraculous answers?
We each possess our own gift,
to be sure as those sages,
or happily spend our lives
-searching-
and exist for the questions.
For beneath each small slice
of a star-shot night,
lies every wondrous,
magical,
astonishing truth.
Just empty your mind of
your crammed in convictions,
embracing amazement
within your heart.
Be free to fly, to imagine,
and open childlike eyes,
Then quite simply,
joyfully-
Look
Up.
Last week my 8 year old granddaughter started asking me the "BIG" questions...what came first, the chicken or the egg? The seed or the flower? Were there other people on other planets out there somewhere? Did I think God made the world or was it just some lucky accident? I told her no one really knows or ever truly can and the best thing she could do is think these things out for herself, (which is what her grandma is STILL doing), and that sometimes the quest for knowledge is the greatest gift.
Hi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Keep an open mind and enjoy the wonder. Grandmas are clever people!
This grandma HAS to be with such smartypants grandchildren! Thanks, Derrick!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite combination of words is right here:
ReplyDelete>>Just empty your mind of
your crammed in convictions,
embracing amazement
within your heart.
Beautiful. Just beautiful!
Cynthia, I like the way you have led the prompt to the level of exploring exitence. Loved these lines which in my opinion is the soul of the poem -
ReplyDelete'For beneath each small slice
of a star-shot night,
lies every wondrous,
magical,
astonishing truth.'
There are so many phrases I liked in your poem. Here are a few: "smug-lipped scientists", star-shot night", "crammed with convictions". And the ending, "look up" is so simple and beautiful. Its wonderful!
ReplyDeleteCynthia,
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done! This is fantastic:
"Just empty your mind of
your crammed in convictions,
embracing amazement
within your heart.
Be free to fly, to imagine,
and open childlike eyes,
Then quite simply,
joyfully-
Look
Up."
Pamela
A sweet poem. Get past all the scientists to life!
ReplyDeletePOW! WOW! Loved this, truly -- our senses of wonder and amazement, sadly too soon suppressed as adults -- splendid piece...
ReplyDelete...rob
Image & Verse
And the seminarian says, "Amen!" Great stuff, Cynthia!
ReplyDeleteJust empty your mind of
your crammed in convictions,
embracing amazement
within your heart.
Beautiful!
I love this, and the backstory makes it even better. Favorite lines:
ReplyDeleteFor beneath each small slice
of a star-shot night,
lies every wondrous,
magical,
astonishing truth.
(and of course that powerful ending).
from Therese Broderick -- Your granddaughter is lucky to have you -- both as a source of wisdom and as a source of poetry! I really like "exist for the questions." No one human being has all the answers to existence. Do you know the poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer" by Walt Whitman? This poem reminds me of that poem. You might enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteCynthia, you're a wise grandmother. Your poem is sweet. And true.--Irene
ReplyDeleteWow. I like your unique take on the prompt...you went WAY back to the very beginning. I also love your imagery and level of descriptiveness in this poem.
ReplyDelete-Nicole