Unable to Change or Fix Life Poem–Yellow Glads–Grasping At Straws (And Contentment)
The political scene seems too grim to even contemplate these days, so turning back to poetry. Poetry! And iPad Art! Although this poem is fairly serious too– Any suggestions, comments, are most welcome, particularly with respect to title.
There
There is so much in life
we cannot change or fix:
your dear friend stacked
with flowers, yellow glads
and lilies white, the green baize
cloth that masks the upturned
earth; the tumor that
takes over a torso, the still
familiar face that can’t digest
the body’s betrayal;
time spent more carelessly
than cash (loose minutes
rarely found in turned-out pockets);
all those difficult years
when contentment was there–
there–there within our grasp if we had just
grasped less; the
flotsam jetsam straws we clung to,
drowning rafts, that
sparkle now in the current of all that’s past,
catching against far shoals, banks, shores–
there–there–there–
(As always, all rights reserved. Karin Gustafson)
(If you are a reader from the wonderful dVerse Poets Pub, the link to the train poem which I should have written and posted today to participate in the Pub is here.)
AND NOW! I am posting this one to the dVerse Poets Pub Open Link night and also to the ver supportive Promising Poets Parking lot (blogspot). Thanks for the opportunity.
Explore posts in the same categories: iPad art, poetry, Vicissitudes of LifeTags: "There" poem, Brushes App, dVerse Poets Pub, dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night, iPad art, Karin Gustafson, Karin Gustafson poetry, manicddaily, Photogene App, poem about difficulty of contentment, poem about grasping at straws, poem about loss of friends, poem about loss of past, PromisingPoets Parking Lot
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ManicDDaily 
September 19, 2011 at 4:27 pm
………….. speechless. Karin, this has absolutely become a favorite of mine and I want to keep this dear to me forever…… I am bookmarking this page and would like permission to quote you in the future because I will find that need……… This intense poem outlining the death and sweet memories of a friend is perhaps one of the most touching, well written poems of that emotion that I have ever seen. And the guilt from retrospect of having spent time so carelessly in the face of that great loss is absolutely breath taking. You need to publish this Karin and share this with the world. I am absolutely proud to be your acquaintance…
September 19, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Wow. High praise, indeed. Thank you so much for the encouragement and your very kind words. Certainly, feel free to share and read! I wrote the poem Saturday morning so it’s a pretty new one.
September 20, 2011 at 3:45 pm
So much we’d like to fix but can’t, have to just plug on the best we can. Very compelling piece, wonderfully done!
September 20, 2011 at 6:36 pm
wow, this is great.
“…time spent more carelessly
than cash (loose minutes
rarely found in turned-out pockets);
all those difficult years
when contentment was there–
there–there within our grasp if we had just
grasped less…”
I just can’t seem to find anything to say but yes. Such truth in your words here.
September 20, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Thanks, Lori.
September 20, 2011 at 6:39 pm
truly i know these things…if only we could play god for a bit but i imagine we would in the end screw it all up in our meddling but i do know this feeling…
September 20, 2011 at 9:12 pm
a wonderful write.So much we can’t fix…..sad but true.
September 20, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Yes all the difficult years are hard to take and sometime we do not know when to accept contentment or to give it away and walk away what a wonderful poem thank you so much
http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/20/the-fait-of-our-lands/
September 20, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Thank you.
September 20, 2011 at 10:40 pm
I’m there and dealing with much the same. Wish I could write of it with this level of eloquence. I can’t even explore my own feelings. I love your imagery, masking with beauty the disease that seeks to conquer the body. Exquisite write! Gay
September 20, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Thanks so much, Gay.
September 21, 2011 at 2:15 pm
The last line fascinates me. I don’t know how you mean it, but it comes across to me like grandma holding my head to her bosom and stroking my hair after I skinned my knee. And that somehow fits the poem. Awesome, thought-provoking write!
September 21, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Thanks so much. I hadn’t actually thought of it like that, but that is a wonderful way to interprete it. Really interesting.
September 21, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Powerful, moving and painful.
September 21, 2011 at 3:27 pm
there is so much to enjoy in this but:
time spent more carelessly
than cash (loose minutes
rarely found in turned-out pockets);
these lines are stunning in their simplicity and their truth
September 21, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Thanks so much, Jo.
September 21, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Politics these days is unsure, yes.
But good poems, like this never are!!
September 21, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Beautifully said. There
Here’s my potluck entry: http://mysticmarleei.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/love-lost/
September 21, 2011 at 7:54 pm
This poem hits close to home today with a friend’s struggles and growing tumor. Thank you for this poem, it is so well done.
September 21, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Thank you. Good luck with your friend.
September 22, 2011 at 10:33 am
nice.. really nice! my thursday.. http://fiveloaf.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/human-race-human-waste/
September 22, 2011 at 1:27 pm
beautiful message here, bless you…
Happy Rally.
September 23, 2011 at 6:03 am
I like your poem very much.
There is more there than at first glance.
There is great abstract images and very clever phrases.
The close of poem is also a nice touch.
Well done.
September 23, 2011 at 8:45 am
Thanks so much. I’ve really enjoyed your work.
September 27, 2011 at 7:41 pm
I enjoyed it tremdously – everything put together with the illustration – there are things we enjoy, things we dislike, things we treasure, things we hope to forget. There – a beautiful way to put things together.
September 27, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Thanks so much.
September 30, 2011 at 6:47 am
Karin, this is awesome! I love your style and you have a poignant and powerful voice…fearless! 😉 You should write for me! Come look at my Free Write Friday …please!
September 30, 2011 at 10:01 am
(loose minutes
rarely found in turned-out pockets) stood out in your fine poem, thank you.
September 30, 2011 at 12:48 pm
very charming style.
please let us know after you are done returning favors and making a minimum 18 comments,
Happy Rally.
Thanks a ton for the beautiful entry and instant participation.