To walk through the place of palms again, after the fever,
The long lamenting, and the four days' absence,
After the awe-struck crowds, the unwound grave-bands,
The sudden press, the murmur, clamour, cheering...
To walk again, alone, through the place of palms,
Life's wheel unbroken: the hunched sandal-seller,
A child with its injured arm in the same clay casing,
The spatter of potter's slip, scent of new-baked bread,
And the girls at the well, whose laughter dims to blushes,
As a donkey-lad passes in studied unconcern...
And at home, Martha's kitchen, with steam, and savour and scolding,
That at dusk will suddenly bloom as a festive supper...
To walk through the unconcerned place of palms, where life ripples,
Stippled in light and shade, unaware, unwakened,
As if man were still but a brief flower between dawn and darkness...
To walk through the place of palms in noon calm, and know
That in those four days between life and life, there had been -
Been what? An aeon of dark and falling waters?
Or a green cascade of being? Stars singing in spangles
That cling closer, far closer than ever did nerve or vein?
To walk through the place of palms, in flesh reawakened,
Too fragile, too shallow to hold more than pallid echoes
Of those four deep days -
yet to feel sudden recognition,
Vibrant, more piercing than thought, in the sandal-maker,
The girls at the well, the child and the donkey-boy,
The flung fragments of clay, fragrant loaves, and the dappled light,
And to catch for an instant a thread, a swift glimmer, an echo,
Of life deeper than living, sharp joy, golden pain, deepest laughter...
Author notes
A contest entry
- Winklings Contest # 43 [from contest # 31}JUDGED & FINALIZED by Andantino.
500 points, ended August 6, 2006, 9 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Poet Laureate of all AP for the year 2007 Contest # 87 at The Winkler by Andantino.
875 points, ended January 12, 2007, 65 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Are there seriously no true poets here??? by whispernthedark.
585 points, ended June 19, 2007, 27 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - you NEED this contest by God is my reality.
440 points, ended August 18, 2007, 24 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Inspired by Bible stories.... by nightshade10.
625 points, ended December 19, 2007, 18 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - prewrites contest!!!!!!!!!!!! enter!!!!! by foreveryourslove.
1120 points, ended November 9, 1070 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
Please do not feel any obligation to comment on this poem.
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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Interesting poem and concept. I'm not a big reader of the bible, but I know the story of Lazarus and it was interesting to see his point of view of his death. It's interseting how at first, he had fame, and then he felt loneliness, but he discovered the deeper meaning of life because of his reawakening. However, I'm not sure it really has to do with "escaping the afterlife" as it is somebody who escaped already and is dwelling on the after-effects of it. I loved the poem, I'm just not sure it fits with what we are looking for. Either way, good luck!
Sincerely,
ModernXTimes -
it fits sort of, good luck in the contest
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write prompt
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Sorry... I do not understand what you mean by "write prompt". (I often find Allpoetry jargon confusing). But this is about one of the most famous (near)death ezperiences - and draws in part inspiration from a "near death" experience of my own.
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In the authors notes. Write the prompt # you chose.
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Very interesting and powerful poem. This is exactly what I was looking for, a new and very gripping interpretation of a well known story.
Thank you so much for entering. Best of luck in the contest. -
Great poem. Amazing job. I really like it. I like how you told the story with vivid description. Excellent job with this
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Congrats on your prior silver. Very well written. Thank you so much for entering the contest, good luck.
whisper
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Another win with this great poem - way to go. Great form and flow with these lines - congratulations and now we start over again for next year..
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Well Bravo!And congrads on your win.~Suseann
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The nature of miracles...
..."of life deeper than living" This poems brings intensity to that inkling of love beyond all earthly ken, "to shallow to hold more than pallid echoes." Stunning. I am not familiar with your poems, Vera, but I'm sure, reading this, I have missed a great deal. I feel my words are often inadequate when I read something that searches deeply as this does. -
"Stippled in light and shade, unaware, unwakened,
As if man were still but a brief flower between dawn and darkness..." Great line.
Lovely discriptions. Wonderful work. Congratulations! -
Congratulations on your gold, Vera!
This is a rich and evocative celebration of life - life that has faced death and returned with a new appreciation. You've brought to life the hightened sensory impact as well. Brava!
Typo: S5, L2, 'too shallow' (?)
Gennelle
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Sorry,.. I have only just found your comment on "Lazarus" - thank you... (I apologise for the delay, but back in August I was getting increasingly unwell and weaker.. and struggling to finish a book against deadline!)
And yes, you did indeed pick up a typo... and I have now corrected it!
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Congratulations on GOLD Vera for a well deserved poem Val.
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Congratulations for the gold trophy. This is an excellent poem! -joanne
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Extraordinary
Congratulations for you GOLD trophy, Vera Rich. It is truly an excellent poem and deserved 1st place in recognition of its beauty. Thank you for gracing AP's hall with the extraordinary beauty of your poetry. Belle
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This is a most excellent poem.The images are brightly fresh as if one is seeing old things with a new vision. The repetition of "To walk ..." underlines the previous point as to do so is full of fresh beginnings. Your imagery is evocative of new life; sudden experience. Most writers would associate Lazarus with death. You have celebrated life. This is a crucial phrase: "Life's wheel unbroken". In the hills a couple of miles East of Jerusalem lay "sweet" Bethany where Mary and Martha lived. There they "lost" their brother. This is the setting you have brought to life insistently in your poetry. Thank you. Ron.
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