There is a curse.
Eve was every answer
Adam ever needed. He
just didn’t know the questions.
If life is a tree, then
death isn’t the hole
it’s rooted in. Perfection is
man’s creation, exists to explain
failure. As if it is not
okay to be human.
Out of the brow of the earth,
after allowing Adam to name them,
the animals circled Eve. She blessed
their children to come and promised,
foolishly, that man would cherish them.
At its heart, the swirling magma of earth
turned and flung itself outward with joy.
Pangaea creaked on its anchors. Gave
birth to continents. Time began.
Able to feel, able to create
responsible, in charge --
yet, without any control,
we are without definition
until we can imagine it.
Love swirls
as entropy crumbles.
The winds need trees to
stop from creating tornadoes
and we create cities
that collapse in riots and over run
levies. Over farming the landscape
till the dust runs in circles around the sun.
We turn our face up for the rain.
You and I,
our child
What else matters??
11:24 PM
Oct. 30th, 2006
Alexandria, VA
Author notes
No matter how you read it you can misunderstand anything.
Written October 30th, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- Treehouses: In Every Tree by rendezvous.
350 points, ended November 10, 2006, 9 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 48 of 48
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congratulations on the win my dearest friend...you deserved nothing else
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It has nothing to do with she. It is just that the relationship between man and woman is as old as the hills. We haven't gotten better and we haven't gotten worse. Somethings never change. Love, Tom B.
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was she?
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Of course...poetry is to be misunderstood, for it comes from the toughts of one...not of the many surrounding that one. It is as if, God forgive me, the poet plays god...creating the words that assemble themselves like a world of chaos and beauty. I loved the intensity of your words, the imagery, and the multi-meanings. Keep up the great work!
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First let me thank you for taking the time to read my piece and comment.
Is it romantic to speak to our creative power and ask us to become aware and responsible for it. The line you love is just a metaphor for how God uses his creations to create his masterpiece. Again thank you for taking the time to share your pleasure. Love Tom B. -
Consider yourself blessed. For you have been blessed with a trust. Nothing will ever reach as deeply into or know you as well as your own child. Your words mean little compared to your actions and your example is the most powerful in their life. They will love you deeper than any night and brighter than any day. They will protect themselves from you by not letting you see how much they worship you. You will only receive messages from the world that sees the love in their eyes when they look at you and how much they tell everyone else you are the greatest being in their lives.
As parents, we have a trust. We have been entrusted with another spirit. It is our greatest job and the one we are most ignorant in knowing how to accomplish. Our lives have led us to the moment, but nothing prepares us for it but the moment itself. Bless you and love you. Know that I, as your friend, will always be here for you any way I can.
Thanks for all the love you share with me. I hope that I live up to its gifts. I am a great teller of tales, but in the spiritual realm and in the world of feelings, I am as honest and forth right as light itself. Thank you for recognizing this. We make it together in this life or not at all and we, too easily, forget that we are diminished by anyone who does not walk with us. We share from our similarities to celebrate our differences. Every one is precious and it is our greatest task learning how precious we all are. Love, Tom B. -
ps, you wrote this on my birth day
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I just love the way you express yourself, and though taken by the poem written above, I have to say I am as taken by your replies to others as well. I always find myself smiling in your direction as you have such a way about you, I love your no bullshit approach and always have. I am sorry I have not written to you sooner, I have been caught up with a new love in my life, Colton Cat, my son, born Nov. 2. He is as perfect as they come. I will be writing about him soon, but for now all I can seem to do when I have time to do such things, is stare at him while he sleeps. God is a mystery, there is no doubt about that. Anyone who thinks they have "it"(life, love, God,) figured out completely is a cheat of the magic that surrounds us every day, not to mention a pathological liar in the worst sense. I am learning more and more each day about God and his amazing ways. Thank you Tomis for being you. Much love, Harper
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allpoetry.com/Poem/1522948 For A Day
allpoetry.com/Poem/1525452 A Moment In Worship
These two should lift you further. My list Spiritual should have others that would help. Thanks, I think you caught it. Life is a God centered event. It is not about laying God on everybody. It is about expressing yourself from a center that is in harmony with all that God has given you. Anyway, I don't want to orate just celebrate all the love you have given me. Love, Tom B. -
"Able to feel, able to create
responsible, in charge --
yet, without any control,
we are without definition
until we can imagine it."
I love this stanza. I can attest to these very words. You have penned a testament to reality in these words Tom. I love the feeling I get after reading this word-art. It seems that you have delved deep into your spirit to unearth this masterpiece.
This past weekend I was in attendance at a "miracles" retreat. My, oh my...I am still so very filled a week later. I let go and let God like I did with the onset of my journey on this "new life" trek. I am so humbled and filled with gratitude that I don't have to worry about running anything. The "EVE" in me is settled, and at peace. Your poem is confirmation for me today. There were some who were concerned about me being on "a cloud". I truly never want to come down. Your poem makes me know I never have to, and when life shows up...I can say; "you've got it God, right?" I accept without exception. I release without regret.
Excellent poetry here my dear friend. Keep doing what you do.
Always ♥
Renee
Edited on Nov 04, 12:42 because '
'.
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i like what you told me. it sounded pretty. so i shall play the fool once again and just smile. LOL
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I think it is funny that you play the fool when you see far more and tell little of what it is you see. Love, Tom B.
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well then, i probably misunderstood it LoL.... But I liked it nonetheless.
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Why are you old?
you are anything but old 
The winds need trees to
stop from creating tornadoes
hit the mark for me - i could relate to it on so many different levels - I thought it made up the poem's essence in my poem.
Wonderful Tom - but I think I'm going to devote my entire christmas break writing longer comments for you
Miss you
Rohina -
wow. this is incredible. a new favorite from you.
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Thanks. Let me know what comes to mind when you read it at a future time. Love, Tom B.
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Wow, a very philosophical piece, Tom. This is very interesting although I had to read through it hurriedly as I am leaving out of a town for a few days so will reread it when I return. xx Belle
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This started from a piece that didn't work for the contest I am in, called poetic challenge. It sort of wrote itself. I am (I think this is important, at least I think it is) a Quaker and my life really is about service to others, seeing that of God in what and who is around me and speaking to it, trying to lead a God centered life. Yet, I am not a standard run of the mill reborn Christian nor am I going to make fundamentalist comfortable. God is a mystery. There are lots of people who think they have the answers. I am more interested in the questions. I figure anybody who thinks they have the answers just wants a box to keep God in. That way their relationship with God is safe. I am willing to live at risk and be suprised and awed at any time. Most of the time I am. I am terribly human but learning to experience life in new ways as I grow older and am less concerned with being right. In fact I am finding it more and more entertaining to be shown that I just wasn't thinking on a large enough scale.
I am starting to ramble. Thanks for enjoying the piece. Even greater thanks for taking the time to share with me your thoughts and responses to what I have written. This is an immeasurable gift. Love, Tom B. -
excellent
An intriguing yet deeply expressive write. You provoke thought in levels as you continue in your write, taking us literally from beginning to end. This was a creative capture on life as it begins to how it evolves. Simplicity to complications of life we all live. Provoking for me as I became a grandmother yesterday and thought "what will life hold for her". So much within our grasps yet out of our control. I believe this is an excellent piece and I love that you are not only sharing you have these deep thoughts, but too provoke us to wake up and think about them too. We live in our own intimate circles of life, choosing sadly to close our eyes to the chaos around us...as looking, might shake the ground we stand on for the moment. Great job, keep up the good work, you are a pleasure to read! ~Tia -
Yep. so what did you think? Love, Tom B.
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Very rich with philosophy and insight. Great job.
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We live in a mystery. We hold on to possiblities of joy and love as act of faith. Why not jump into the pool and see where it takes you? Love, Tom B.
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This is a marvelous piece Tom. I am amazed at the way you can make any simple thing mysterious. All that you pen can be misunderstood indeed! I found this very very intiguing! Thanks for sharing the power of your pen!
Mel
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Wonderful Reply
Tom, What a wonderful reply. Faith does demand questions and a deeper understanding to accept and trust how God wants us to live our lives. And the strength to see it through. As a new Christian of only 2 years I am like a sponge trying to learn all I can. The first year I was completely lost.
This past year with the help of my Christian friends on here I am wanting to learn more and more. Poet on here live4eternity led me to the Lord and through him I met Melanie when I first joined AP. Oh Gee now I am rambling. Love, Sandy
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It is a joy to hear your voice added to those who have spoken already. I always figured religion was for those who needed to have a rule book for worship and spirituality was for those who will share the joy in their life no matter what. We become deeper when we live in the mystery. Faith demands questions. Not ones of doubt, but ones that deepen our understanding, allow us to become more centered in our God and awaken us to how we do not have a franchise on God, we only have a door way. I am rambling again.
Thank you from my heart. Love, Tom B. -
BEAUTIFUL POEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I sit here listening to a spiritual song called, More To This Life. Seems so appropriate as I read your beautiful poem. This was so amazing. What else matters? Good question.I think if you are with the one you love, have a beautiful family and the love of God in your life, then everything else will fall into place with God's plan. Your poem does get the brain thinking. Not too many poems take me on a journey I enjoy lately. Yours did. Thank you. Awesome write. Take care and Blessings to you, Sandy
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Lovely review, I feel how you tangled with the poem and came away richer. I am always about the moment. At the same time, the language of our beliefs and the mythos of our understanding affects all that we do. I, in my own silly way, love to play with the meanings underlying the symbols and challenge peoples convient answers. We are maturing as a race and in this current turmoil the more that we become articulate in the language of our definitions of what it means to be human and vibrant and miraculous the more we can create a dynamic and vibrant peace that enriches every human being. I ramble.
Thanks again for taking the time to share with me your vision. I am deeply appreciative of your time and effort. Love, Tom B. -
Great intensity
This is a very interesting write. There is so much depth and thought provoking intesity in this. I love the idea that you seem to be exploring our origins and yet it seems very rooted in the moment. You take us on a ride. As if in the eyes of babes you could perhaps see the beginning of it all, knowing fully where we are at this moment and questioning where we are heading. I love the below lines. The flow is great, it feels good to the tongue.
At its heart, the swirling magma of earth
turned and flung itself outward with joy.
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As symbols go, yes, this apple is a vibrant mystery. For all of its promise and the sadness of its result it still never tells us the answer it shared, if any at all. In the avenue of time and our travels upon it, I find, all that is important is what we bring with us to share and how we grow from traveling.
Thank you for sharing your response to and sense of this poem. I could ask for nothing more. Love, Tom B. -
Hmm-m-mm. I think that we all are part of the picture. We are lessened by the loss of any part. If we can find a way to be inclusive and responsive and thoughtful to one another, what a richer world we would be. Thanks for your sharing your response to this poem. I am richer for it and could ask for nothing more. Love, Tom B.
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It seems that I am exploring a vibrant universe. We make so much of who we are out of what we believe. It is tricky to write about it is a way that opens doors, raises questions without getting peoples fears as a response. Thank you for enjoying this and pondering it. Your sharing this shows I have succeeded perhaps a little. Love, Tom B.
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Thank you. Love, Tom B.
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Thank you much. Short reveiw but very much to the point Love, Tom B.
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My thoughts are drawn to the mysterious apple.......it's taste.....was it as sweet......if only.......it were without a worm in it.........the world then.......the world now.......where will we be tomorrow?
thought provoking this is....
Malabu -
When I was in high school our English teacher read Homer in Greek so we could hear why he was considered such a great poet. It is why I have always believed that poetry was first and oral art. I go to open mics because you can feel the power of poetry when it truly moves the audience by the song of the words alone.
Thanks for enjoying this poem and sharing that with me. It makes all the difference in the world. Love, Tom B. -
good write
i really liked this!!! i feel the same way, (all of the time!!!) it don't matter if there is a 'dad' in the picture, cause there is a 'mom'! and p.s., I APPRECIATE EVE! that is why we are here... love GYPSYfish -
This is very moving, hard to put in perfect words, but it truly made me ponder upon your write, and I enjoyed the content you inscribed here very much my friend, much love bro!
-Timothy -
amen
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amazing!! *clap3333*
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I agree with you 100%. Open mics bring the poetry alive. I have only read at one but loved that feeling. Have another one coming up at the end of November - 7 minutes to read whatever I want from the poems I have written. Any suggestions? Loved this one - it's like you have rewritten the beginning of the earth - evolution, the Bible - who knows? I often read these poems out loud to myself - and it make each poem seem more personal, more real and gives it it's own identity, if you know what I mean. Enjoyed reading this out loud too - wonderful ending.
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I cannot tell you how much I love that you read it outloud. I believe that all poetry should be heard spoken as well as perused for meaning. I go to open mics whenever I can. I write everything with an ear for how it will sound to the listener. My deep thanks for you taking this extra step and sharing your pleasure with me. Love, Tom B.
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Not quite sure how to respond to this. There are only so many "great poem..impressives" you can read. I read this once to myself, and the flow of it in my head made me want to hear it out loud, it's now 12:30 here, just after midnight and I'm reading poetry out loud to myself, and the cat. I loved the way it sounded out loud even more. Wonderful write.
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"Wouldn't it be loverly" My Fair Lady
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it. I cannot ask for anything more. Love, Tom B. -
Very lovely piece!
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Not only perfection, but in the end for all of our magnificence we really are all about our children and we want them to be everything they can be for all sorts of reasons, but only one is the truth, they are everything we ever loved.
Thanks for reading and sharing with me. Always your friend. Love, Tom B. -
Thank you. I aim to please Love, Tom B.
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Perfection certainly is not rooted in matter, but you show it to be a quality of spirit not confined to time, but the true essence of love. I have read this twice and have to read it again, Tom.
~ Klassy -
heh. impressed. i really like this.
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