I pondered ‘neath my faceless shroud
In land where man, my spirit kills,
So I must never voice out loud
Or show the joy that love instills
And though I’d choose to always please,
I’m forced inside as if diseased.
I cannot buy a Valentine
As laws are flawed about that day,
And all that’s red is out-of-line
Packed and stowed, lest I be swayed
To test my strength and take a stance
By posturing Gothic romance.
Among our skirts the children play,
A product of finality ...
When joy for love is swept away,
The act perhaps hypocrisy.
Love’s phrase of praise now hazy thought
So valentine will not be bought.
How oft I heave a needful sigh
In sullen silence often brood
And wander through; how, when and why
Did all this chaos get approved?
While buried bones still fill these hills
How will I warm what gives me chills?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Author notes
“One of the many lessons that one learns in prison is, that things are what they are and will be what they will be.” Oscar Wilde
I have read that the ladies of Afghanistan are unable to buy Valentine's or express their love at other times, because of religious beliefs, this is my take on their courage!
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear."
-Mark Twain
My poem is a parody on William Wordsworth's poem #28:
'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
The waves beside them danced; but they
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
A contest entry
- An Inspiration of Quotes by perdisbeaute.
300 points, ended February 27, 2007, 9 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - To find ugly meanings in beautiful things is to be corrupt without being charming -Oscar Wilde by Aesthete.
700 points, ended June 18, 2007, 14 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - The Cries of Society by bloved.
450 points, ended July 11, 2007, 29 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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thought provoking
this is a well thought out, piece 'j' & worthy of the HM & more... how sad we are as a society as we race ever onwards into oblivion without a care or wit either way... 'd' (david)
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wow..this taught me something new
I didn't know the women of Afganistan couldn't celbrate Valentines day....
Thank you for entering this taught me something
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This is a decent poem and thanks for entering. I have read as well of the situation in Afghanistan and it is truly dreadful. Something must be done but how, and by who? Tradition can be a cruel thing.
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Well written and thoughtful piece and the author's note chills one and the sadness lies within this piece and I wish you luck in the contest...
Applause and Thanks for this,
m.
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That's really good. And i feel really sorry for the Afghanistan women, that would be hard being unable to express your love. But you did an amazing job of putting that in words!
Thanks so much for entering! -
superb in all senses!
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Speechless
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Promise...sing
When joy for love is swept away
there will be no hypocrisy,
the stars that shine on milky way
reflected in her eyes all see.
I gazed-and gazed-but little thought
what wealth her heart to me had brought.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
and pondered through "how, when and why"
we had not daily met blue sky
for years, - apart, as 'lost in crowd'.
But now my heart with pleasure fills,
injoy beams more than daffodils ! -
Excellent stuff my friend. The rhythm and rhyme are superb. I have a feeling ol' Willie would approve as do I.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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First class
An intelligent and perceptive poem, Joy. Your well-written notes make the context clear and it is indeed a chilling indictment on the propensity of Mankind to stifle the human heart through the misuse of religious beliefs. Your poem admirably portrays the conflict.
Bill
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