Standing alone in the centre of the cropless field
I fold in two
Around these screaming human constants which circle the world
In restless hum;
Immune to reason and impenetrable to words.
If shapes and swaddled moans, in this barren wilderness of need
Will stand as spirit
Then let the clouds cast new shadows here
In rainless whisper;
So promising, like me here with my fanciful bowl of words.
Yet as the tongue swells, so I cannot speak to heal,
Nor fill a mouth
And all the wisdom I thought I had is spilled from my silent lips;
Swallowed whole
By the hungry soil, grown dark and fertile with echoed blood.
And so the Government's voice cracks with lack of emotion
And a ring of silence is spoke,
Pitched sharp, as if to swat a troublesome fly and cover the hollow face of need;
This powerless, chiming prayer
That will stand in howled defence of our empty bowl of words.
Author notes
Animarising 3
A contest entry
- Voices of Hunger by Utok Bulinaw.
1700 points, ended January 3, 2008, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - YOUR BEST PREWRITE OF 2007 - 12 ENTRIES ONLY by maa.
521 points, ended January 4, 2008, 9 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Your Best Prewrite Quickie by Heavenly Angel.
450 points, ended January 16, 2008, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - I by N e a r.
2300 points, ended February 3, 2008, 220 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Best prewrite between december 07 and february 08! by danceswsquirrels.
1910 points, ended April 1, 2008, 38 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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I decided to post every ones scores so here's yours! based on every ones votes!
0 gold 0 silver 1 bronze 0 hm .5
Jessa♥
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3
NUMBER IS FOR ME, NOT A PLACEMENT. -
Bronze
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It is true words have less effect than bullets. Even a whole bowl of words cannot be a defense against tyranny or megalomaniacs.
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Sometimes ... and often ...
silence speaks louder than words ... but: your words transcend silence ...
Blessed be.
Myra
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great imagery! I love the way you weave your words together. excellent!
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Sometimes one cannot speak for fear of what might happen if they do; the words are there, filled to the brim in the bowl, yet one cannot open their mouth and let them all out.Liked the metaphor you used in these lines.
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one word
one word: wow!! -
Though you title this poem BOWL OF WORDS,
and explain at the end that it is empty,
you have filled the bowl with such deep and intense emotion.
Your imagery is amazing.
And the message behind it all is bursting through.
Thanks for entering. Good luck.
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A fine sharing this is
Very well worded, my friend
Thank you for being part of this contest; all the best to you! -
wow,
this is just amazing!
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yep you hit this one right on the head
this is true
where we the common person is concered we are a empty bowl
great message with this poem
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your words are everything but an empty bowl to me, they nourish the feeling of humility in me ... and although they cannot still the physical hunger of those concerned, they are filling my heart with compassion ...
simply thank you,
maa
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Thank you very much
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Way Above My Head - Not Really
This old 71 year old ancient is but a rhymer, so this poem "Bowl Of Words" is just a beautiful story to me and not a poem at all - even though rhyme is absent, I am amazed at how well this poem flows - I took my guitar and tried to sing it - didn't work to well - but it sure raps great - and I love the the imagery - the gracefully clothed meaning (If I'm getting the picture right) - the title tells it all, how we are fed a bowl of empty words by "The powers that be" - but sometimes I think they fill the bowl with bullshit - either way, they got us by the short hairs - keep on writing - Bless God - Joe
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There's strength and wisdom throughout this piece. I like how you put the words together to give a powerful voice. Words may not be enough to fill a mouth, but they are meant to be heard. Only if someone knows what listening means then, perhaps its essence will never be empty. Thank you for sharing this here.
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I like the way you emanated the lines with thoughts full of nourishment. Each stanza carries strong imagery. I like the sound - not overwhelming, very just.
Only this line bothered me a bit: 'And a ring of silence is spoke'. Do you mean 'silence is spook' or 'silence spoken'. Other than that this is very clear and well done.
Thanks for sharing and keep writing
HENSLEY a.k.a VIRGOAN -
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Thanks for your comment. No, I very much mean, 'a ring of silence is spoke'. It's meant to have three angles, 'spoke' is an old Shakepearean way of saying spoken of course, in reference to the ancient nature of the problem of hunger, it refers to a spoke of a wheel (ring, bowl, earth...etc) and it refers to the incomplete nature of the spoken word (in this case, inadequate as we know).
Oh, and it sounds better too!
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I can't remember
the last time someone made my faves on the strength of one read. Wonderful!
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This is an emotionally powerful piece with its devastating conclusion that our empty "bowl of words" must be forever inadequate as a response to the world's needs. Great write.
Bill
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wonderful piece, once again. Always so thought provoking, great images, fantastic flow, really enjoy running across your pieces.
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wonderful in the spirit here i think, the vision to see, the will to at least raise a voice...so very well done...PK
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Thanks PK, really appreciate that, my friend.
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