A Moment of Stillness
Author notes
Thank you Serenity for the photo...... I really appreciate it.
Don
Written September 18th, 2004
In a list
What did you think
Comments
1 - 37 of 37
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"death just around the corner," caught me. Its always just around the corner, no matter who or where we are.
Alaina wakes. Have a good day Don.
this moved me...
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none better
And it doesn't get any better than that. I have always thought it would be easier for me to shoot a hunter than a deer.
Excellent haiku.
John -
OH that's so sad!
I don't even know if I want to look at the graphic one. I'm attached to animals so this touches me. It's hard to bare.
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intriguing
thank for sharing -
Thanks Elizabeth..... I appreciate it. I recently posted three war poems...... sad.... but effective poetry.
Don -
Hi Jane...... just changed the background so you can see the other comments......lol
My fault!
Don
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I changed the background so you can read all the comments. Sorry about that.
Don
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I just changed the background.... lol.. you can read it now.
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The master strikes again! Some day I'll be there....(if only i'd just pick up the damn pen!!!lol...)
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the best
Don this is brilliant. The best. (Is it just me though - I can't read the other comments with this green background?) -
powerful
Coupled with that picture this is very powerful. It's beautiful and perfect and sweet. It's everything. And probably the only haiku I've ever liked. -
Oh...
This picture touched me, and the words you chose to illustrate the picture even further were perfect. It is rare to find peace and beauty in war, but you made the polar things fit together perfectly.
It's also rare that I love a short poem this much. You get my applause for winning me over with such a small collection of words.
Bravo.
Elizabeth -
when i read it and looked inside myself, there was an empty feeling, then i realized it wasn't empty i felt but stillness, you poem did that, i don't feel they to often
thanks
great write, great way to create emotion in the reader -
Okay lol I can't see the other comments.. I love reading what everyone else has to say, though I never realised that before.. I actually have a picture of my ex-husband that made the AP (press) that you would probably laugh over. He is petting a dog, he was in Iraq with the 4th Id (Infantry Division) from Fort Hood Texas. It made the newspapers all over the world, he sent it to me and then told me hey Google me and let me know what comes up. When I put in SSGT Gilbert Nail, all kinds of stuff came up.. Strange but the kids loved seeing their dad. This was a very Ironic yet perfect twist of what the life of a soldier is like. Contrary to popular belief they all aren't monsters, take care and be safe, Catressa
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terrific, no really, make love not war.
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Magnificent, Don! The surreal paradoxes of life & death, peace & war; conveyed with simple, yet profound, eloquence.
(Wish I could read the comments as well though)
~ G
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Wondeful. Descibes the photo very well. A picture may paint a 1000 words but you just painted a picture with just a few words.
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Wow, such a beautiful poem!
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Thank you for taking a moment to share this amazing piece. This is certainly a breath of fresh air!
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what can be said for this piece other than.... wow. quite stirring, indeed...
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What can I possibly add that no one else has, already. I got choked up- what a great picture- your tanka is so well done, such a terrific compliment to the pic. I understand why it said that you are the 'master'~
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Don, as a cat lover myself, as well as a person who feels great passion for our military in times war and of peace, this photo and poem really touched me. I've seen the photo before and have it saved in my picture album, and in fact wrote a little poem for it, though I've never posted it...it's an inspiring and thoughtful picture. You've written a very lovely, compassionate poem. They are perfect accompaniments for each other.
Dee
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Very touching and simple, yet pointed look at the contrasts in a war-torn country. I like this one very much.
Scott -
OMG!!!!! this poem touched my heat...just the littlest of words can mean so much!..wow...thats all that i can really say...the picture makes it self explanitory...dang...that was honestly really great....
Always
~NiCki
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...Wow...that's just...amazing! Keep it up and this was exceptional!
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That was great!
The picture and the words were just so impactful. I love it when people can mix the written and visual so well.
-Nasya -
That moment of stillness was for sure a blessing for everyone there...my son just saw this page and said "what a wonder to see a quite cat in such place".
Thanks for posting those Don!
K&L
Mari
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A beautiful, sad and reflective poem which I liked a lot- it made me think about war and the human side of it, soldiers aren't robots but also people with fears but also with love. A great write which I liked a lot, its compact nature made it easier to read. Keep writing
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Thanks Lyrical. I appreciate your excellent comment. Last night I posted two other poems regarding the Iraq War. Thanks again.
Don -
That is just breathtaking. A moment of stillness....yes these soldiers could use some of those moments. This is fantastic.
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OMG...Now in tears I've always loved your photokus, they are my absolute favorite from you but OMG, I am speechless to what to say about this one, this touched my heart even more so than the other two that I have already read, all three are so tragic but this one touched me in a very personal way, it made me think of the brother I never got a chance to know (although it was a different war) and my friends, one of which that is in Iraq right now, he is a cat lover and is fighting in the war of Iraq, I'm very worried because I have not heard from him lately and this piece really stabbed my heart... ---Sara
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Hey Serenity.... thanks again for the awesome photograph. It hit me like a brick...... what a shot..... hope the poem does it justice.
Don
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Thanks Rainbow.... appreciate the excellent comment.
Don -
Thanks Myron.... I appreciate such an indepth supportive comment. This was indeed difficult to write without overstating what could be going on. I had to balance it a couple times but the poem itself (idea) came rather fast.
Thanks again.
Don -
special
thank you so much for putting this one up. it is a very striking picture....& the words contast so well.... you have achieved something special in this melding of the art forms. the soft soldier & the lost pet...THE implications & echoes of this poem ring around my head. the poem shows great restraint, whcih makes it all the more compelling & soulful. did you have to do many re-writes to get the work this far, or did it come quickly?
it seems to me that a lot of work has been put into this...or maybe it was the miracle of the best & the worst jelling together in an inspiration of creativity...
i applaud this poem...thanks agaon... -
This, Mr.Monk, is simply amazing. It puts a gentle side on War...something I never thought could be done. I was expecting something far different...but I am most impressed and pleasantly surprised. Thank you for this write.
Rainbow -
BEATIFUL>>>>simply beautiful and so poignant.I am pleased to have been able to offer up something to you.This is exactly what that photo screams.
Again you are brilliant.
Blessed be
~~Serenity~~
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