Hello, beautiful readers! This week at W3: Wea've Written Weekly, Violet encouraged us to write a poem focused on the theme of elements of the human condition. She provided us with three different quotes and invited us to incorporate one of the quotes into our poem. Here are the three quotes:
"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
"The marks humans leave are too often scars."- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
"Sometimes I think being scared if half the fun."- House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
I chose to write a reverse Etheree, which is a poem of ten lines with each line losing a syllable (10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1). I also chose to have end rhymes to make it even more challenging. (I'm a glutton for punishment...lol!).
the marks humans leave are too often scars
etched upon the heart without regard
broken promise here, lies told there
friendships lost without a care
self-importance tops all
until karma calls
actions rebound
turn around
change trends
friends
As I was creating this poem, another poem came to mind. This one is a free verse.
the marks humans leave
are too often scars
embedded deep within history
smooth, gray scars
where trees were uprooted
to make way for progress
depressed, white scars
where whole species were eliminated
for entertainment or apathy
red, raw, serrated scars
used to tear apart countries
irradicate people who were hated
simply so others could feel empowered
each scar carries its own story
some scars begin to fade with time
ignored for lack on wanting
to face past atrocities
content with believing
it's all in the past
until
the past becomes the present
and the empowered want more
and the peons forget the warnings
the signs of what's to come
the power they gave away
so the powerful could once again
wield the knife
and create more scars
Would you like to write a poem for this prompt? Join us here.
Yvette, I think both poems are very powerful.
ReplyDelete"Mended Scars" poignantly shows the consequences of our actions, while "Lessons Not Learned" reflects on how history’s scars still shape us. Beautifully crafted!
Much love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
Thank you, David! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteA lovely presentation. I am especially drawn to the free verse. So much truth. The past becomes the present because no one is willing to see the signs. So timely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Violet! I find it both sad and disturbing. Thanks for visiting. :-)
DeleteBeautiful poems! Living things remember bad experiences more than the positive ones because of the trauma.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Cai! Our brain is actually programmed to see negative stimuli first. Thanks for stopping by. :-)
DeleteBoth are very well written. I learned a new form with the first.
ReplyDeleteThe second speaks to the greed of the few and the oppression which it requires to feed the beast in their belly. We have not learned the cost of exploitation.. either to ourselves or the planet.
Well done.
No, Nigel. Sadly, we have not. :'( Thanks for visiting. :-)
DeleteOh my goodness, Yvette. Both poems are compelling, but "Lessons Not Learned" really lays it all out. Truth! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jan! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteLove that etheree Yvette. Well constructed. Message is deep and oh so relevant!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCheers
Thank you, Dawn! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteI enjoyed both poems, Yvette! The second was especially powerful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nolcha! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteBoth of your poems speak to my heart, Yvi. Lessons Not Learned really puts things into perspective.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen! I appreciate you sharing. :-)
DeleteYvette these are both lovely! I enjoyed the reverse etheree and the regret of lost friends but the second is so accurate a description of what is happening that it was a hard slap - an attention getting verse!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting and sharing your thoughts. :-)
DeleteTwo wonderful poems!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kim! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteIncredible poems. You are very talented.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane! I appreciate you stopping by. :-)
DeleteYvette these are both insightful looks at all-too-common human behavior. We must as a species become more aware of the scars we leave behind.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kerfe! Thanks for stopping by. :-)
DeleteThese are both wonderful poems. For a species who can reflect upon their actions, we really do poorly. Your second poem really emphasizes a viscous cycle that humanity engages in.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Heather! And I agree with you - as a species, we don't use our intelligence and self-reflection well. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteParticularly pertinent and relevant for me is the second poem. "The power they gave away" That is what happens when you don't bother to vote. You can end up with an abomination like your nation has and none of you deserve this. A lot of us are very upset and affected by what has happened to you. Hang in there...thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rall! It is also what happens when leaders sell their souls simply to be a part of the power. Watching our elected leaders switch their stances just to suck up to one person has been painful and frustrating. The damage being done will affect the world for decades to come. :'( Thanks for visiting. :-)
DeleteWow, Yvette, both poems are powerful, but the free verse stands out for me. Wonderful writing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren! I appreciate your visit. :-)
DeleteBoth so powerful, Yvette. We love in a world with way too many scars and some who don't realize they need to heal. X9
ReplyDeletePerfectly said, Denise! And others don't realize they are wounded, and hurt people hurt people. Thanks for stopping by! :-)
DeleteThank you, David! I'll see if I can play around with it later today. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou remind me of the few friends I had in High School... I wasn't their bestie by a long shot. And then after graduation there wasn't much cause to see each other... scars remain. But we can move on with the help of new welcoming communities. (((Hugs)))
ReplyDeleteIt is too bad that leaders often forget the scars they created to get to the positions they hold. *sigh*
So true, Jules! Thanks for sharing! :-)
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