“One can live without having survived.” Carolyn Forche
Tear out my guts
and leave me in a pool
of despair,
above the moon’s raging
in the dark as society sheds
tears of blood.
To what purpose, crocus,
do you come late into flower
when destruction’s left
behind bones and cartilage?
When you look into my
eyes do you see a crushed soul?
Do you see me waging a battle
as old as time?
You see one can go on
without remaining alive, tossing
hope into garbage under the
fierce blue sky, we utter not groan
nor do we turn and sigh.
Photo credits: Pixabay
Posted for Poems in April @ Real Toads
26 Responses
I love the question which the speaker poses to the crocus. It is so emblematic of the human condition. A fine piece of writing, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Kerry 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
I find this so sad but unfortunately true. for some.I especially relate to your last stanza. Thank goodness the crocus does flower despite our pain. 🙂
Thank you so much, Ellecee 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
A passionate lament! I love how raw it is. ..especially this stanza:
To what purpose, crocus,
do you come late into flower
when destruction’s left
behind bones and cartilage?
Thank you so much, Vivian 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Crocus is a poisonous flower ( to some animals I think) so perhaps that is why it comes when it does? Fed and birthed by death?
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Paul ❤️
LUV THAT QUESTION TO LATE BLOOMING CROCUSES, IT REEKS OF ANGUISH
HAPPY SUNDAY SANAA
MUCH LOVE…
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so good to see you ❤️
Much🌹love
Beautiful work, Sanaa. I love the crocus appearing in this poem and especially love your closing lines.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
The universal question… a flower mocking the sorrow we might feel… a wonderful poem.
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so good to see you ❤️
An excellent poem full of questions and raw anguish. I am glad the crocus does bloom after all in spite of everything.
Thank you so much, Toni 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
I’m just as upset when the crocus comes more than a month early! I want to have a word with spring as well but I know it is all about us and the warming.
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Colleen ❤️
It is such agonizing truth that a flower still blooms even while we suffer. Such a powerful piece. Thank you so much for writing for the prompt!
Thank you so much, Susie 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt)
Wow, how dark you went here – and how effectively.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
I love this! It’s a clever blend of two days of prompts. I think of you as writing longer, more lyrical lines, so it was interesting to see you go shorter and more pointed. Very nice!
Thank you so much, Marilyn 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
I love this question stanza, Sanaa:
‘To what purpose, crocus,
do you come late into flower
when destruction’s left
behind bones and cartilage?’
I also love the lines:
‘You see one can go on
without remaining alive, tossing
hope into garbage…’
Thank you so much, Kim 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️