The sky is dishwater brown with scrunched up clouds,
like a fallow heart
its light is lean almost discreet as it serves as witness to a world
doubly glazed
and dampened by the passing shadows,
we speak with fire upon our tongues letting go of things we keep
between our teeth
we spill blood in the dark locked behind the sun before dusk.
Describing the air is my soul halved
why must we meld our skin with scraps of things we can never become?
Come cut me like one does a beetroot
I work well with earthy flavours of celeriac and parsnip
the world as we know it is as moisture evaporated, the fibers
developing
a tight-knit, papyrus like surface that can be bleached or stained
with bitter fruit politics,
the mind is a powerful weapon with no remorse.
And not a sigh escapes my lips nor breath mingles with joy
I gaze no more upon golden trees with sun-kissed leaves
why must we hunger for control when so many lives are lost in the process?
Clinging to life is hope
I clutch my chest at the thought of dreams inside a coffin
my pen writes of destruction around the globe.
A prayer was mouthed last night in the fading sound and light
come rise with me
I think of innocents and die with despair growing inside
Poetry cannot be weak at this time
a hilted moon hangs overhead watching the landscape
as night soaked with determination walks me home
I have found everything that I need to make a difference within myself,
this August let us reach out for those who need us
the sky is dishwater brown with scrunched up clouds
but my heart is reluctant to give up.
Photo credits: Darren Crowley, Pinterest
Posted on Sunday Mini-Challenge @ Real Toads
& Posted on the Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
The flavors in this are intoxicating, and those first and last lines!!
Thank you so much, Marian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt) 🌹
Ah, those last two lines are like a balm to my soul. I love the strong images that ground this piece and how their are paired with a determined sort of hopefulness.
Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
I really like the refrain of the dishwater sky as part of the opening and closing couplets, with the positive resolve in the second to wrap your piece here Sanaa. Excellent write!
Thank you so much, Rob 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
the sky and clouds are “like a fallow heart” but your heart remains hopeful … and all that beautiful imagery in between.
Thank you so much, Margaret 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Such a powerful piece! Indeed, we must never give up.
Definitely 😀 thanks for stopping by, Rosemary ❤️
A wonderful write, from gorgeous title to last line. Your closing stanza really brings it home.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
What an arresting poem. I love how you begin and end with the same brilliant image.
Thank you so much, Jae 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
This is such a well developed poem, Sanaa. I always admire how dedicated you are to your poetic vision.
Thank you so much, Kerry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
What a strong piece you have written here Sanaa. There is so much in this world that is so wrong, where hate is engendered and suspicion like a breeze blowing through our windows. You really do write so well.
Thank you so much, Robin 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
This is beautiful–the gasps and catches in the phrasing, the image of a “hilted moon” and that ending, the threat and the gathering all at once. You’ve captured the exhaustion of an overwhelming flow of news and vivified resistance to that exhaustion.
Awww gosh! ❤️ Thank you so much, Chrissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
“The Mind is a powerful weapon with no remorse.” That line stood out for me. Great poem Sanaa!
Thank you so much, James 😀 so good to see you ❤️
The sky described a dishwater leaves a strong image. I have hope that this dirtiness that has accumulated can be released so fresh water can once again flow. A powerful message in your
words.
Thank you so much, Truedessa 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
You always find ways t add interesting way to your poetry. The phrase “fallow heart” conjures such powerful images, such ideas… May we take our best seeds into any “fallow heart” that allows us to garden their soil.
Thank you so much, Magaly 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
This is honest, encompassing, challenging and hopeful. How I celebrate you (and stand with you) and your determined words and heart!
Awww gosh! ❤️ Thank you so much, H. Hennenburg 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
Another stunning piece of poetry Sanaa!
Thank you so much, Linda 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
What a beautiful call to hope. Your words are so important and needed during these times.
Thank you so much, Myrna 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
Fallow heart…the heart rests for awhile and then comes nack ready to grow green again. A great image
Thank you so much, Toni 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Indeed: “Poetry cannot be weak at this time”
And yours is strong and loud as a call to action.
Thank you so much, Susan 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
A powerful piece, beautifully crafted. ‘Poetry cannot be weak at this time.’ : a rallying cry in these dark times.
Thank you so much, Wendy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
A nice mixture of our muddied world, bonded precariously by hope. Yes, there will be poets making a difference, not many will get press and only a few will be noted as period writers. A perpetual cause as the writers main theme also to get press.
..
Thank you so much, Jim 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Love that there is hope in this awful world. I love the encouragement you breathed throughout this entire piece…stunning.
Thank you so much, Vivian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
there is such a gothic and helpless feel to the poem. “Come cut me like one does a beetroot”, reminds me of blood. An excellent write!
Thank you so much, Lee San 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
Beautiful, visual, creative…. You have such talent.
Thank you so much, Susie 😀 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
A heart that is reluctant to give up surely won’t.
Definitely 😉 thanks for stopping by, MMT ❤️