This month we are challenged to write something using the poetic technique of anaphora. Our theme is gratitude and grace in loss. Losing keys, books, earrings, memories - surrendering them to the void and chaos that is life, and looking for and accepting what we receive in return. I lost my oldest son last year and am still reeling.
Anaphora is the repetition of words or phrases in a poem, as a way of amplifying or intensifying the meaning and effect. It's used in speeches and songs, as well. Here is my attempt:
Living In The Space Between
Between the tight green bud in hardness,
And the sweet rose open in tenderness,
There is a movement of spreading shimmer; a bloom.
Between the moist pale pillow of dough rising,
And the crisp crust of brown bread baking,
There is a movement of rising fragrance; an expanse.
Between the sweet sharp joy of each childhood breath,
And the blind weight of his iPhone after death,
There was a movement of growing discovery; a potential.
Between the last warm time we hugged goodbye,
And the hollow nights when I do nothing but cry,
There was a movement of dim confusion; a dissolution.
Between bright then,
And darkest now,
Movement.
-Andromeda Jazmon 11.1.18
Please take some time to enjoy the other poems shared by my Poetry Sisters at these links:
And stop by the Friday Poetry links hosted by Jama's Alphabet Soup!
12 comments:
Love, Andi. You, your poem, and your lost son, who you share with us all so generously. Sending hugs and love and tears.
So moving and powerful, Andi. I like the progression of images as you examine those inbetween spaces, and then the shift into something more personal in the third and fourth stanzas, wow. And then the final line, bright then, darkest now -- says it all.
Ah, there is that perfect contrast. Tender and hard soft and baked... The movement in this poem is subtle like a roses blooming but inevitable, graceful, and beautiful.
(I think the blog may have eaten my earlier comment. Apologies if this posts twice.)
I would love to write a series of poems like this -- the subtle movement and the in-between-ness works so well with the anaphora style. This is truly beautiful.
This is breathtaking.
Oh Andi, this is so raw and beautiful.
Beautifully moving.
Vivid word choices, Andi. Glad you are able to take your movement and put it into words. Wishing you more bright.
Oh, Andi. The idea of "the between" is just...stunning in its simplicity and its power. Maybe all we can hope for is to move, if only to sway in laughter or tears, and not get stuck in one or the other. Sending my love.
This is brave and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your words and your loss.
Oh, Andi... this poem absolutely brings me to my knees. The darkest now, but also the movement. Thank goodness for the movement. Love this piece, and love you....
What a gorgeous, moving poem! My heart goes out to you in the space in between.
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