jormungandr

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Di_Hard

Tue, 24 Aug 2021
  • 5791 reads
24 comments
 

Some things will never change. At Summer's height

bright as a plastic butterfly, the Fair

unpacks on the Prom. Adult herring gulls

look sharp with dull feathers, fledgelings - big eyed

as waif like supermodels - beg for chips,

get waved away, "Go back where you belong!" 

by parents who, minutes before, muttered

in disgust, pulling small children aside

from, entangled  in sea weed on the beach,

bits of mangled wing and skulls of beings 

who mate for life, protect each other's young, 

yet couldn't help starving to death, because 

all fry and shrimp and crab are gone, now. Far 

across this sea, human victims of floods,

hurricanes, earthquakes and droughts,  plead  for scraps

of helicopter hope. Perhaps one day
 
forced to try to heal by crossing this wound
 
in humanity, find a fair life, too

 

Certificate U
Poem
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A powerful poem Di, you say so much here and leave the reader to contemplate.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou Jenny, that's very kind of you to say, was not sure if I was explaining what I wanted to say, it's comforting to know your views

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

very powerful, as Jenny says. One of your best I think Di

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou :0) Was not at all sure about it, thankyou very much for the cherries!

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

I've read this a few times, Di. It's excellent. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much Mark! That is a wonderful thing to hear, am well chuffed :0) And POD is amazing, was not expecting at all, thankyou! The picture is wonderful, hope anyone who clicks on the poem after seeing it does not feel let down :0)

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

They definitely won't feel let down -- it's a belter. smiley

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou - again :0)

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Congrats - this rich, multi-layered poem is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day. 

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Please do feel free to change the image :) 

 

Submitted by marandina on

"plead for scraps of helicopter hope..." A desolate message delivered so well in these words, Di. Super stuff. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou very much Paul, that means a lot from you. Your poem today is is brilliant!

 

Submitted by MJG on

Love the helicopter hope and the way you have tried to connect seagulls with refugees and our attitudes to both....

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much, that is really good to know, feel uncomfortable writing about people whose situation is so much worse than anything I have experienced, can comprehend. Hope you are well, and writing!

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A truly multilayered and skillful poem, Di, that conveys a deep and strong message.Well done.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou Luigi, that's so kind of you, I know how you care about climate change, too, so am really glad you felt it worked, thankyou so much for reading and letting me know!

 

Submitted by Penny4athought on

All the comments have said what I felt- This is stark in its portrayal of humanity; the correlation of the ecological destruction and the frailty of man, these are days fraught with unprecedented global changes and in much need of helicopter hope. 

Penny4athought

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much for reading and your thoughtful comment, Penny. I hope where you are is safe, keep hearing about bad weather in America

 

Submitted by onemorething on

This wonderful poem is our Poem of the Week - beautiful and moving. 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou so much! I would have chosen the Quetzal one

 

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

"This wound in humanity" - stunning. Congratulations on a well deserved award.

Kristi

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou very much Kristi.You must be so busy and stressed out right now, please look after yourself, too

 

Submitted by bhi on

The contrast between the plastic, the throwaway consumer society and the grim realities of life, pushed into the backs of our minds by the gaudiness of the Fair, is portrayed with subtle power and heightened by the last lines which create a circular reference to the Fair and the unjustness of it all.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Thankyou B for your thoughtful and very kind comment