buried and unbalanced
wings to carry me
wings to dry
wetness from my baby’s eyes
let me soothe him
dust his soul
bless him, bruised him
keep him whole
he deserves a first in life
screamed into a slap
a gasping instant
under all
a snare,
a breath,
an angel’s call
blue baby
dead baby
ride on wings
of dreams and prayers,
imaginings
murmurings of might have beens,
buried and unbalanced
Brenda Warren 2013
The drumming thrum of wings drove him mad so
His snare pulled her wings asunder
and he stared in her glistening eyes.
He knew he was blessed by the blue faerie’s
gaze, through the way she unbalanced his mind.
He snapped his hands cupped
and shut her in,
whispering silk
through his thumbs.
Faeries always succumb
to whispering silk
through thumbs.
Always,
they always succumb.
Beat a drum.
Always,
they always succumb.
Brenda Warren 2013
Note: Not all poems are autobiographical. The first poem uses all of the wordle words; the second uses some of them. Both came quickly. They read well aloud.
Visit The Sunday Whirl.
Beautifully written poetry always strikes a chord deep within. You are a beautiful poet with a blessed soul. Thank you for passing by my blog and liking what I do.
Ishaiya 🙂
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You posted two strong poems here. The first one is tragic and lovely. The second one I found myself reading as a metaphor and it scared scared me. It works as a metaphor for domestic violence. Great reads.
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Brenda. Finally getting around to some reading and found aspects of “Buried and Unbalanced” in the piece I had submitted. I’m sure that’s a common occurrence. Mine is based on stories of my breech birth and the gasping and blue baby, WAS me. Both works of your twofer are outstanding. Thanks for the lead.
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Delightful!
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Wow, this is so powerful:
“blue baby
dead baby …
murmurings of might have beens,
buried and unbalanced”
Goodness, I LOVE the title of your second poem. Like crazy, seriously awesome. And what a great first line: “His snare pulled her wings asunder”
Nice: “the way she unbalanced his mind”
Love the repetition of “they always succumb”
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That first one captures loss. “An angles call-” This may not have been autobiographical, but I am beginning to think that the poet writes for all those who cannot. What a thought- what a gift.
I am glad to be back this week writing with the wordlers.(I added a comment that disappeared-if both show up feel free to delete one-)
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omgosh your first poem is breathtakingly painful – yet there is a madness just beneath the surface and the next poem is very well written – truthfully I was still shaking from the first one.
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Your visceral response makes me feel good, Paige. Thanks for sharing your emotions … I can feel the madness there, too.
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Hi Brenda, love both the poems. Poor little soul, the first poem left me a little teary. I love to read the poems aloud. Makes then somehow more concrete for me. 🙂
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I’m glad you read them aloud. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Veronica.
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Brenda, these are both wonderful, and it seems you have come back with full force. I think reading them aloud does add to them both. Nice work.
Pamela
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Thank you, Pamela. Thanks, too, for your poem’s lush descriptions of morning. They are sticking with me.
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Your first one’s powerful message hit me right in my heart! I’m joyful at the second.
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The first one really grabbed me as it described the pain of losing a newborn or infant with such power. I agree with whoever said you should submit it to one of the babyloss organizations. And I also enjoyed the blue fairies!
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I left you a comment. but it disappeared. I may have not pressed the reply tap…
I liked them both.
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Our area has an organization for those souls who were breathless… I have also known of Sids babies where I think your first poem would be a fitting tribute. Your second reminds me of one of my childhood favorites, Peter Pan. As others I think they complement each other well.
My short verse is here:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2013/03/sw-wordle-98-order-up-non-story.html
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Both beautiful, Brenda.
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Like them both. Murmurings of might have beens and always succumb to whispering silk through thumbs…love those.
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Your first was painfully beautiful and the second? Well I was under a misapprehension with fairies I never thought they would be entranced by silk, I thought cobwebs were their weakness!
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Yes, Let’s hear you speak it. The first one really got me. Not many poems about dead babies. Sad beautiful.
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oh, the first one is aching and beautiful – well done. the second was playful, though tragic. they took me right along…
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It is good to know your muse has gotten off her duff. Love the hints of a broken lullaby in the first one. Very nice.
And “Faeries always succumb
to whispering silk
through thumbs.” alone, would have been worth a whole day’s reading.
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Thanks Barb. That part spilled out of me and made me smile. Yup.
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Not autobiographical but capturing what I imagine that loss would feel like. My poem wrote itself in about three minutes and similarly alludes to loss. Hope you are well- I have been away for quite some time so I am out of the loop! xo teri
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Speechless at the profound emotions of these poems. The first is powerful and heart-changing. Thank you for sharing these.
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Really like both of them, Brenda, and certainly agree with Jae’s comment. There’s so much depth in the first one, and then magic in the second. Sometimes sadness needs a bit of magic to lift it up and give it the strength to continue. If you find a way to do the reading, let me know, I’d be very interested in that.
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/reserved-flight/
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Thanks, Elizabeth. If I do a reading, I’ll share it with you. Your thoughts on sadness and magic make sense to me.
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wow, amazing, brenda. I love the rhythm and the sounds. these are definitely meant to be spoken aloud — somewhere with a brick wall and a spotlight, and you standing behind an old-style microphone.
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Thanks for the encouragement, Angie. I might work on memorizing these for just that reason.
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Hi, Brenda… I’m so glad your muse came back from vacaction… and with a bang it did! I enjoyed both, but the first one especially.
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Thanks Laurie, me too.
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They fit together beautifully too..almost as if to face reality we need a moment to fly away in fairy dust..
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Nice! Thanks for the thought, I like it.
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Both reads like a lovely prayer, dealing with the dark in a heavenly way.
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Thank you Irene. Your comment is lovely.
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you’ve really captured the pain.of babyloss, well done
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Thank you for your kindness.
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Astonishing versatility if shown in this Twofer. Coming hot on the heels of a mighty fit of the blues, I read with delight, then shock, your wonderful Buried and Unbalanced. Your second is interesting but strangely, I didn’t find the magic of the first.
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Thanks, Viv. “A mighty fit of the blues” is worthy of poetic exploration. I really like Buried and Unbalanced, too.
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The first in rhythm and powerhouse content reads like. a spiritual – it is that musical and plaintive -just beautiful – the second is lovely – but my heart is still pounding from the first …Bravo !
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Thanks, for the heart pounding comment, Pearl. You made my morning.
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Both have great rhythm despite dark subject matter, and I agree, they do read well aloud.
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Thanks Stan. I wish I knew how to make an audio plug in for WordPress. It’s on my list of things to do this summer when I have some time. It would be fun to read some work for the blog.
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Brenda, if you put an audio clip somewhere like dropbox you can use the WP free audio player without much trouble at all. Don’t have to add a plugin.
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