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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

Disasters, Delights and Other Detours - 53. Clay and Colorfast

I have struggled to write lately. These trickled off my pen.

Clay

 

Discarded and forgotten in the shed,

they lie as dusty bones of summers past

their once-bright flowers withered, crumbled, dead

and frozen by an icy winter’s blast;

now filled with dirt depleted of its worth,

mere chipped and damaged vessels made of clay,

they have no seed to bring new life its birth

or hasten beauty to the light of day.

So am I like that broken, useless pot,

reminder of those months beneath the sun

but now left in the dark to rust and rot,

no sunny days remaining left to run.

Yet make me clean with kisses in the dew

and I will spring to blossoming anew.

 

 

Colorfast

 

More colors than Crayola ever made

or fit into their very largest box

and crafted to depict each subtle shade

which nature to the artist’s eye unlocks

exist beneath the canopy above

and march beneath a flag of many hues,

for infinite of spectrum is the love

that anyone with eyes cannot confuse.

Those sad, self-sightless servants of a past

that never was the whitewash they recall,

will never see our dyes bound hard and fast

in living fabric woven for us all.

But stay with me beneath the blanket bright

and paint a bow of promise on the night.

Any comment you may have is welcome. Thank you for reading.
Copyright © 2017 Parker Owens; All Rights Reserved.
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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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  • Site Administrator

I like them both, but Colorfast is amazing.  I love the image of the 'living, woven fabric'.  Well done :) 

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I'm sorry for your struggles.  :hug:Both these are vintage you though. 'Yet make me clean with kisses in the dew' is beautiful and a perfect example of you bringing all things round to love. 'will never see our dyes bound hard and fast' is another perfect phrase, and one I agree with wholeheartedly.

You may feel these trickled; to me, they flowed.  

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You don't usually write Sonnets in the English style, so it's nice to see you stretch your poetic muscle with this form :)

Both are effective and moving. And both have striking analogies to present. But I agree that "Colorfast" speaks the most to me right now. 

As always, thank you for sharing your work with us 

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32 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

Sorry you are struggling ... both of these seem to say otherwise. Thanks, Parker.

Thank you, tim. The last six lines of Colorfast took many days to form. They finally came together over the weekend. xo - P

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18 minutes ago, AC Benus said:

You don't usually write Sonnets in the English style, so it's nice to see you stretch your poetic muscle with this form :)

Both are effective and moving. And both have striking analogies to present. But I agree that "Colorfast" speaks the most to me right now. 

As always, thank you for sharing your work with us 

I'm very grateful you read these, and very happy you think they're effective. The opening lines to Colorfast kept repeating themselves in my head. Finally, they showed me where to go. Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement.

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48 minutes ago, northie said:

I'm sorry for your struggles.  :hug:Both these are vintage you though. 'Yet make me clean with kisses in the dew' is beautiful and a perfect example of you bringing all things round to love. 'will never see our dyes bound hard and fast' is another perfect phrase, and one I agree with wholeheartedly.

You may feel these trickled; to me, they flowed.  

You are so very kind to read these, and to comment. Summer's waning has so much color and texture, they yearn to be written; and there are so many who seem intent on erasing us, draining us of who we are. I am glad you think these flowed well.

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1 hour ago, Valkyrie said:

I like them both, but Colorfast is amazing.  I love the image of the 'living, woven fabric'.  Well done :) 

Thank you for reading these. I am very glad Colorfast appealed to you. That fabric metaphor is a favorite. Then again, I'm a sucker for textiles.

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14 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

Thank you, tim. The last six lines of Colorfast took many days to form. They finally came together over the weekend. xo - P

That happens ... sometimes a good poem is work and some struggle. Worthwhile in the end.

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16 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

That happens ... sometimes a good poem is work and some struggle. Worthwhile in the end.

You're right in that; and your words are a hug. Thanks.

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I relate to Clay... it's a beautiful homage to something humble set aside... I love the analogy, Parker.

Colorfast is, in essence, breathtaking. Maybe you're struggling, but it certainly doesn't show. You impart the message of this with a deft hand. Color me impressed. :)  The whole thing deserves quoting, but this part is powerful...

 

"Those sad, self-sightless servants of a past

that never was the whitewash they recall,

will never see our dyes bound hard and fast

in living fabric woven for us all."

 

I hope things turn around for you. :hug: 

Edited by Headstall
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2 hours ago, Headstall said:

I relate to Clay... it's a beautiful homage to something humble set aside... I love the analogy, Parker.

Colorfast is, in essence, breathtaking. Maybe you're struggling, but it certainly doesn't show. You impart the message of this with a deft hand. Color me impressed. :)  The whole thing deserves quoting, but this part is powerful...

 

"Those sad, self-sightless servants of a past

that never was the whitewash they recall,

will never see our dyes bound hard and fast

in living fabric woven for us all."

 

I hope things turn around for you. :hug: 

Thank you for reading these. I’m very glad Clay struck a chord with you. Things will come round right, I know. I’m grateful for your kind thoughts and hugs. 

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Awesome, both of them. I can't see that you are struggling to write. I see you perhaps struggling right now with the length of what you write.

But gems are all beautiful, no matter their size.

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16 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

Awesome, both of them. I can't see that you are struggling to write. I see you perhaps struggling right now with the length of what you write.

But gems are all beautiful, no matter their size.

You’re very kind. These took a long, long time to come together, with many false starts. I’m very grateful you took time to read these. Your thoughts are really encouraging. 

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