13 January 2016

The Body

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They watch, I’m sure of it—outside
this window and others—they see
our plenty, our too much and try
to warn us of great reversals to come
when we are the wraiths wandering
and pressing noses to the glass
and eating only with our eyes.

This is the reincarnation
of nations and spirit.  I’ll say
no more, but open up the door.
Sh-shh.  If only they’d enter
in any form.  As birds and cats.
As strays, alive and dead.
Come in and feast on wine and bread.



Written for Sumana's 

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Food



Copyright © 2016  Susan L. Chast




21 comments:

  1. Such a powerfully expressed poem Susan, especially loved these lines:

    when we are the wraiths wandering
    and pressing noses to the glass
    and eating only with our eyes.

    Beautifully penned!
    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  2. Oh I love this response to the prompt, the forewarning of rough times ahead.....the critters you invite in to share the crumbs.......

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  3. Indeed a good lesson. Our time of plenty will not last forever. There is a wake-up call to be heeded, but somehow I think we are not paying attention.

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  4. The animals sense things before humans. Times are changing.

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  5. To some the fall to come seems so obvious to others it is "Don't worry someone will fix it" which sadly is not the case.

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  6. such a beautiful
    good luck susan!

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  7. Powerful message of 'kindness' sympathy' concern' and above all'being grateful'.The poem begins dramatically and with certainty 'they watch' I am sure' and moves on to manifest the harsh reality of life and death. A classic expression.

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  8. opening up of the door / heart is the solution to all trouble and the only way to divine grace...beautiful Susan...

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  9. Eating with our eyes - such a telling line...a wise and reflective poem..i think those birds do come and we can offer them something to help them through the winter

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  10. Oh yes...situations can be reversed so easily..this is such a timely message Susan.

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  11. A deeply spiritual response Susan ~ I specially love that last line ~

    Hope you are well Susan ~

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  12. and pressing noses to the glass
    and eating only with our eyes.

    That's how mankind will end up if not careful, without jobs and without food. One can only feast one's eyes on food of others but not having them. Very true Susan!

    Hank

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  13. The world is unfair and unjust with so many noses to the glass watching the feasting of others. Heads rolled in the French Revolution, Lenin waved a hammer and sickle and history will repeats itself. And why not indeed...the west will come crashing down eventually through greed and secular values. It is a question of when not if...Nothing changes . All the wrong people are in charge of things... Good poem!

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  14. Sadly, I can relate, all too well, to "the nose pressed against the glass", having been homeless, for awhile, and how people treat you, differently, as if, you're diseased or worse. How, I have opened my heart to a certain black kitten, Star, who has become my mentor, in my own healing, as I healed her. Thank you, for expressing this warning, which too many people are ignoring, as they walk around, with their heads held high, in hubris.

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  15. You have done what poetry does best - move the heart of the reader. I agree that our world is shifting on its axis. There have been a minority trying to point to the injustices and so few ears were willing to listen. It is never too late to offer a warm hearth of a smile to a passerby.
    You have done well in inspiring, Susan. I hope that you will be filled to overflowing on your journey. We will miss you dearly.

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  16. The Bible story of the lean cows following the fat cows came to mind first, Susan, but on re-reading I saw it as the haves finally becoming aware of the have-nots. I loved the way the poem resolved itself with the invitation to share that symbolic meal of bread and wine, so that took me back to the Bible, and what is says about loving our neighbour and sharing what we have with others. Well-penned!

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