 |
| Position of breastbone in human
(Manubrium and Gladiolus)
|
Patience embraces the elusive mys-
tery of being, thumping on sternum
drums, pulsing from heart to the little sword
disguised as breast bone and gladiolus.
Patience wears a tie as if her rib cage
is a getting-down-to-business suit—
a uniform for her heart band playing
while corpuscles line dance through her body.
Patience enjoys this concert with its light
show animating both frame and spirit
aglow—
she listens to in stillness and silence.
Patience hears it in worship, in seashells
held to her ear, in twilight and daybreak,
alone and in company, in prayer
and gardening, awake and in her dreams.
But Patience cannot control its turbulence
as injustice enters her consciousness:
body, spirit and all pick up the beat
to strike at power raging beyond its bounds
But Patience cannot control its turbulence
as injustice enters her consciousness:
body, spirit and all pick up the beat
to strike at power raging beyond its bounds
Patience delves deeper than anxiety
allows and tries to calm her passions’ cries
and tame them, tie them down to chairs in church
but terror enters there as well as peace.
Patience holds hands with mystery and paradox
to calm herself in front of injustice
she has to face and overcome again
again again while drum and light persist.
 |
| Gladiolus × hortulanus (Little Sword) |
Posted at Poets United Poetry Pantry #269
Copyright © 2015 S.L.Chast
This reminds me that patience is not a single act of 'putting up and shutting up'..it is tolerance and growth...of knowing that the garden and see shells are there and will be there again..long that may be so
ReplyDeletePS wonderful illustration and the hospital 'things' can be empathised with
ReplyDeleteI had to smile at Sternum's necktie appearance. Patience is such a gift, a virtue in fact "seldom in a woman never in a man".
ReplyDelete'patience', i aspire for more
ReplyDeletegracias
I specially admire the 4th stanza on Patience ~ We can learn patience from nature and her mystery, in prayer and gardening ~ And I am still learning as I am an impatient person ~
ReplyDeleteSusan, you have described so very well the different facets of patience. I like especially that patience holds hands with mystery and paradox. I think one must really call into play a lot of patience through the many weeks of healing from surgery.
ReplyDeletePatience hears it in worship, in seashells
ReplyDeleteheld to her ear, in twilight and daybreak,
Such beautiful lines..! Indeed, patience hears our plea in the form of worship. Excellent write.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Patience is often something we demand in others, like putting the lid on a boiling kettle... Patience can be w virtue, but it's easy we ask for patience in others..
ReplyDeleteah...patience is so much Power yet it is silent acceptance...the second stanza made me smile too...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of " Patience [delving] deeper than anxiety"; may this thought become true for everyone! ♥
ReplyDeletei agree, patience is an important virtue. Well put
ReplyDelete"but terror enters there as well"
ReplyDeleteTakes me back to the news of that shoot in the USA
quite recently and the helplessness that patience may encounter in reality
Have a blessed Sunday
Much love...
Yes.
DeleteThis is the constant sway, from patience to peace to pain at injustice and back again. Captured so well in this poem. I especially like the lines " Patience hears it in worship, in seashells / held to her ear, in twilight and daybreak,/ alone and in company, in prayer / and gardening, awake and in her dreams."
ReplyDeleteI really liked the flow of this poem and the message of patience. The fourth stanza really drew me in listening to seashells. There is a sense of calm in the sound of those seashells. Sometimes patience is difficult depends on the situation.
ReplyDeleteI am often tested by patience...I reread this several times and each time a different line stood out...so well penned Susan....I love the lines,
ReplyDelete'Patience wears a tie as if her rib cage
is a getting-down-to-business suit—
a uniform for her heart band playing
while corpuscles line dance through her body.'
More and more, I have been getting down to business with patience in recent years.
This is the first work of yours I've read, Susan. Very moving.
ReplyDeleteWonderful writing ... the close on this piece: transcendent, really, as that is what is required to live in this world ... facing and overcoming.
ReplyDeletePatience takes time. Praying for patience is asking for yet another opportunity to learn it. I really like how you demonstrate that patience depends on all of our being,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Thank God for Patience! A wonderful poem.
ReplyDeletei loved everything you said about patience. it is a very difficult thing at times when you are unprepared for another's madness.
ReplyDeleteWonderful imagery and metaphors.
ReplyDelete