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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.
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Food
Copyright © 2016 Susan L. Chast
Such a powerfully expressed poem Susan, especially loved these lines:
ReplyDeletewhen we are the wraiths wandering
and pressing noses to the glass
and eating only with our eyes.
Beautifully penned!
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Oh I love this response to the prompt, the forewarning of rough times ahead.....the critters you invite in to share the crumbs.......
ReplyDeleteThe critters and crumbs go well together!
DeleteThe communion of spirit--beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIndeed 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.
ReplyDeleteThe animals sense things before humans. Times are changing.
ReplyDeleteReally powerful!!
ReplyDeleteTo 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.
ReplyDeleteSensitively penned
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful
ReplyDeletegood luck susan!
Enormous!
ReplyDeletePowerful 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.
ReplyDeleteopening up of the door / heart is the solution to all trouble and the only way to divine grace...beautiful Susan...
ReplyDeleteEating 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
ReplyDeleteOh yes...situations can be reversed so easily..this is such a timely message Susan.
ReplyDeleteA deeply spiritual response Susan ~ I specially love that last line ~
ReplyDeleteHope you are well Susan ~
and pressing noses to the glass
ReplyDeleteand 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
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!
ReplyDeleteSadly, 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.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
ReplyDeleteYou have done well in inspiring, Susan. I hope that you will be filled to overflowing on your journey. We will miss you dearly.
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!
ReplyDelete