Sunday 16 November 2014

Love in the Time of War

World War II Picture Hyde Park
source

When little hands pick food crumbs

Cities bellow fire and wrath

Death promises a visit to all homes

The busy Swans’ shenanigans

Petrify all sobbing Ledas*

 

We see old peasants till lands

Youths drown in their beloved’s eye

Life dances out of dark wombs

White shroud begins to melt

Crocuses smile all over

 

 

*Leda and the Swan is a story and subject in art from Greek mythology in which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, seduces or rapes Leda. Wikipedia

 

Posted for Kerry’s SundayMini-Challenge ~ In Other Words @ Real Toads

 

&

 

Shared with Poetry Pantry @ PoetsUnited      

 

The poem is also inspired by Thomas Hardy’s In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’


 

34 comments:

  1. the horror of wars... i just can't.
    the first stanza is a scary picture of war.
    the second is the realization of the first.
    powerful poem.

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  2. Ah life reawakening springs from the screen :)

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  3. Thus, inspit tragedies life move on.........it has to............

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  4. I remember seeing an image of Leda and the Swan at a gallery . . . love that you end with a crocus smile. :)

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  5. Even at war love will flourish.. Love the images of crocus coming up through snow as a metaphor for love at war.

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  6. The power of war is that it inspires. Great words and i think you leave the end nicely open.

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  7. This is a really intriguing poem, Sumana--it is wonderful that beauty and nature seem to be able to co-exist in war here--crocuses coming up even in the midst of a kind of devastation--you probably saw the poppies that were put up at the Tower of London in commemoration of World War I--a very moving sight. Thanks. k.

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  8. What death promises, death delivers. Powerful write!

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  9. Thankfully, love flourishes even during times of war. I like "Life dances out of dark wombs,' Sumana.

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  10. It is reassuring to feel that even during hard times, love and positive sentiments still flourish.

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  11. Such a deeply thoughtful poem.

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  12. "Cities bellow fire and wrath" this for me is your most powerful line, in keeping with the greek myth images used, and the intensity of havoc that war brings
    a really intriguing write!!!
    have a nice Sunday, happy you dropped by my blog

    much love...

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  13. Your verses have a classical feel to them. Such a bitter-sweet kind of love you have described here.

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  14. There seems to be but little pockets of peace world-wide when it used to be little pockets of war...

    Needless to say, Sumana, I enjoyed this brilliant piece.

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  15. May we get rid of all wars in the world.

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  16. The image of children picking food crumbs will stay with me for a while. This is a stark and accurate portrayal of the horrors of war. So well written!

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  17. It's been years since Ive read Hardy (need to revisit). Words said and unsaid the crocus has felt them...

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  18. Wartime, times of much sadness and of so much fleeting love.

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  19. your use of greek mythology is a nice touch, adds to the intensity of the first stanza. there is love in the time of war.

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  20. Fabulous ending of a promise of new life after so much death.

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  21. The realities of war should end up with hope. The crocuses are a valid picture of hope! Great lines Sumana!

    Hank

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  22. Your beginning and ending really paints the vision, so well!
    Well done and haunting-as it should be~

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  23. very strong images. love the ending.

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  24. Life dances out of dark wombs
    White shroud begins to melt
    Crocuses smile all over

    THAT'S THE SILVER LINE AT THE END OF DARK CLOUDS!

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  25. such powerful poem; wars are dreadful yet life goes on

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  26. It's comforting to know that love can still prevail under any circumstance. Very nice write, Sumana :)

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  27. The two opening lines of this piece are epically poignant. A moving write, Sumana.

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  28. I'm constantly relearning that love is the answer, the solution to everything and in times of war, of course, it can still flourish. Beautiful write Sumana.

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  29. hi Sumana, i owe you a comment. i actually know about the story of Zeus and Leda. it was one of the inspirations for my own poem called Oldtimes that was published in my college's literary fiction book. thank you for bringing it back to my mind. and yes, scholarly lines!!! smile.

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  30. So powerful..The world so needs an infusion of love. It has been bathed in hate way way to long.

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  31. poignant and haunting. yet ever so sadly i read this, knowing it's all true.

    lovely write.

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  32. Powerful. And such a balance between hope and despair... hope.

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