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| World War II Picture Hyde Park source |
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Love in the Time of War
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’
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the horror of wars... i just can't.
ReplyDeletethe first stanza is a scary picture of war.
the second is the realization of the first.
powerful poem.
Ah life reawakening springs from the screen :)
ReplyDeleteThus, inspit tragedies life move on.........it has to............
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing an image of Leda and the Swan at a gallery . . . love that you end with a crocus smile. :)
ReplyDeleteEven at war love will flourish.. Love the images of crocus coming up through snow as a metaphor for love at war.
ReplyDeleteThe power of war is that it inspires. Great words and i think you leave the end nicely open.
ReplyDeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteWhat death promises, death delivers. Powerful write!
ReplyDeleteThankfully, love flourishes even during times of war. I like "Life dances out of dark wombs,' Sumana.
ReplyDeleteIt is reassuring to feel that even during hard times, love and positive sentiments still flourish.
ReplyDeleteSuch a deeply thoughtful poem.
ReplyDeletehopeful notes.
ReplyDelete;)
"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
ReplyDeletea really intriguing write!!!
have a nice Sunday, happy you dropped by my blog
much love...
Your verses have a classical feel to them. Such a bitter-sweet kind of love you have described here.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be but little pockets of peace world-wide when it used to be little pockets of war...
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, Sumana, I enjoyed this brilliant piece.
May we get rid of all wars in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe 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!
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since Ive read Hardy (need to revisit). Words said and unsaid the crocus has felt them...
ReplyDeleteWartime, times of much sadness and of so much fleeting love.
ReplyDeleteyour use of greek mythology is a nice touch, adds to the intensity of the first stanza. there is love in the time of war.
ReplyDeleteFabulous ending of a promise of new life after so much death.
ReplyDeleteThe realities of war should end up with hope. The crocuses are a valid picture of hope! Great lines Sumana!
ReplyDeleteHank
Your beginning and ending really paints the vision, so well!
ReplyDeleteWell done and haunting-as it should be~
very strong images. love the ending.
ReplyDeleteLife dances out of dark wombs
ReplyDeleteWhite shroud begins to melt
Crocuses smile all over
THAT'S THE SILVER LINE AT THE END OF DARK CLOUDS!
such powerful poem; wars are dreadful yet life goes on
ReplyDeleteIt's comforting to know that love can still prevail under any circumstance. Very nice write, Sumana :)
ReplyDeleteThe two opening lines of this piece are epically poignant. A moving write, Sumana.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeletehi 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.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem.
ReplyDeleteSo powerful..The world so needs an infusion of love. It has been bathed in hate way way to long.
ReplyDeletepoignant and haunting. yet ever so sadly i read this, knowing it's all true.
ReplyDeletelovely write.
Powerful. And such a balance between hope and despair... hope.
ReplyDelete