— REPOSE —
fall into a death-life stun
winter’s dressing hand
shrouds the dormant earth’s repose
waiting for reviving sun
— REBIRTH —
we cross this solstice night
the final dying of the light
as this spent year wanes
seasons circle back again
life’s cycles will reprise
a fertile new year will arise
may the power of light’s rebirth
bring bounty’s blessings to the earth
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WOW, this is stirring.
Glad it moved you Lucy… 🙂
Nice work, Rob. I’m definitely with your closing couplet.
Gotta let the light shine Ron. We are being engulfed by shadows, and I hope we can move away from the dark — and I am not embracing religion here, I am embracing truth and conscience.
a remarkably stunning duo Rob … it profoundly says so much in so few words!
Thank you Kate… 🙂
Needless to say, I prefer Rebirth to Repose; but it’s all good Japanese death poems. I like your rhyming, which we don’t usually get with Asian forms, and it takes more effort on your part. I wrote a Renga, which is a Zen collaboration style.
I just went the the flow of my spirit here Glenn. Really enjoyed what you did with this prompt. Excellent stuff.
type type, erase erase. I’m trying to think of something semi-intelligent in response to reading your work, and I can’t. All I can think to say is, “I loved both pieces, and they fit so well together.” Also your graphics are stunning. This is my first time at your site and it looks like there is a ton to explore, but no follow button? 🙁
Thanks for visiting! The image is as exciting and as important to me as the verse…
A prayer, a poem of hope; this poem rises up.
It is a prayer for our natural world D, perhaps even more than for the human horde that is destroying it.
Clever piece Rob – repose and rebirth. May it be so Rob – with a bit of lux vivendi on your bare forest.
Thank you Peter. Yes, may it be so. This world needs to move from these shadows into the light, or the darkness may consume us. I hope I’m just old and sour, and the world is actually bright and shiny — nothing would please me more. I love the natural wilderness of this planet, and my heart breaks from the abuse it suffers at the hands of humans. Perhaps it is time for us to go — or fucking grow, eyes to see and a soul to feel!
That cycle is what makes the darkness tolerable – at least until the final darkness. But then, that’s only dreaded from this side, and then for what’s left undone.
Well done here, Rob.
Thank you Ken…
Winter is a gentle blanket. I like your benediction, Rob.
I wrote this with a hope full heart Lisa… 🙂
I love the image of ‘coarse lands cloaked in white’ and the thought of winter’s hand shrouding earth’s repose’, and then you wowed me with rebirth, Rob, especially the image of seasons circling back again, possibly ad infinitum.
Thank you Kim. I believe that the life energy that we should be aware of, and honor and revere, of which humankind is only one element — is ad infinitum. It is in no way understood by our clever human minds, no matter how smart any of us think we are — and it not not be fully understood. The wonder of this mystery is the awe we should embrace with humility and unity. The error of our ways is the arrogant belief that humankind is somehow superior in this myriad that comprises the lifeforce. It is what has created the imbalance that diminishes our existence, and we are so lacking in true vision, that we don’t see it — still destroying that which “is”, by the dangerous and erroneous belief that humankind has some sort of mandate of dominion. We need to seek balance, not dominion. Of course, this is JMHO.
That’s so beautiful that I almost think you’re going to need to start your own religion.
Thank you Xan, and interesting conclusion you draw. I detest religion. They are exclusionary, deflective, self-righteous, and driven by dogma and edicts. Most arrogantly turn the faces and hearts of their followers away from the earth and toward some fictitious elsewhere. If I were to ever help start a movement it would be to revere and celebrate this spaceship earth, and to embrace all fellow passengers, honoring “ALL” living things as equal, humankind being only one form of the many, hoping to unite the energy that this combined multi-faceted lifeforce represents, to elevate the overall quality of this earth — in the NOW, each moment being precious, knowing that each moment of the continuum contains elements of firsts, lasts, and enlightenment — as this indestructible energy constantly changes, evolving in the sacred cycle of life. Knowing that it is not known, what is not known, so with humility, the wonder of experience, change, possibility, and growth is sought and elevated as the driving motive of existence. BE HERE NOW, AWARE, TO LOVE AND EMBRACE IT ALL, WITH INTEGRITY, IN EACH MOMENT. That eould be my non-religion Xan.
Startlingly comforting imagery, Rob. You make light and darkness quite naturally leading one from another. Beautifully done.
Thank you Dora… 🙂
I love these complimentary images of hibernation and rebirth. Two masterful poems. I really enjoy your work, Rob.
Thank you Ingrid, your kind words touch me…!
Well done Rob. I like the mellowness of your poem. A feeling of respect and softness as shown by the falling snow. I like the hope of spring renewal in the cycle of life!
Thank you Dwight, I appreciate your kind words.. 🙂
I hope your blessing comes to pass Ron.
Thank you Kerfe!
Rob. I’m always missing those letters on the keyboard…
🙂
Understanding the process gives us hope and you have described it perfectly here Rob. We can get through darkness as we know there is always an end to it. Wonderful write.
Yes, the veil will lift. Thank you Christine…
Beautiful words Rob.
Thank you Linda… 🙂
Beautiful, Rob! Those final lines are lovely. I hope so.
Thank you Merril… 🙂
The season’s turn is such a powerful metaphor for rebirth and death
We see it all the time. It surrounds us in so many ways, if we but look.