"Peace", the voice calls out,
as if they have any clue
what it means, but pulls
me up short between
the white lines on the asphalt.
at my foot, it's skin, once pink
now mottled, smeared grey, bits
of dirt impressed, tread on by
some shoe, taking/tearing away pieces,
unnoticed and discarded careless, by the
pruduct of someones mouth
"dang bro, it's only gum"
"it's only..." rings heavy, dismissing
and yes, it's gum, and yes they once
had a name before they too became
"it's only" as if that justified the
actions/inactions/reactions
"who?" you ask, just look, wherever
the noose still swings under the
spasmodic dying weight
of the oppressed
"Peace," there is the voice again
and I turn to three tawny haired kids
in the back of the jeep waiting on their
mom who said she would only be a minute
in Starbucks and throw them the two fingered
gang sign of those that believe there is
a better way, and echo
their sentiments
they giggle and i smile a prayer that
maybe they will one day
show us the way
toward it.
written for Imperfect Prose and for Magpie who a week or so ago challenged me to write a poem about a chewed up and stepped on piece of gum, ha The kids, I did meet yesterday.
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87 comments:
I'm convinced that you can meet any poetic challenge tossed your way. Well done, Brian.
There is always hope. Peace!
ooooh ahhh I like this a lot. The thought the imagery the lost dreams of peace with hope renewed in the future generation that still has a chance to bring it about. Wow great job Brian.
hopefully someday we will see Peace...it's a scary time right now. This is a good one!!! xo
Best ABC gum poem I've ever encountered.
Hands down.
;)
Flower power ~ it lives!
Yes, let's hope that the meaning of their gestures and the sentiment of the word really does make it through all that life throws in their way and that at the other end, peace does reign triumphant. I suppose it has a lot to do with the way that they are raised, what they are shown to be significant in their lives, and the examples they are taught. And that maybe it will stick, like the gum on the pavement.
I like the way you pull the reader through and let them experience surprise, revelation, make the discovery with you rather than just telling. I was right there with you the whole way.
Sounds like the sixties. Way cool, man. Peace.
Beautiful Brian.
Now, I was thinking...I need a t-shirt that says: actions/inactions/reactions
PEACE OUT!
I chew loads of bubble gum. One time I stepped on my own throw-away. Ever since then...well, I learned my lesson, I can tell you!
PEACE! (and I have nebulous idea what that means--grin!)
Challenge? Not really. You can tackle any subject with aplomb.
Peace out bro. Love your poetry.
Peace is a river.... let it flow... but, don't you just hate it when that happens with the gum? :)
"I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum."
Sorry, always feel the need to go against the herd.
Peace!
What a creative response to that challenge!
I remember during the mid-seventies when the peace symbols -- the two-fingered kind, and the rounded, sectioned-off illustration -- disappeared. I assumed that, as relics of the sixties, they were gone forever. I was pleasantly surprised to see their return years later. Maybe... maybe... there's still some hope.
Excellent response to the challenge, as always, Brian. Peace out!
Those peace signs I've seen around here for quite some time
Maybe they are practicing to be a mime
Wow you really took gum and made it into a great write
Flexing your writing might
Maybe the cat should think of something really obscure
For you to come up with at your shore
But peace who knows
As war and crap like that is always how one goes
you have a way with words brian... you even make stepping in chewed up bubble gum sound good :p
I think you have never met a challenge you have not done well :)
ugh. i hate gum on my shoes. but you did a great job of writing it into something more...
I love the last stanza as I'm sure I've done that very same thing. The little ones always give me hope.
this is fun! i like it!
good one Brian!
'yes they once
had a name before they too became
"it's only" as if that justified the
actions/inactions/reactions'
great line!
what a great moment with those boys!
You always allow for such thought on the part of the reader. I like that.
yes--it could happen--great writing as always-c
love how you connected with the kids..spontaneously and understanding each other without words..and i hope for the same - for a strong generation, showing us the way - would be great
I so enjoyed this, Brian. We always have to hold out hope that our kids will understand and bring about peace...but it seems so far away right now. Your poetry is superb.
Awesome. You really are up to any challenge, aren't you? Fantastic!
It all starts somewhere.
Peace
Hi! Brian...
Words that comes to [my] mind after reading your poem. (words)
Challenge,chewed-up, gum, children, discarded, transcending more than talk Of gum, oppressor, oppression, hope, the future and...Peace,but Of course!
Thanks, for sharing!
DeeDee ;-/
Grace and Peace to you.
Cool. I like it. So what did you get, a latte or a mocha??? ;-)
Amen, Brian. We certainly have lost the way toward it. Maybe they can find the path again once we're no longer blocking it.
Really good job of revealing the significance of our insensitivity to one another with such a creative example. I do not think that I will look at gum on the street in the same way again :-)
Maybe one day they will. For today, we have hope our own behaviors and work towards peace will provide a strong enough impression to help them along.
I like this, although I'm not quite sure what it all means! (I'm such a non-poet! haha!) Thanks for taking my imagination on a ride, though!
thats ok writeon...sometimes i dont even know what it means...but for this one i hope the next gen finds greater peace than we...
Here's hope for our kids' future!
i have experiences like this at the city dump...often.
Peace and smiles....:)
That two finger salute pops up in some pretty weird places. I blame Nixon.
And yes, you have written a pretty dam good poem about chewed gum.
Hi Brian, you really seem to have a beautiful way to connect such distant topics as chewing gum, starbucks with peace.I have a long way to go, so much to learn. Thank you so much for your feedbacks.
"Peace",
...
maybe they will one day
show us the way
toward it.
I believe it... and in the meantime we who've been around for a while are getting good and tired of the old ways and the promises and the bs rhetoric around what peace is and how we can best achieve it.
May that day come soon. Did I mention, I love your poetry? :)
Interesting topic. I'd never have thought to write on chewed gum. Good job.
By Gum! Excellent post, Brian.
masterymistery at
cosmic rapture
Smile a prayer. I like that. I'm going to try it. :)
only you can take the unfortunate experience of stepping in someone's warmed, sticky, spat-out gum,
and make poetry.
You transported me back to a time in my life. No gang signs then and no talking. Just fear.
I echo what radhika said..you do have an amazing way of intertwining things that are completely unrelated....and it works so well! You're "it's only" stanza is powerful in that we have become so de-sensitized in this day and age not only to violence but disrespect among many other things...the phrase "it's only" rolls off the tongue too easily.
<3 u
Tis hope that keeps us afloat..those sweet kids just might show us the way tomorrow. Peace.
So are you issuing a challenge? As in give me topic, I'll write a poem? Cuz if you are, I know your legion of fans will be thrilled ;-) I personally believe you can take any prompt. Chewed up gum? Kid's play. Are you familiar with Vogan poetry? Meanwhile, as you search for the movie I'm quoting, I issue the following challenge, should you run out of your own material:SOCKS.
Tina @ Life is Good
P.S Not accusing you of WRITING Vogan poetry, was just reminded of it by the whole gum thing.
YOU ARE A DYNAMO
Warm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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cool observations!
it's been doing that all morning...frig it, I'm going out
blogger is being a pain, can't seem t leave anything,let's go anynomous...:)
Lorraine
now let me try it under my name
to put life in all its gritty loveliness as you do is the work of an artist
Peace. May I say it often today. And mean it each time. Your writing is always poignant and always contains surprises.
Wonderful and powerful!
One has to have an idea of what an elephant looks like before they will recognize one when they see it.
Through the eyes of children...we can see many signs of peace.
I dare say you won the challenge! And those kids just may one day save our souls! Peace, poet...sincerely :)
I'm expecting a poem on the back of the card.
you captured that moment in time very well. think most people pray for a better way. great write
Well done, I especially like, "the white lines on the asphalt." So specific and so universal. And then all the rest, like a good recipe, the result is so good, it's hard to tell what is in it!
This is awesome!
Loved it!
Are you ever surprised at the way your mind twists and turns to a nice solid end? Or is it just like breathing once you get on a roll?
I knew you could do it! There are life lessons in everything we see if we will just look. You (I know) have had experience with sharing homilies and it shows in your writing. It's the unique and loving way you try to guide that makes you so special. You and your wife are raising two wonderful children. So, yes, I would have to say, there is hope for our future. Thank you, Brian. :)
Wow. This one bears rereading to get the full meaning. I've read it twice and still, I believe, there is more to it. Well done.
Sending the two-fingered gang sign your way! I have hope.
gum and the 2 finger peace sign, at least that is what fingers were created for... to help not harm I enjoyed
You notice everything when you're out in the world!
a "piece" of gum is a great segway to kids and a wish for "peace" in their generation. nice one.
a gang sign? really?
Being dismissed is a horrible feeling (I probably took that part a little more to heart than its intended meaning having recently been dismissed by someone - sorry for the brief rant mid-comment), and, yes, let's hope those giggling kids take the peaceful message to heart and end up leading the way :)
Wonderful :)
a day without writing, is like forgetting the world, and I can't do it, I won't forget
This is great...sorry you lost all your comments. Have a great weekend :)
Loved it!
I love the hope in this one. I sigh...wish I could write like this.
Too often we see the discarded and lose sight of the hope we can bring--the peace, even if just momentary!
You amaze me as to what you can write about--a poem about chewing gum!
Anyway, posted a sequel to the youngest in our household taking flight. Thought you might like it as you commented thoughtfully on the first piece.
Blessings,
Janis
I hope that, too.
There is a gum street sign here in town on which every kind and shade and flavor of gum has been stuck. It is an "interesting" piece of urban art, I guess. I wish for peace too.
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