If I should die,
think only this of me:
a shadow in memory
I understand I be
no more and one more
a count in breaking news
named and claimed
but stilled
in paradise.
You who culled our grief
absorbed in earth revolting
on a January afternoon
take now the measure
of single breaths
striked in chaos controlled
beneath tarps flapping
wind-caught and undone
your mouths re-masked
against the fault line
of recovery.
© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas
_________________________
REMEMBER HAITI!
I wrote this poem for Carry on Tuesday, which each week provides a prompt that participants are to use wholly or partly in an original poem or prose piece.
The prompt for Tuesday, October 26, consists of the opening line of Rupert Brooke's poem "The Soldier": If I should die, think only this of me: . . . Brooke wrote the poem in 1914, at the outbreak of World War I.
To read other Carry on Tuesday contributors' poems or prose for Prompt #76, go here.
Note: Although it is indicated at Carry on Tuesday that one need not produce something somber in response to Brooke's poem, I had to use the prompt as I have after coming across a CNN post in which the writer described being at a dinner party at which a guest asked, "Is Haiti worth saving?"
* * * * *
I also offer this poem for One Stop Poetry's weekly "One Shot Wednesday" event. Be sure to visit the site late Tuesday afternoon and every Wednesday for links to the many contributors' "one shot" poems.
Maureen -
ReplyDeleteYou always have excellent resources. Thanks for sharing.
Maureen
ReplyDeleteThank you for the rich text reminder of poverty we should never forget or ignore. Bless you
A beautiful piece but a tragic event.
ReplyDeletebeautiful words for a wonderful cause. nic writing
ReplyDeletevery well done i enjoyed reading ur poetry
ReplyDeleteTrish
love ur work
ReplyDeleteExcellent--"the fault line of recovery."
ReplyDeleteThank you for this sensitive poem. Tarps and remasked faces...sigh.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable what that CNN journalist heard at the dinner party. Really, it's hard to believe.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your words in poetry are striking, pulling out from the depths.
Love this Carry on and One Shot. Love and Light, Sender
ReplyDeleteonce again your post amazes me with the simplicity and strength !!
ReplyDeleteLove the spareness/tight structuring of this poem. Excellent.
ReplyDeletethis was very moving Maureen...
ReplyDelete...rob
great cause you are writing about here Maureen, loved the intensity..Excellent stuff! :)
ReplyDeleteyour mouths re-masked
ReplyDeleteagainst the fault line
of recovery. - that's a fabulous line!
The spaces between every two lines were last dying gasps giving power in structure to the content of your lines. The pain and suffering you present is exquisite to the point of tears. Thank you, Gay @beachanny
ReplyDeleteParadise has different perspectives
ReplyDeleteso well presented in this great poem
;)
Great , Maureen
I hope that "Guest" is never in the position where other query if they are worth saving!
ReplyDeleteDid paid great tribute to the seriousness of the Haitian plight!
great textures to the piece...the tarp flapping...strikes a cord with me...delicate yet intese touch...nice one shot.
ReplyDeletea shadow in memory
ReplyDeleteuntil memory fades
and the sun rises
on a new day
a new beginning
arriving
no going back
no retreat
carry on
to give all
we can
Great take on that first line... the ending is perfect with the "mouths re-masked"...
ReplyDeleteyou have made be curious to take a look at Carry on Tuesday....thank you...bkm
Thanks for this one.. its so poignant..
ReplyDeleteॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
Thanks for interupting my detached life. I could see the scene...without CNN. Thanks for using words so effectively.
ReplyDeleteYou sensitively handle a very delicate, very tragic topic. You capture the pain and the suffering, and with it, move your readers. Fine work.
ReplyDeleteWow...this is simply gorgeous!
ReplyDelete"beneath tarps flapping
ReplyDeletewind-caught and undone"
Multi-layered with stark imagery... beautiful poem illuminating great tragedy
Your poem is well-timed as the death toll continues to rise in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteI find that you are so adept at going to the heart of the matter with a simple, skillful grace. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete~Shell
this was a strong and tight write maureen - we sure shouldn't forget haiti and what happened - and your words are a good reminder - thanks!
ReplyDelete"striked in chaos controlled" very very strong, well done, sad events..your words flowed so much emotion, beautiful tribute... ~April
ReplyDelete"no more and one more
ReplyDeletea count in breaking news"
Those words stopped me. I had to keep going back. So sad.
That is quite a balanced view!
ReplyDeleteExcellence at it's best!
ReplyDeleteVery well put!
you are so consistently good..this was a wonderful heartfelt write...cheers pete
ReplyDelete