The day breaks;
night crouches in the face of dawn.
A storm breaks out;
clouds seize grey's own grievance.
The wind breaks;
dirt in the eye finally settles.
A sea breaks;
the water does not part.
When a story breaks,
fingers hit or miss the keys.
When a record breaks,
fists just pump right on.
If a bone breaks,
skin won't always tear.
If the heart breaks,
the broken a cross might bear.
A woman breaks her silence;
her man breaks his word.
One asks for a break;
yet another denies it.
We can still break bread
before your table's bare.
© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem for today's One-Word Blog Carnival, sponsored this year by Peter Pollock.
The Blog Carnial is a biweekly online event open to anyone. Participants write either original poetry or prose reflecting their consideration of or response to the one-word prompt or topic. The prompt for January 11 is "broken".
At Peter's place, you'll find a list of links to all of the Blog Carnival contributions, which are posted throughout Tuesday and often through to the end of the week.
The Blog Carnival's FaceBook page is here.
Check back at Peter's for the prompt for the next Blog Carnival. The complete list of this year's prompts is available here and here.
* * * * *
I offer this poem also for One Stop Poetry's weekly "One Shot Wednesday" event. Be sure to visit the site late Tuesday afternoon and every Wednesday to list your own link or to find the links to the many contributors' "one shot" poems.
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28 comments:
If a poem breaks,
a heart is left untouched.
This poem doesn't break.
This poem touches me and speaks to me on so many levels. Absolutely beautiful!! Thank you for sharing.
I read this just as the day broke here in Southern California. What a wonderful way to start my day Maureen.
So many similar thoughts on this ... and Glynn's comment.
You tell it well.
I absolutely love this!
Oh, I love the list of breakage and the sense of wholeness from reading it.
When a story breaks,
fingers hit or miss the keys.
Yes... Loved this.
And Glynn's comment!
Very nice, Maureen. This gently evocative poem deftly travels the thin divide between rupture and rapture
Wow, Maureen. I just absolutely love this. So much said in so few words. Thanks.
Maureen, this is an absolutely wonderful poem.
I love how you added the image of broken bread at the end. It reminded me that broken doesn't always mean damaged.
You are making the couplet a very powerful medium in your work, Maureen. This is simple, yet deep and forces the reader to participate in unveiling your layers of meaning.
lots of brokenness in your poem maureen - love all the different aspects of this..and sometimes think we write best cause we are somehow broken ourselves..
This poem travels around each breaking point, bending instead.
Love your poem. Thankful I found you at shewrites and here.
Lesley-Anne
Beautiful Maureen.
all things broken but in that we find ourselves at the table together...nice one shot
Very telling that the final couplet is not broken by punctuation, as if the act of breaking bread alters a definitive cause and effect pattern of possible interactions. There are many variations and connotations for breaking, and yet when it comes to breaking bread, a step to reaching a common ground seems the consequence.
Clear in description and complex through layering. Great write, Maureen.
Looks like you've broken some ground at One Stop!
This is intense and beautiful-- it might need an image or phrase from poem as a title-- it's one of your best! xxxj
This reads like Proverbs. Tight observation couplets. Great muse.
and when news of your book breaks..we can all celebrate...
sorry couldnt resist...grat poem again maureen...all the best pete
I want to say clever things about your meaningful poem but I agree with everyone else especially Adam. Your work is distinctive; your voice is clear. Bravo Maureen.
Dear Maureen
Its so beautiful penned... I loved the way you have used the word in its different forms and feelings...
Thanks for sharing...
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
Twitter @VerseEveryDay
"clouds seize grey's own grievance."
The sounds in that line stuck me as particularly rich. It's my favorite.
love every verse Maureen, it does read like proverbs and ending with breaking bread..end it with grace in hand....blessings...bkm
Yes, the Effects of being broken are many and varied. I enjoyed your passionate poem, and the last line certainly does have power. It is the togetherness that we can fellowship with one another.
Sparse lines, great line breaks & flow. Excellent.
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