Wednesday 4 May 2011

My Son

Smoldering Fires.  Clarence Hallbrook Carter
1904-2000.  Columbus Museum of Art
My Son

You were born into poverty
Where every crumb on the table
Is torn from the flesh
And toil of your father;

Where each penny ill-spent
On the needs of today
Is at the cost of tomorrow;

Where every tomorrow
Is more daunting
Than the hell of today;

Where hope is just a dream
And hopelessness
A reality.

Mother Nature
Spewing fire from her mountain;
Our vista a vision of Hell.

Misery, all pervading
Casts a long shadow
And we become as one.

Anna :o]

With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales

32 comments:

Frances Garrood said...

Anna, that is beautiful!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you for your kind words Frances.

Anna :o]

jabblog said...

Excellent and so true!

Isabel Doyle said...

oh that is such a harsh picture of reality - true and beautifully expressed, but harsh

Kathe W. said...

such a sad subject-so well written

Laurie Kolp said...

A powerful piece, Anna.

~laurie

Ann Grenier said...

Yes, it is so hard to find the cheer amidst all the misery we hear of every day. Well written.

Helen said...

Intense and overwhelming ~ and beautifully written.

Anonymous said...

A compelling description of utter hopelessness. Tears your insides. vb

Snowbrush said...

Wow, that's powerful stuff!

Louise said...

You held me all the way through, a strong and tight piece.

Tess Kincaid said...

You captured hopelessness and the bond of family love perfectly.

Mary said...

A powerful and emotional piece which captures harsh living so well. Well written Anna.

Lyn said...

As one..that's the good part..a hard life indeed..but we have Art, and you express it so well!

Steve Isaak said...

Solid, relatable stuff.

Elaine said...

Each stanza builds and builds. Excellent writing!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you for your kind comment folks - they are much appreciated.

Anna :o]

Everyday Goddess said...

well thought out, made me feel the despair.

Tashtoo said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my little piece of the web, for if you hadn't, I may not have found my way here. What a fantastic write! The tone, imagery, both VERY heavy. Fits the painting perfectly. Well done and happy to be following!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thank you Everyday Goddess and Natasha for your kind comments.

Anna :o]

Lolamouse said...

So sad but so true for many families. Very poignantly written.

budh.aaah said...

'Where hope is just a dream
And hopelessness
A reality'
this is so sad and a reality really. I do write about hope but feel at times like this..

Dave King said...

At first it sounds exaggerated, but then when you think how real...

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks for your kind comments.

budh.aaah. I tend to look on the bright side of life - but I think for some folks that there isn't a bright side. Sad.

Anna :o]

Carrie Van Horn said...

A powerful write Anna!

Helena said...

Like the oomph to this one. Prompt depicted perfectly.

Friko said...

I see that I have not commented on this wonderful if grim poem before. So sorry, I don't know why not.

Where are you? I've been looking for you.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks again for your kid comments folks.

Friko - I will email!

Anna :o]

Marja said...

Very powerful and perfectly expressed. Something we should be much more aware of

The Blog of Bee said...

Powerful. There is nothing worse than loss of hope ans that knowing that tomorrow, and the day after, short of a miracle is going to be no different.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Thanks Marja and Bee for you kind comments.

Anna :o]

Margaret said...

Wow. So .... passionately hopeless. Not sure I've ever used that as a description before!