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Sep 20

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~~ 1 ~~
 
murmuring prayers
that could double as weapons—
a renegade priest
 
~~ 2 ~~
 
secrets of the moth
dazzling the shaman’s daughter
in her quest for truth
 
~~ 3 ~~
 
Old men in turbans
move with deliberation
toward the temple square.
 
~~ 4 ~~
 
deserted mission—
adobe bricks eroding
in the wind and rain
 
~~ 5 ~~
 
for seventy years
choking on her resentments
bitter old woman
 
~~ 6 ~~
 
a dusty garden
its broken-down gates groaning
with every stray breeze
 
~~ 7 ~~
 
the drooping candles
on a chocolate birthday cake—
each forgotten dream
 
~~ 8 ~~
 
lighting up her dreams
sparks of remembered gunfire
from Afghanistan
 
~~ 9 ~~
 
pared to her essence
by an explosive device—
only stumps for legs
 
~~ 10 ~~
 
bits of body parts
left beside the road to rot
where the bomb went off

 
Poems © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Poetry Pantry #270
 
More Sunday’s Whirligig #25

Posted on September 20, 2015, in 5-7-5, Sunday's Whirligig, The Poetry Pantry and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.

  1. oldegg | September 20, 2015 at 4:57 am

    A middle eastern wartime flavor this weeks offering Magical! The Seventy year old woman was probably bitter when young too.

    Reply
    • magicalmysticalteacher | September 20, 2015 at 5:12 am

      Alas, she probably was, is, and ever shall be! (Now, if I can just find something appropriate to write for “rot”!)

      On Sun, Sep 20, 2015 at 3:57 AM, Magical Mystical Teacher wrote:

      >

      Reply
  2. Jae Rose | September 20, 2015 at 5:42 am

    All these battles raging – inside us…around us…about us..the chocolate birthday cake and drooping candles feel quite humble in comparison..how easily we can regret our time when we are not pressed against a literal battle line

    Reply
  3. Sumana Roy | September 20, 2015 at 5:48 am

    an intriguing set…no. 5 is most appealing….

    Reply
  4. Mary | September 20, 2015 at 7:23 am

    I can picture the renegade priest…prayers and words can sometimes have dark undertones…from the wrong person. 9 and 10 give a slice of life as we wish it wouldn’t be but unfortunately is all too often.

    Reply
  5. annell4 | September 20, 2015 at 9:12 am

    In #5 you are singing my story…nice collection.

    Reply
  6. Sherry Blue Sky | September 20, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Such vivid imagery, especially of the effects of bombs and land mines. Well done.

    Reply
  7. Sanaa Rizvi | September 20, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    This is such a thought provoking read.

    Reply
  8. C.C. | September 20, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    Seventy years is a long time to choke on resentments! No wonder she is a bitter old woman 😦

    Reply
  9. ZQ | September 20, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Always enjoy my reading here… actually I look forward to my visit. 🙂

    Reply
  10. 1sojournal | September 20, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    #2 stopped me in my tracks. It is the journey of every poet. Like ZQ, I look forward to my visits here.

    Elizabeth
    https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/the-life-waiting/

    Reply
  11. Donna@Living From Happiness | September 20, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Quite a collection of thoughts this week showing the darker and harder side of life. That resentment snuffs out the light and life in us all if we let it.

    Reply
  12. Cressida | September 20, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Hard to choose a favourite. You’ve cooked up an excellent batch. No 1 made me smile…the idea of the renegade priest using prayers as weapons is a novel idea:)

    Reply
  13. totomai | September 21, 2015 at 5:36 am

    ku’s about religion, politics and life

    Reply
  14. Susan | September 21, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Oh, oh, oh! You put me in the middle of a market square devastated by a bomb … I see these all there, ALL.

    Reply
  15. glmeisner | September 21, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    These were amazing number seven made me cry.

    Reply
  16. julespaige | September 22, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    #5 reminds me of a few relatives I have known. Rather than change they would rather whine and complain.

    I haven’t gotten to the second mash…busy day. But here’s the first one:
    Rumors; The Sixth Room :Mother’s Closet

    Reply

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