Friday, October 12, 2012

Troll Bridge




facing the winter
of a hearse driven life
you soldier on
with skeletons in the closet
clacking along

the last frost covered leaf
curled and brown, laced with silver,
blows away in the wind

the wind,
there to bite you
sting you,
 remind you

of regrets and demons without, within—cackling
in the still-deadness
where your still-living questions
ask if you have left
them behind

they pick lustily
at your flesh, with tempting,
at your mind, with amoebic doubts—
troll-like, in a present-day quagmire
on one side of the bridge; whereupon crossing
you hear a voice
which says to Call This

The Bridge Where You Rename Yourself



                                                    And Forgiven, And Worth

                       Overcomer                                                                        Being

Names like                                                                                                                  Loved




Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

Inspiration: Isaiah 62, Revelation 2, and a dream that woke me up

For the prompt at Poetry Jam and for  Poets United Poetry Pantry

*Note: this piece doesn't read right on most hand-held devices.  For accuracy read on a larger screen.

66 comments:

Brian Miller said...

smiles...this is beautiful...love that bridge in the end...bu the textures and sounds and feels through out...the clacking skeletons, wind biting...ha, love it...

Mary said...

This is a strong poem, Jennifer. I like the image "hearse driven life" and also like the idea of "Call this the bridge where you rename yourself." And....yes....loved! Beautiful final line.

Daydreamertoo said...

That old devil called self doubt and esteem. Sometimes we have to dig really deep to find where we have hidden our true worth. This is such a lovely metaphor for the long journey of discovery to self.
Beautiful.

Mary Ann Potter said...

Very sensory and beautifully ocmposed! "Loved." Oh, yes. What a wonderful conclusion you reached!

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

This is really a beautiful write! I loved your ending--so very well crafted!

my heart's love songs said...

stunning last line! beautifully written!

thank you for participating at Poetry Jam!

dani

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Love, love, love this! What a great sense of hope and redemption at the ending...so well-crafted! Thanks so much for sharing this.

Grace said...

I like the use of the troll bridge, from being skeletal dead to being enlightened and forgiven ~ Creative format of the last words, like a bridge ~

Helen said...

...where your still-living questions ask if you have left them behind ... I found this line the most profound in an exquisitely written poem.

Justin Lamb said...

This is awesome. The way you mix a call to salvation (the words) and the visual layout of the poem (with the bridge at the end) is quite clever. Nice work.

Cotali said...

You have such a beautiful gift for word weaving. Love this one. And, omg, Seattle! Thank you for sharing.

Wendy Bourke said...

Thoughtful and thought provoking. You weave and move from simple to complex (in all your poems) with sweetness and magic.

Serena said...

The Bridge Where You Rename Yourself... I love that idea... after the skeletons and regrets and demons... and then the ending... very beautiful and inspiring...

Anonymous said...

Amoebic doubts...fantastic wording for a thing that spreads...

Panchali said...

Wow...this is such a powerful piece...very very creative.The whole ambiance right from the beginning is overpowering, but the concluding lines are riveting! Beautifully penned, Poet:))

Sayantini said...

This took my breath away, such a nice word-portrait. Wonderfully crafted!

~Sayantini Bhattacharya
another part of me

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

This poem moving from darkness to light - brought tears - So very beautifully written - A wonderful "wow" of a poem.

pam prince said...

So full of description and emotive phrasing - I always feel the need to keep re-reading poetry like this ... an ace.

Unknown said...

This is a gorgeous write. The struggle within.
God I know this, live this...

Laura Maria said...

And Redeemed! I'm so glad that when we do have to cross that bridge we will cross it as you say, Forgiven. Isaiah 62 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. The Lord used it at a time in my life when I didn't believe redemption was possible for me. After reading that chapter I knew He could still do something with my life! Great writing Jennifer!

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

A very emotional piece of writing, displaying the fears within the timeline of life itself..The bridge to be crossed and the moments of redemption when one believes, help is possible.

Eileen

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Jennifer, this is stunning writing. With "Facing the winter of a hearse-driven life" I was in awe....then the transformation through chill and memory to finally understanding one is worth being loved - THAT is the journey, my friend, isnt it? A wonderful piece of writing, and a well-made journey. My hat is off to you.

rch said...

Are there directions to that bridge? Excellent journey, thanks for taking us along.

Unknown said...

As a 53 year old woman, I relate to this with enthusiasm! it is so easy to forget that this is a life of lessons and development, of becoming and refinement. You make that clear, here.

Sarav said...

Jennifer, you did an outstanding job of writing here! Especially love the ending and how you turned it into an actual bridge--we all deserve to be renamed worthy of love. :-)

Ella said...

I loved this and the bridge is a great idea to connect the threaded thoughts! Spooky good :D

Barbara said...

I really enjoyed the idea of a bridge where you rename yourself! Redemption!

Tank said...

I love the imagery and emotion that you bring to life! Great job honey. I'll always be there to cross any bridge, your hand in mine...

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

That wind made it all so real!

artbyrae said...

I love your poem...What great writting!!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Brian--a great compliment :-)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much Mary :-)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Bren!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for coming by Mary Ann and for your kind comment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Audrey-so appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Dani! And it was fun to join in :-)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Mary, so glad you do! And thank you for such a great prompt too.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Grace, glad you enjoyed those elements; and thanks for commenting on the piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Helen, thank you for such a wonderful compliment.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Lo-Fi, thanks so much!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Cotali, a wonderful compliment, I'm honored. And Seattle yes...are you here too? brrr...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Doodles! Miss your poetry...thanks for popping in to comment on the piece!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Hoped it would be...I'm glad you grabbed onto the idea--thanks so much for commenting.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Jack :-)

Jennifer Wagner said...

What a wonderful compliment Panchali--I'm so honored by your words. Thanks so much for reading and commenting on the piece.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Sayantini-- it's an honor to me that it affected you. I so appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Pearl, it means a lot to me that it touched you. Thank you very much for your kind compliment.

Jennifer Wagner said...

It's a great compliment to read that Pam. Love it when someone considers something I've written worth coming back to--thanks so much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Rene, I'm glad you came by--and I so appreciate your words. Really means a lot that you connected with this write.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Laura- Thank you for sharing a piece of your story! Awesome, I love it. It's a great chapter and it has spoken to me so deeply too. I appreciate your thoughts and words so much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much Eileen, glad you came by!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Sherry, I am truly so honored by this comment of yours. I'm touched by your words of understanding--I know from reading your works, which I regularly enjoy and admire, that you "get" the journey. Thanks!

Lolamouse said...

This is absolutely beautiful and expertly written. I love the form of the bridge at the end as well.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Directions you say? I would point you to Isaiah 44:22, Isaiah 62, Luke 7:36-50 and Colossians 1:13-23 -- and the God I found who delights in redeeming the screwed up types like me. When I needed a new name, instead of the ones I’d lived by…worthless, failure, corrupt…He gave me one. Still reminding myself to accept it and the love He shows me through the people in my life who believe it when I don’t. It is my journey. Hope you find redemption on yours. Thanks rch—I so appreciate you coming by to comment!

Jennifer Wagner said...

It is indeed, isn't it Kim? Thanks so much for sharing some of your hard-earned lessons, I so appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Sara- thank you! Your words are encouraging!

Jennifer Wagner said...

:-D thanks Ella, very much!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you do Barbara! It's a practice I'm trying to live by when the names I hear in my head are, well, not exactly encouraging. Thanks for commenting on it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Aww, you melt me. Thank you...and you know I mean that more than I have words for - yet. :-D

Jennifer Wagner said...

Ouch, that wind! Thanks Rosemary!

Jennifer Wagner said...

wow, thank you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Such a great compliment Lolamouse--thank you very much.

Lisa Williams said...

This is one of the most beautifully written poems I have ever read. A haunting caption of the long road to self discovery. Absolutely love this!

asteria's canvass said...

the starting line took my breath away...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Wow. I am so honored by these words of yours Lisa. I am sincerely humbled and touched more than I can say. Thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much chips, glad it moved you. Thanks for coming by!