Monday, January 7, 2013

Old Man, Winter, and I



old man winter and i
standing on mountain grass and rocks

a slicing breeze
pulls the cork
and empties me

character failures spill out
on a screen of snow

i watch them play
with my mind

enter Remorse
followed by Blessed Forgetfulness

because the sun is up, bright
among sparse clouds
burning mercy, a silver lining,

into memories
that never forget me



Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Linking up to another great day of poetry at dVerse.
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43 comments:

  1. ND MitchellJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:17 AM

    There's a lovely feel to this. I like"burning mercy...into memories that never forget me". Like the day becomes a healer and thaws out our imperfections. Great work.

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  2. ND MitchellJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:28 AM

    PS Just read Isaiah 43:25 and thought if your poem again.

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:22 PM

      Thank you very much ND, I really appreciate your thoughtful words. And thanks for the scripture reminder too...love that one. Also Lamentations 3:22-23 comes to mind.

      Delete
  3. Brian MillerJanuary 8, 2013 at 4:41 AM

    burning mercy a silver lining into memories that never forget me....great close...love the popping the cork of you...the spilling of failures too...though dont let those be the only thing you think on, winter will def do that, but...

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:26 PM

      Definitely good not to dwell too much...thanks Brian...

      Delete
  4. Janet MartinJanuary 8, 2013 at 9:57 AM

    My turn to say wow! Yes. Back to read it again...

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:29 PM

      Thank you very much! I always appreciate your comments so much Janet.

      Delete
  5. ClaudiaJanuary 8, 2013 at 11:17 AM

    memories
    that never forget me...love how you turn this around...great images...my fav the breeze breeze, pulling the cork...

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:33 PM

      Thanks Claudia...loved, loved your OLN piece. I'm going to hit your recording of 'Leaving Rome'...almost forgot!

      Delete
  6. MaryJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    Very nice. Old Man Winter definitely has a way of emptying a person....and aiding a person in remembering things she / he would rather forget. Thankfully spring DOES arrive!

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  7. ayalaJanuary 8, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    Memories that never forget me...great line. Love this!

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  8. mrs mediocrityJanuary 8, 2013 at 1:47 PM

    " a slicing breeze
    pulls the cork
    and empties me"

    love that especially, but in truth, i love all of it... great tone and imagery.

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:26 PM

      It's funny how a breeze can do that...thank you, your compliments mean so much to me because I am a huge fan of your work.

      Delete
  9. bluenessJanuary 8, 2013 at 2:39 PM

    ..those concluding lines just took my breath away..delicate yet powerful in its message. beautiful poem, Jennifer, so much emjoyed..

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  10. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2013 at 2:45 PM

    i love the images you gift the reader with in this poem, unique, brilliant.. especially

    character failures spill out
    on a screen of snow     and

    memories
    that never forget me

    wow!

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    Replies
    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 10:23 PM

      I'm so glad you visited my blog so I could have the pleasure of discovering yours! Got a new follower in me.

      Delete
  11. colleenJanuary 8, 2013 at 2:56 PM

    Love the cork image and the empty snow screen. It's good to be aware but also to be gentle with ourselves.

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  12. Buddah MoskowitzJanuary 8, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    Bravo! A great, perfectly executed poem. Thanks.

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  13. Kathy ReedJanuary 8, 2013 at 5:40 PM

    I echo the same thoughts about burning mercy; the entire poem is smart and a great reflection on forgiving ourselves...

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  14. GraceJanuary 8, 2013 at 6:08 PM

    This is lovely specially this part :

    burning mercy, a silver lining,

    into memories
    that never forget me

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  15. Wendy BourkeJanuary 8, 2013 at 7:05 PM

    Wow!!! Lovely shades of pathetic fallacy (if I can use that literary term loosely). From winter's "slicing breeze pulls the cork and empties me" spilling out in personal introspection and culminating in bright sun - the harmony between what's going on internally and in nature is very finely woven together.

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 8, 2013 at 10:36 PM

      Thank you Wendy! I so appreciate your words...you always encourage me.

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  16. PatriciaJanuary 8, 2013 at 11:37 PM

    How beautiful... imagery, truth and your ending is wonderful. Nice to meet you. = )

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:47 PM

      Nice to meet you as well, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment.

      Delete
  17. Poetry and IcecreamJanuary 9, 2013 at 5:33 AM

    "a slicing breeze pulls the cork and empties me"
    Great lines!!! Brilliant poem :)

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  18. WolfsrosebudJanuary 9, 2013 at 5:44 AM

    beautiful capture here... your words bring such life to the piece... do like the cork line too

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  19. Optimistic ExistentialistJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:22 AM

    The second-to-last stanza was mesmerizing.

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  20. Alex DissingJanuary 9, 2013 at 11:36 AM

    "Blessed forgetfulness" really like that. Sometimes I wish I could forget somethings; sometimes I believe that ignorance is really bliss. This one got me thinking... nice write.

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:49 PM

      I do have to agree with you on both accounts. Thanks for stopping by Alex.

      Delete
  21. RMPJanuary 9, 2013 at 9:24 PM

    stunning. I love emptying of yourself—spilling out so that you can see them as they toy with your mind. I'm glad for the silver lining, though I'm not sure about the "never forget me" bit; I can see both the positive and negative of those burned memories.

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    1. Jennifer WagnerJanuary 9, 2013 at 10:58 PM

      I see where you're coming from...I suppose for me the character failure memories are negative but the positive comes in with the 'silver lining' of mercy found in a new day in response to them. Thanks RMP, always appreciate your thoughts.

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  22. Jannie FunsterJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:39 AM

    Jennifer, what a neat way to look at winter opening the cork and out you fly.

    TG for Blessed Forgetfulness!! :)

    Always enjoy the treat of your verse!

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Thank you for your thoughts!

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