Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Invisible


Intently seeking confirmation, there’s
no notice taken as poems dissipate behind
veil of disinterest and fade to obscurity.
Intestate, the words choke and die as I
surrender to fate. So few bones thrown
in world of literary validation if one
banks upon comments as affirmation.
Laboring against such obvious disparity,
eclipsed behind all who’ve achieved popularity.

© Ginny Brannan 2013











This was partially inspired by, of all things, the reminder at different sites that after posting, we should read as many poems as we can and share comments. Reciprocation & encouragement. Validation. The question really is, do we write for writing's sake, or is it all about the recognition, the reaction, the number of comments we collect? Written a while ago and sharing tonight for
 a dear friend struggling with similar questions this week. I think we all feel"invisible" at certain times; point being-- to keep going, keep writing, anyway.

Sharing at d'Verse Poets Pub Open Link Night #93. C'mon by and check out what others have written!

Friday, April 19, 2013

Carnage


Chaos ensues as
all hell breaks loose;
roiled in bloodbath again.
No one feels secure
as we mourn and abhor, then
gather our thoughts to contend, and
echo as one, “This must end!”

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Written after the Boston Marathon bombings.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

“Well, Isn’t That Just a Fine Bucket of Fish?!!”



"A fine bucket of fish!"











"Loose Connections"

Her thoughts go ‘round in circles now--
mid-sentence they change direction,
as signal loses its connection.

She still communicates somehow;
sometimes we hear her words quite clear
when lesser gods choose to allow.

Perfect in her imperfection;
her thoughts go ‘round circles now...

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Finding the joy in rare moments…
Communication--another piece of the Dementia puzzle:  At work I observe the elderly,  many who are challenged by dementia. Though bittersweet to watch their slow, progressive decline, many manage to do okay within their limited world. On occasion their frustration and thoughts run with perfect clarity, especially when we don’t grasp something quick enough.  Unable to come up with an answer for one of our residents recently, she started to ask again, then stopped mid-sentence, looked at me and said “Why am I asking you, you don’t know!! Well, isn’t that just a fine bucket of fish?!!” ZING!! Much to my chagrin, I’d say she communicated that quite well, along with sending a zinger back to me!! 
We do love our people, especially during the rare moments when  they make us laugh! 

**Lesser god: Originally coined in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, and then taken as title of a movie about someone deaf, it is a reference suggesting that if God created man perfect in His image, then  “lesser gods” created all who would be disabled, disfigured or challenged.

I have written of the more serious side of this subject before, and was honored to have it published by Journey of the Heart, Women’s Spiritual Poetry, here.


Sunday, April 7, 2013

Siren Song


lifting winter’s veil
floating in on gypsy wind
naked limbs rejoice

singing siren song
trilling ancient mating tune
cycle starts anew

basking in the warmth
we reply with lightened step
springtime has arrived

© Ginny Brannan 2013


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Introspection


I wonder of the little child
that lives inside the woman grown--
the quiet one who rarely smiled.
I wonder of the little child
the one the other kids reviled,
who grew up pretty much alone.
I wonder if that little child
still lives within this woman, grown?

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Sharing at d'Verse Poets Pub Open Link Night #91
Image: Susan Hall

Monday, April 1, 2013

Keepers of the Past



Detail from: Between Heaven and Hell,1989, Jacek Yerka
Coffee grinders, rusty scales,
early pewter, crocks, and tins--
never knowing where they’ve come from,
never knowing where they’ve been.

One man’s trash, another’s treasure…
butter churns and samplers sewn;
I collect these wondrous pieces,
and cherish each as though my own.

Passing down through generations
simple treasures from the past,
created by a craftsman’s hands--
built for use and built to last.

I am just the current keeper,
one of many in the chain,
the history of each runs deeper;
when I’m gone they will remain. 

© Ginny Brannan 2013
Written for The Mag #162. Image provided by Tess Kincaid.
She provides the image, and we the story!!

And yes, I love country primitives, and really do collect such things...

My kitchen counter


Below the Surface


Always on the backburner
…simmering
never quite hot or cold.

I dream of torrid;
 settle for tepid…

Still awaiting 
      anticipating 
         
 your slow burn

© Ginny Brannan 2013









Sharing at d'Verse Poet's Pub Open Link Night Week 95