Killing the Messenger
by robnjop (Member) - published: March 4, 2008
Word Count: 178 Word Bytes: 1057 Viewed: 164 times
Category - Poetry
© Copyright by robnjop

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A bird called to me in winters' grasp,
and though a month only of winter had passed,
said, "Spring is only a quarter mile away!"
I heard the bird calling through the trees that day.

Opened my window for a sunny days' air,
heard birds chattering like at a bird fair.
Said, "Springs coming, not too far away!"
I heard it clear on a sunny brisk day.

"Speak you of spirit? Or speak you of time?
You know in this heart winter's all mine!
Be you Poes' foul bird to come and mock?
I see of your feathers you're all of one flock!"

"Let your lies be told to a heart less pained,
all of you together can't deceive a man trained
to know when winter is forever set in,
to know when spring is forevermore Then!"

So I listened no more that day hence,
never heard a bird sing or wanted to since.
But as I shiver in my winter and grope in my dark,
a spurned thought passes often, "God sent hope in a lark".

------
Robert J. Hall, thankful "Pa" of Kev and Dave.

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Comments

The following comments are for "Killing the Messenger"
by robnjop

Spring is only a quarter mile away!
No need for involving infringement lawyers in this. It is nothing like my self-involved posts.

The Poe line reminded me of the first poem of yours I commented on. Seems like a lifetime ago. I think it was yours anyway. Pretty sure it was yours...

"Spring is only a quarter mile away!"

Loved this line. Made me think of postcards from the heartland.

Overall, the poem invokes a longing for... perfection, perhaps? Not inward looking perfection. Just a need to find it in everything we come across.

But that's me projecting.

You should submit this a monthly.

( Posted by: desvelado [Member] On: March 4, 2008 )

POEWHIT
The robins fly north 1-2 months early now - them birds do know or are being scammed

( Posted by: poewhit [Member] On: March 5, 2008 )

early birds
I liked this poem, on the surface quite wry and witty, but with a deeper under current that is obvious comes from bitter personal experince… know how that goes, when it’s safetr to reamin innured and numb in winter than admit that out there life goes on. it’s an old story; but presented here in a fresh and original enough way that I still care… it’s always the way too isn’t it? we get that proffered message of hope too late… or at least it seems to late to our jaded eyes…

I’ll stop rambling now. liked this.

( Posted by: AuldMiseryGuts [Member] On: March 5, 2008 )

Robert's bird
I like how this poem starts out ordinary and builds on itself like a nest feathered to become extraordinary. And in particular, with the "alighting" of your final word and its double-entendre: way beyond clever, this!

Looking out my window today and reading this, I don't see a bleeping bird anywhere! It's blowing snow mixed with freezing rain to the tune of me calling in sick because I wasn't driving up and down hills in this, so yes, birds be damned, it's winter out there still and it ain't over until the mounds of snow reaching address plates melt. So there!

I love your Poe reference and forevermore rather than nevermore is a nice take-off. You don't say the word "crow" once in this and I see crows all over this poem...

Thanks for exactly what I needed to read today.

Lucie

( Posted by: windchime [Member] On: March 5, 2008 )

Des, POE, Shannon, Lucie
Frrranceeesco, muchas gracias, senor.(couldn't resist). You know, I read Poe again a couple months back online. Probably haven't read his works in a long time, maybe even since high school. But as I read I am just floored, how does he do that? Who in the world was he? It just literally stunned me.
Anyway, I think Shannon got it most right, it's about overcoming what life deals us, being willing to.
(POEWHIT, thanks. I always remember the day I see the first robin every spring, always a neat day for me.
Shannon, you seem to really understand people. Yes, easier to curse those bird prophets that have the audacity to come and tell me that there will be a better day! That winter will not be forever? Who do they think they are? And so we stay where we are. Jesus once asked a man in the Bible, Will you? Will you be made whole? Thanks Shannon.
And Lucie, I missed you. When I submit something and you're not around I always think, " I wish Lucie would have been here".
But you give me way way too much credit here, and I feel like after I tell you this you are going to break up with me. ; ) Because it was not clever on my part at all, and accidental that it could mean two things. And even worse, I never even thought of that until you said it. So now it is back to only ordinary, and I understand that you must go and never comment on anything else I write again. (Stupid birds)

( Posted by: robnjop [Member] On: March 5, 2008 )

You got it just right
Hey, thanks for the comment on Born a Lion, its exactly what im going thru. you're amazing, the whole thing about me and him. Mabye its true, i am just using him. YOu just summed up all me feelings perfectly. ...Thanks for the help.
Thing is half the time when im writting a poem, its just like an open channel from my heart to paper, so im not really concious of what comes down.
i guess i always need someone else to tell me what im writing is actually about
keep writing, im reading some of your stuff now
not bad at all
:D

( Posted by: shaza89 [Member] On: March 6, 2008 )

let spring come
Somehow, as i read this, i had that linkin park song " what ive done" playin in my head. Im not at all a linkin park fan, mostly into house really, but listen to this..
" let spring come, and wash away ,, all ive done"
if you sing it, its not bad at all.
Loved the feel of them poem. its like you're the angel in hell, . Mabye we should all belive spring can come early.
Really love your work.:). keep writing

( Posted by: shaza89 [Member] On: March 6, 2008 )

shaza
Thanks shaza for your comment and for saying such nice things. And what you said about open channel from heart to paper, and not being totally conscious of what is written is exactly what I do. Anyway, thanks again, Robert.

( Posted by: robnjop [Member] On: March 6, 2008 )

Robert's birds
It is not habitual for me to comment on comments but this is the second thread I am doing it in today: I'm going to comment on your work again whether you like it or not, 'kay?

I value you around here because you consistently see what could be fashioned into poetry and then you go ahead and you fashion it.

Plus, I'm very happy to read any comment from you on my work. Anytime.

You know, I get that a lot, that I see in others' work what they themselves don't see, but then, what's this place for, if not exactly that, eh?

I don't bullshit people in my comments to them. Every single comment I make is sincere and true. So if you turn out something extraordinary, then it's extraordinary IMO, and that's it. I don't go back on what I say.

Will make an effort to be around here more, though it's difficult at this moment...

Lucie

( Posted by: windchime [Member] On: March 7, 2008 )

Lucie
Thanks Lucie, that's why I missed you.

( Posted by: robnjop [Member] On: March 7, 2008 )

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