What does life ask of us?
She doesn’t wait,
she pauses—
all plans shift
on this axis.
The main question:
should a child
be born now?
They walk
in the forest—
there, last year,
a fire raged.
Where the scars are
the sky shows.
Axes, pitted
steel scraped clean,
rest in oiled cloth.
In the clearing
rows of seedlings
greet the morning
sun.
9 thoughts on "What does life ask of us?"
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The ending is lovely and illustrative–emotionally affecting poem!
I love the way this poem opens with a clarification or an expanation/observation:
“She doesn’t wait,
she pauses—”
This asks us to read slower, more observant. I love it!
This very affecting. Very well-written. It doesn’t give too much away. Life must discoverd on its own.
Stunning poem. I know so many young friends asking this heartbreaking question:
“should a child
be born now?”
Really good, Bud—your best this month I think. Thoughtful, musical, delicate, controlled—very well done.
good question and reflecting in a well written way that which is lost and that which is to be “rows of seedlings/greet the morning/sun.”
Timely and mindful.
Deeply affecting. Such timeless authenticity. You engaged me right from the opening lines:
“ She doesn’t wait,
she pauses—
all plans shift
on this axis.”
Consummately crafted. Thank you for sharing
Gorgeous. So filled with emotion– the question, the “scars” shown, then the “clearing” where sun does shine. I enjoyed this! I agree with all the comments, especially that this is very affecting.