Ripples

Ripples

In youth
we search for those
appealing to the eye
Their beauty would cause
a heart to skip
and our desires
live at the forefront
of their presence
 
We decorate each other
in brilliance of diamonds
and hold the other
in high esteem
as a possession
Only the most fortunate
can hold on to the gift
bestowed on them
 
Many will lose their grasp
and happiness slips away
over and over
The sting of pain
unseen, internal
Love a gift that
keeps on giving
Healing wounds
 
Scars remain
of memories faded
Dissolving in the lake
of recollection where
coming, going,
the waterbirds
don’t leave a trace
only ripples of once was
 
 
Copyright © 2020 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Laura Bloomsbury is hosting D'Verse and has prompted
us with "Stepping off the sidewalk" and allowing ourselves
to look inside ourselves. (I chose number 2 -  by Dogen)

Here are 8 fragments from the mystic poets as prompt. Choose ONE, include the words in your poem or title if you wish, or write it as an Epigraph at the start of your poem and always cite the author too.


1. Our hearts irrigate the earth. We are fields before each other (Thomas Aquinas)
2. Coming, going, the waterbirds don’t leave a trace (Dogen)
3. Why should not the water find delight in the floral fragrance of its own rippled surface? (Jnanadev)
4. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night (Gibran)
5. Like a ruby held up to the sunrise. Is it still a stone, or a world made of redness? (Rumi)
6. My heart was split, and a flower appeared (Solomon)
7. The mountain path leads skyward and dissolves into light (Tukaram)
8. Ask no questions of the moth in the candle flame (Attar)

Image by Mabel Amber from Pixabay 
 

  26 comments for “Ripples

  1. Christine Bolton
    December 13, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    Yes Bjorn. Like the expression- “we don’t know what we don’t know”.

  2. December 13, 2020 at 11:11 am

    Youth is such a bad judgement of character… which is what really matters in the end.

  3. December 10, 2020 at 1:32 pm

    I like how you used that line, Christine. And one day even those ripples will be smooth, which is a comforting thought.

    • Christine Bolton
      December 11, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Thanks Lisa. I always appreciate your kind words 🥰

      • December 11, 2020 at 2:44 pm

        My pleasure, Christine.

  4. December 10, 2020 at 11:09 am

    Ending your poem with the challenge line was brilliant … really enjoyed this.

    • Christine Bolton
      December 11, 2020 at 9:23 am

      Thanks Helen 💕 You are so kind ☺️

  5. December 9, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    don’t leave a trace
    only ripples of once was… and maybe that is enough

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 11:57 pm

      Yes, perhaps Debi. It takes a long time to get to that point ☺️

      • December 10, 2020 at 6:07 am

        Well, and I am almost 70, so it has been a long time for me. Smile

      • Christine Bolton
        December 10, 2020 at 9:13 am

        You don’t look it ☺️ Have a wonderful day Debi. Thanks for stopping by and I wish you a Happy Holiday Season.

      • December 10, 2020 at 9:59 am

        And to you and yours, Christine

  6. December 9, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    “Only the most fortunate
    can hold on to the gift
    bestowed on them”

    Yes.

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 11:58 pm

      Agreed Ken. Sometimes you don’t know what you have when it looks you in the face 😕

  7. Beverly Crawford
    December 9, 2020 at 3:12 pm

    What’s sad is when the old and wise choose the young and lovely thinking to renew their youth! I like your poem very much!

    • Christine Bolton
      December 10, 2020 at 12:00 am

      Oh my gosh, yes! Isn’t that the saddest thing. Thanks for reading Bev. I’m happy you like it. 🥰

  8. sanaarizvi
    December 9, 2020 at 1:45 pm

    Love this! I especially resonate with; “Scars remain of memories faded/Dissolving in the lake of recollection.” Poignant, arresting and worth a countless reads 🙂

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      Oh you’re too kind Sanaa! Thank you so very much ☺️❤️

  9. December 9, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    You wove in the waterbird well here and I especially liked:
    “Many will lose their grasp
    and happiness slips away
    over and over”

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      Thank you so much Laura. I’m happy you liked it ☺️

  10. December 9, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    When we are young and beautiful we should seek out other young and beautiful and celebrated together. When we become old our wisdom grows deeper we find it more satisfying to be with one who shares our understanding of life. When we’re lucky it turns out to be the same person – that’s not always the case though unfortunately. Great poem Christine.

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      Thanks Rob. The line I used just reminded me that we leave no footprint per se. We are just passing through and wisdom is acquired along the way. I never have regrets and luckily I have let go of old stuff long ago. Yes like you I am with the one who understands me and vice versa ☺️

  11. December 9, 2020 at 10:16 am

    Ooh! Love the last stanza, Christine!

    • Christine Bolton
      December 9, 2020 at 10:22 am

      Thanks so much Punam. I always appreciate your kind words ☺️💕🥰

      • December 14, 2020 at 8:57 am

        My pleasure, always. 🥰

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