Punam is hosting Poetics in the Pub today ~ how we manage setbacks in our lives is the topic of conversation / and the topic of our poems!
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Setbacks ~~~
life does not hand them singly
it delivers them in baskets
arms full ~ until the weight presses
into your chest
I have wondered ~ is this a punishment
or simply abundance in a form
I do not know ~ did not choose
lemons are sharp ~ also cleansing
sting a cut ~ awaken my tongue
life's secret is learning how to bear the sour
drink deeply what is offered
without demanding sugar
This reminds me of the Stoic quote "‘It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgement concerning them.’"
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling, Helen, overloaded and stifled by setbacks, and that’s a good question that needs answering: ‘is this a punishment or simply abundance in a form I do not know’. I like the way you look at lemons, not sharp but also cleansing.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Helen! Setbacks don't just come in a set of three, they come in "abundance"! Phew!!
ReplyDeleteLove it, especially your take on lemons.
That 👆🏼was Punam, Helen. I wonder why I have become anonymous on Blogger!
ReplyDeleteHelen great verse and I love your references to lemons 🙌
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful poem, Helen. You are right sometimes it comes in bunches. My mom used to say thing happen in threes! :>)
ReplyDeleteI agree.... as we say in Swedish... a misfortune rarely comes alone
ReplyDeleteThe last three lines are a great moral to your poem.
ReplyDeleteHelen, you adapted to the fruits in life's basket quite well. I'm trying to remember the relative who eats literally eats the lemons quite well. I like mine as an ingredient in lemon pie. May I spit the lemons I don't like out to the ground? I think yes, some.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely -- I remember what the poet Jack Gilbert said -- "grief makes the heart apparent." How else do we find out how deep and wide we can go? Sugar is just forgetfulness, and we have death for that.
ReplyDeleteI liked this, it sounds about right to me
ReplyDeleteWell written Helen. A basket of lemons from life sounds about right. 😊
ReplyDelete“or simply abundance in a form
ReplyDeleteI do not know”
Such an interesting and clever thought.
I do not know either, but I'm not a punishment fan :) this is beautifully told, life sure presses in.
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