In my wilderness, I met a woman
who knew God -
a genteel beauty who chased
the moon at night.
She was silver tongued
from eating ashes,
but I can't pray like that.
I met a man who'd wrestled
with the Devil.
Winning left him with a face
of wax.
He preached safety and salvation
outside the sun.
I can't live like that.
Last, I met a little girl
with a giggle.
She sugared suffering, but didn't claim
it sweet.
It was just the way she'd found
to get the hard stuff down.
Give me that.
I can pray to that.
I can live like that.
For The Tuesday Platform at Real Toads
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
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About Me
- Maude Lynn
- Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. ---Flannery O'Connor
13 comments:
You create the perfect set up for epiphany, MZ. Such a wonder and a privilege to read your work.
let the little children come to me. we must have faith like these little ones. something so cowboyish about this
I agree wholeheartedly with Kerry, this is amazing poetry, MZ!❤️
I am always humbled when I read your poetry, MZ ~
The best way to meet the world... so much better devils and Gods. Love it
After Stanza#2, i giggled, not knowing i would scroll down to meet your giggling girl, and like her too.
much love...
And every one of your readers chooses the girl with you.
Evocative and provocative - this has echoes of some of Cohen's words and music - but is wholly unique, of course. And indeed, the line - she sugared suffering - that is a knock it out of the park right into the heavens kind of line - fantastic.
Nice tale. ..and there is a relatable truth in it.
I feel the same way.
"Last, I met a little girl
with a giggle.
She sugared suffering, but didn't claim
it sweet."
I love that.
She sugared the suffering.....and found a way to get the hard stuff down. Brilliant, MZ.
This apostasy is also a poetics -- right-sized for humane consumption.
Me too!!!
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