The Buddha land where once
we dreamed our dreams
by the light of the candles
is abandoned now.
The dreamers have all gone.
A crumbling wall reveals
dead leaves scattered across the floor
where once we ate, and laughed
and believed in
a beautiful tomorrow.
War has touched the village
which is now full of ghosts and whispers.
But three roses still bloom
by Plum Bridge,
in memory of those days
that will live in memory
until my last breath.
shared with the Poetry Pantry at Poets United, where there is good reading every Sunday morning.
I love this piece. Especially the last stanza. Especially this:
ReplyDelete"War has touched the village
which is now full of ghosts and whispers.
But three roses still bloom
by Plum Bridge"
This is such a moving poem, Sherry! Thankful for the three roses.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful source poem, and beautiful poem of your own with both sadness and renewed joy. The notes were very interesting too! I did not know this about him. I'm glad he fled, to go on to do such good work in the world, rather than immolate himself in protest as some other Buddhist monks did.
ReplyDeleteI was sure I had left a comment before.
ReplyDeleteSome memories never fade, and perhaps renew us when they come back. Remind of possibilities,
Elizabeth
https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2019/04/13/just-an-image/
Wow.. those three roses...beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis poem kind of hangs in the air like a leaf waiting to fall, Sherry. It is fragile and poignant, especially the second stanza with the ghosts, whispers and the three blooming roses.
ReplyDeleteOh this is incredibly touching, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteWith millions on the move due to war, famine, climate change and political instability, laments like this are becoming a global song. Thanks for listening.
ReplyDeleteLike so much war poetry this is so moving to those that never want to see war again. Sadly so much profit can be made out of it by the idiot species Humankind.
ReplyDeleteTender! May those roses bloom forever!
ReplyDeleteThree roses are hopeful. Nature has no quarrel.
ReplyDeleteI find this poem to be deeply peaceful in mood. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteWow, we both wrote about lost dreamers. I had a dream about lost dreamers the other night.
ReplyDeleteThose 3 roses still signify hope albeit the displacement and destruction that war personifies
ReplyDeletePowerful poem, even more so after reading the note. Horror can't truly rob a soul of anything, if said soul holds on to living and memory and what makes it grow.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful Sherry. Such a tragedy in this, but hope seems to still grow among those roses. Hope itself is a hardy rose.
ReplyDeleteGlad he was able to flee and then to reflect
ReplyDeleteA beautiful yet sad poem Sherry
Happy ypu dropped by my sumie Sunday today
Much💚love
You have painted this piece in soft, delicate, strokes infusing it with reverence. Beautiful writing, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteWar is a most terrible thing..and so the roses - much like a rainbow are a promise of new things to come.
ReplyDeleteThe roses give me hope. Even when things are gone, their memories can serve as powerful inspiration to protect or preserve the truly important things.
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking. It brings up images of all the others who are walking away from so many places.
ReplyDeleteGentle and beautiful.
ReplyDeletei loved this moving poem. War has always uproot and displace families. you have painted a delicate view of this situation.
ReplyDelete