Sestina - Safe Hands
I enfold her as if I hold in my hands
A diaphanous shawl woven loosely
From silken skeins of hope and fear. I feel
Strongly, she’s so much part of me. Obliviously
She wriggles free. I glance at my daughter
Her mum, and marvel at inheritance.
I wrap all this stuff of inheritance
Into trust, quietly hoping the safe hands
Of my kindly, compassionate daughter
Will suffice. Experience tells me loosely
Held reigns are best. The child plays obliviously.
I watch. She echoes in me. Trembling I feel
The pain inevitably she will feel.
I fear quietly; knowing her inheritance;
The curse of memory. Now obliviously
She recalls careless conversation. Hands
On to me stray words, understood loosely
With looks I try to forewarn my daughter
But the treacherous trait has skipped. My daughter
Down to earth, sensible, is born not to feel
Hurts that haunt, doubts that linger loosely.
If only we could choose the inheritance
We bequeath. But it is out of our hands,
We make love, create life obliviously.
I say nothing, pretend obliviously
Disguise fears I dare not share. My daughter
Who loves her, is all she needs. Holding hands
We walk through bustling, crowded streets. I feel
Her tiny linked fingers. The inheritance
Of knowing held gently within mine, loosely.
The web of my life was woven loosely
I held fast to no-one. Obliviously
This child makes me unearth an inheritance
Painstakingly hid. Bonded by my daughter
To my granddaughter tenderly I feel
Burning passions branded into our hands.
Envoi
I held her loosely, I let my daughter
Feel, obliviously unaware of my
Inheritance, she unbinds my hands
poem by Janet Budd
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Related quotes
Relationships--of all kinds--are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.
quote by Kaleel Jamison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mothers And Their Daughters
they struck him down hard early in life
he slaps me around plenty
i cannot leave
my daughter never cries
to feed my daughter
i will take on the whole lot of you
the young men howl
i am a mother in time of famine
my daughter dying at my breast
my husband wants a son
my first child a love child a daughter
a wedding to make it right
a family joke to keep me honest
they have a one child policy here
he took my first child my daughter
sold her to the americans
as a child they mutilated me
for fear i might become the woman i am
they will never get to my daughter
I am told to hate my burqa
it keeps my secret from him
my daughter will wear the burqa
poem by Paul Bamberger
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The Shadow-Child
Why do the wheels go whirring round,
Mother, mother?
Oh, mother, are they giants bound,
And will they growl forever?
Yes, fiery giants underground,
Daughter, little daughter,
Forever turn the wheels around,
And rumble-grumble ever.
Why do I pick the threads all day,
Mother, mother,
While sunshine children are at play?
And must I work forever?
Yes, shadow-child; the live-long day,
Daughter, little daughter,
Your hands must pick the threads away,
And feel the sunshine never.
Why do the birds sing in the sun,
Mother, mother,
If all day long I run and run,
Run with the wheels forever?
The birds may sing till day is done,
Daughter, little daughter,
But with the- wheels your feet must run—
Run with the wheels forever.
Why do I feel so tired each night,
Mother, mother?
The wheels are always buzzing bright;
Do they grow sleepy never?
Oh, baby thing, so soft and white,
Daughter, little daughter,
The big wheels grind us in their might,
And they will grind forever.
And is the white thread never spun,
Mother, mother?
And is the white cloth never done,
For you and me done never?
Oh yes, our thread will all be spun,
Daughter, little daughter,
When we lie down out in the sun,
And work no more forever.
And when will come that happy day,
Mother, mother?
Oh, shall we laugh and sing and play
Out in the sun forever?
Nay, shadow-child, we'll rest all day,
Daughter, little daughter,
Where green grass grows and roses gay,
There in the sun forever.
poem by Harriet Monroe
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Tribute to Parents
I have shared my feelings
& thoughts for you
Countless times
Still feel the need
To pen a few lines
Sometimes words fail
What I want to express
When I think of you
Out of the countless blessings I have
The most precious are you two
The pride of being your daughter
Is my corner stone
It binds me to you
Over internet and phone
All that you have given me
Things I can and cannot see
This bountiful inheritance
Shall enrich my existence
Today I say goodbye
For soon I will fly
But kindly remember
I am still your family member
You can count on me
Even if I am across the sea
If and when you need
I shall pay heed
'Being there' is something
I have picked up from you
Forever I shall love you.
poem by Dipti Date Gokhale
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I Became Grandma
My daughter carries the child firm
In her womb for ten months term;
Like a pearl kept in the shell, the child
grows to be delivered into the world;
Head, chest, abdomen, hands and legs grow
along the internal organs with heart and brain;
I feel longing to see the face of the child
the first appearance in to the world;
I count the days to hug softly
And kiss the baby soothingly;
The beautiful moon has slipped down
Came to the earth upside down;
The doctor and nurse attended delivery
My daughter delivered a female child;
I became grandma instantly
I feel happy extremely!
poem by V.K. Kanniappan
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Intervals
I held my daughter to my breast
And now her sleeping child there rests
Daughter, granddaughter
I am twice blest.
poem by Sharon FottaAnderson
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True
She said the most hurtful things
words painful piercing
torment torture ringing
And I wish I that were
obliviously unaware
Only because
I know such
in part for share
to be true
poem by Randy Resh
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A timeless message, A final lesson
Burning thy bridges—dost thou make you happy, my daughter?
When all is said and done, will you not be standing in a heaping pile
of ash and soot? Of the wreckage of a life once so well-lived;
I love you, my daughter—but I cannot stand by to see this:
You, clawing at the grains of society and tearing up the foothills of humanity
with your savage beauty and fiery intellect—
An intelligence that is aflame, my daughter,
but one that is no doubt channeled in anger & lust.
I tried to keep you safe from the evil of this world, my daughter,
however it sank into thy bones. —Where is the peace I patiently taught you
by example? —I see no signs of it in thy thrashing heart.
I ran out of ideas, my daughter, and now I am gone—
Yet you live on, in my footsteps, in my memory, bearing my name.
I hesitate to say: Make me proud. Although when you feel my love—
like a fulfilling contentment in your dreams—wake up with it in thy heart,
and be brave enough to keep it lit throughout the day.
And that, my daughter,
Is where you shall begin.
poem by Goldy Locks
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The Beauty of the Woman
The Beauty of the Woman
For Thea and Alexi Katherine ~ 16 April 2011
The beauty of the woman is behind her touch
In the space between her fingers and the son’s
As he takes his first steppes
Between her hand and the daughter’s
As the father leads her down the isle
The beauty of the woman is behind her eyes.
In the circumference of each teardrop
Which shrunk: keeping pace with the contractions.
And disappeared when the daughter
Kicking and screaming was laid on her chest
Which became a stream of awe—wondrous
Even as the daughter found comfort on her breast
The beauty of the woman is behind her smile
Which she held through sleepless nights
Teething, feeding, monsters, and proms
Through the holding and the swaddling
Even the letting go…
The beauty of the woman is in the strength
To hold, to watch, in love-eternally
To spend eternity letting go
Of the hand that grasped her pinky
And each little piggy-toe
The hand she felt inside her
Which made her beauty glow
The beauty of the woman is
Something I’ve only seen
Something I know incompletely
But touch with my own hands
but the beauty fall between my fingers
and the beauty behind her hands.
poem by Aaron Graham
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In My Daughter's Eyes
In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes
And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If I Ever You Back
I dont have what it takes to stay with you
And Im leaving in under ten days, its not what Id planned
But anyway, you know, by and large anywhere I go
I wont find anyone who loves me enough to make you look bad
All the cars on the road are driving away from here
But Im still looking under my nose to see who I am
But anywhere I go, standing at any kind of show
I wont find anyone wholl tell me what I need to know
Thats not how its done
But anyway, you know, by and large anywhere I go
I wont find anyone who loves me enough
If I ever pay you back
If my money and wallets intact
Ill probably be in a box lying down
Loosely suited in black
If I ever pay you back
If my money and wallets intact
Ill probably be in a box lying down
Loosely suited in black
Loosely suited in black
Loosely suited in black
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If I Ever Pay You Back
I dont have what it takes to stay with you
And Im leaving in under ten days, its not what Id planned
But anyway, you know, by and large anywhere I go
I wont find anyone who loves me enough to make you look bad
All the cars on the road are driving away from here
But Im still looking under my nose to see who I am
But anywhere I go, standing at any kind of show
I wont find anyone wholl tell me what I need to know
Thats not how its done
But anyway, you know, by and large anywhere I go
I wont find anyone who loves me enough
If I ever pay you back
If my money and wallets intact
Ill probably be in a box lying down
Loosely suited in black
If I ever pay you back
If my money and wallets intact
Ill probably be in a box lying down
Loosely suited in black
Loosely suited in black
Loosely suited in black
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Poem: Faith To Meet Each Trial
Although I may be weak and weary at times,
You gird my spirit with an inner strength.
When reaching out to You in earnest prayer,
I'll always be within Your arm's length.
Please continue to enlighten me with truth,
so I may better appreciate these victories
that increase around my life, day after day -
which are the result of communing with Thee.
By my words, Godly deeds and humble prayers,
I purpose to release my commitment unto You,
knowing that I'm promised Your blessings
and coming are these divine breakthroughs.
O my Lord, thank You for empowering me!
By faith, I claim my spiritual inheritance.
As a child of yours, nothing can stand against me
and I will rise above all, earthly circumstances.
Author Notes:
Loosely based on:
1 John 4: 4
Learn more about me and my poetry at:
http: //www.squidoo.com/book-isbn-1419650513
By Joseph J. Breunig 3rd, © 2012, All rights reserved.
poem by Joseph James Breunig 3rd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Satan's Daughter
I have that burning desire
Come and let me set your world on fire
The burn doesn’t hurt that much
Sometimes it’s softer than the touch
You just need that flame in your soul
Let the fire take control
Doesn’t matter much to me
Seems the way it ought to be
I don’t see why you fight
Against something that feels so right
yeah you know I’m a child of death
I’ll lay our heart down to rest
Satan’s daughter
Demoness
Satan’s daughter
Last caress
I have a will of steel
I will not kneel
I don’t need your caress
You just can’t guess
Cause I’m the one who knows
Not to let my feelings go
If you don’t want to ride the night with me
You don’t know what you’re missing
But somehow it shows
And I know you know
What I am
You don’t stand a chance
Satan’s daughter
Demoness
Satan’s daughter
Last caress
You try so hard to resist
But you want to feel my kiss
You know I’ll do my best
To put your love to the test
I know you want what I’ve got
Sweetest taste you haven’t forgot
I see desire in your eyes
I can feel you fantasize
Come and take a taste of me
‘ll bring you to your knees
I’ll bring you down like a lamb at the altar
Come and take a taste of Satan’s daughter
Satan’s daughter
Demoness
Satan’s daughter
Last caress
Come and ride the night with me
poem by Haley Revell
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Daughter
9 months i carried you
An 9 months i waited for you
9 months later
With 6 hours of labor
Here you are
So cute an so small
My little girl you are
3 years i held you
In my arms you were
In fear and tears
Were you wrapped safely in my arms
Now nearly 4 years later i lose you
My little girl taken away
You were tortured an beaten
left alone to die
You came of a crime
An i didnt love you any less
You changed my life so much
An as fast as you came
You left me so soon
I spend my days down
Crying every minute without you
When i should be holding you
Showing that i love you
That i will always be there
But instead i cry an cry
Placing flowers on a grave for you
My daughter you were made
My daughter you became
My daughter you are
Whether here or far away
My daughter you will always be
poem by Kerrie Maurer
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My Ability To Climb Out Of Ditches
Everyday it may be easy for you,
To use your inheritance...
As a vehicle to compare,
How you were able to pull your bootstraps up...
From a place you declare had been nowhere.
When I have survived with nothing left to spare.
My ancestors did not leave me an inheritance.
And my ability to climb out of ditches,
Did not begin with my pocket full of riches.
And for you to think with others to believe,
Your quality of life has been earned as received...
Is a delusion you fantasize that has become your reality.
I've been enriched with the knowing...
No Pain, No Gain.
You've been enriched with a knowing,
Of a painless existence.
And even if you experienced a little of it...
I could never seriously regard you as a competitor.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Our Hands
My hands once warm,
And clothed in yours,
my hands once full,
and held in yours.
Empty hands,
Cold hands,
my hands have lost their,
Partner as you once were for me,
Your hands at once rough,
and soft,
Always gentle when in mine,
our hands would meet to fill the cold,
My hands now empty cover tears,
my hands once warm now with
a freezing touch,
your hands are gone,
the warmth they held has left,
these hands of mine.
poem by Rebecca Adams
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Like A Mother
Like a mother
My little daughter
Receives me on the door
And when I am leaving
And when she knows
That I am not taking her out
She says me good bye
She so much understands me
And tries not to hurt me
Some times
She kisses my face
And my hands
When she sits on my legs
And when I feel tired
And chocolates and toffees
She demands
Her little talk
Like beauty transient
Is becoming history
To return only
In memories rich
My little daughter
She is learning
To be a mother
poem by Sadiqullah Khan
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Daughter of my womb
Daughter of my womb
You've stabbed my heart so bad
You've killed the bearer of your life
Daughter of my womb am dying
My smile is but a frown
I have no idea whom I will crown
As the daughter of your womb
For you've sent them all to the tomb
My wrinkled hands needed a tender one
My closing eye libs needed to see before they are gone
The seed of the seed of my womb are no more
Daughter of my womb, you've killed the daughters of your womb
The medicine man in his robes
Administered the wrong root for a drug
Your womb is empty I have nothing to wait for
Why didn't you tell me of your planned atrocities before?
Daughter of my womb
Daughter of my womb
You've stabbed my heart so bad
You've killed the bearer of your womb
You've sent your seed to the tomb
You've dragged the generation of your womb
Daughter of my womb, you've killed us.
poem by Robert Abok
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Man In The Ocean
This is a song for the man who went down
This is a song for the man in the ocean
This is a heartbeat
This is a part of me
Everyone's reading in, in the papers
Feeling the fear and forgetting it later
This is a heartbeat
This is a part of me
This is the first step learning to fall
These are the wings, this is the call
This is the first kiss, bringing it home
This is the breath and the sex and the bones
And my hands, are full of life
And the rhythm in you, is the rhythm in me
And my hands, are full of life
Oooh, you make me feel
And this is the curse to the wave, that threw you
This is the shame of the years I slept
This is the glory, these are the tears
This is the longing in your belly
This is the siren in your veins
This is the light in the eyes of angels
This is the dark in the heart of danger
And my hands, are full of life
And the rhythm in you, is the rhythm in me
And my hands, are full of life
Oooh, you make me feel
We live forever our minds
A bit still we know there's never time
Enough to share the ones we loved
Enough to have to care to live above
I feel the chain that brings to time
I feel the way you left behind
I feel, this is a part of me
And my hands, are full of life
And the rhythm in you, is the rhythm in me
And my hands, are full of life
Oooh, you make me feel
And I know how loud a heart can beat
And the rhythm in you, is the rhythm in me
And I know, I know
Cause I've heard them scream
This is a heartbeat, this is a part of me
This is a heartbeat, this is a part of me
This is a heartbeat, this is a part of me
This is a heartbeat, this is a part of me
song performed by by Heather Nova
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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