Did You Ever Dare to Ask
MendedFences27 said:

Some might wonder, \" Why question a good thing?\" But without complete knowledge that thing can be misunderstood. Questioning, then. becomes important. Incomplete understanding can ruin a relationship.
A daring title, followed by the wisdom of a running question, leading to an obvious result. A most enjoyable poem and a bit of wisdom too. - Phil A.

May 8th, 2023 21:32

Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry
MendedFences27 said:

Youth is the sweetest time of life, often filled with romance, friends, food. drink. and music. Time itself, becomes irrelevant and only selfish needs prevail. Yet, as fodder for poetry, reminiscence of that time brings forth pages.
Your poem rings true to those times and those moments. It stirs the memories of your readers. Your chosen words give life to their forgotten memories. Thank you for posting this. It sparked a recall of many such happenings. - Phil A.

May 8th, 2023 15:14

Did You Ever Dare to Ask
L. B. Mek said:

(it\'s scary to look closely
at our reflections
as in eyes, rest fragments
of reasoning to our deeds)
for some this will be a fun cheeky, read
for rest of us, it will be a sobering reminder
of those let down\'s and shameful escapes
we so ardently, repress
n forget..
but either way, there\'s no denying
this a great write, Hyung
thank you!
(you\'ve spoilt my poetic sweet tooth
rotten, today
treat yourself to a double, double
of your favourite)
Salut! mi Amigo
🍻
Hope you n yours, have a lovely
Sun-kissed week

May 8th, 2023 04:46

Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry
L. B. Mek said:

One of your very, VERY, very
best!!!!!! dear Poet supreme
No superlatives can do my
sensations/feelings, justice
All I can do is let you verify, how
favourably your poem
compares/competes
with one of my all-Time favourite poems
-ever!
What a treasure in a read
you\'ve captured
that Autumnal of youth, reverie\'s
sweet accented melancholy
pitch-perfectly.
such a triumph of your subtle, pen
I congratulate you on reaching such a poetic peak, Hyung!
I read and try, to learn
(one of my favourite poems
is a brilliant Ezra Pound translation
of LI Bai\'s poetic Genius
a poem originally titled \'Exile\'s letter\'
read below, although i\'m sure you know it already:
\'\'So-Kin of Rakuho, ancient friend, I now remember
That you built me a special tavern,
By the south side of the bridge at Ten-Shin.
With yellow gold and white jewels
we paid for the songs and laughter,
And we were drunk for month after month,
forgetting the kings and princes.
Intelligent men came drifting in, from the sea
and from the west border,
And with them, and with you especially,
there was nothing at cross-purpose;
And they made nothing of sea-crossing
or of mountain-crossing,
If only they could be of that fellowship.
And we all spoke out our hearts and minds …
and without regret.
And then I was sent off to South Wei,
smothered in laurel groves,
And you to the north of Raku-hoku,
Till we had nothing but thoughts and memories between us.
And when separation had come to its worst
We met, and travelled together into Sen-Go
Through all the thirty-six folds of the turning and twisting waters;
Into a valley of a thousand bright flowers …
that was the first valley,
And on into ten thousand valleys
full of voices and pine-winds.
With silver harness and reins of gold,
prostrating themselves on the ground,
Out came the East-of-Kan foreman and his company;
And there came also the “True-man” of Shi-yo to meet me,
Playing on a jewelled mouth-organ.
In the storied houses of San-Ko they gave us
more Sennin music;
Many instruments, like the sound of young phœnix broods.
And the foreman of Kan-Chu, drunk,
Danced because his long sleeves
Wouldn’t keep still, with that music playing.
And I, wrapped in brocade, went to sleep with my head on his lap,
And my spirit so high that it was all over the heavens.

And before the end of the day we were scattered like stars or rain.
I had to be off to So, far away over the waters,
You back to your river-bridge.
And your father, who was brave as a leopard,
Was governor in Hei Shu and put down the barbarian rabble.
And one May he had you send for me, despite the long distance;
And what with broken wheels and so on, I won’t say it wasn’t hard going …
Over roads twisted like sheep’s guts.
And I was still going, late in the year,
in the cutting wind from the north,
And thinking how little you cared for the cost …
and you caring enough to pay it.
Then what a reception!
Red jade cups, food well set, on a blue jewelled table;
And I was drunk, and had no thought of returning;
And you would walk out with me to the western corner of the castle,
To the dynastic temple, with the water about it clear as blue jade,
With boats floating, and the sound of mouth-organs and drums,
With ripples like dragon-scales going grass-green on the water,
Pleasure lasting, with courtezans going and coming without hindrance,
With the willow-flakes falling like snow,
And the vermilioned girls getting drunk about sunset,
And the waters a hundred feet deep reflecting green eyebrows—
Eyebrows painted green are a fine sight in young moonlight,
Gracefully painted—and the girls singing back at each other,
Dancing in transparent brocade,
And the wind lifting the song, and interrupting it,
Tossing it up under the clouds.

And all this comes to an end,
And is not again to be met with.
I went up to the court for examination,
Tried Layu’s luck, offered the Choyu song,
And got no promotion,
And went back to the East Mountains white-headed.

And once again we met, later, at the South Bridge head.
And then the crowd broke up—you went north to San palace.
And if you ask how I regret that parting?
It is like the flowers falling at spring’s end,
confused, whirled in a tangle.
What is the use of talking! And there is no end of talking—
There is no end of things in the heart.

I call in the boy,
Have him sit on his knees to write and seal this,
And I send it a thousand miles, thinking.\'\')


May 8th, 2023 04:21

Just a Man With a Thing About Bees
arqios said:

Would be other than another day at the quill while the swill twirls against zomboid thrill.

May 7th, 2023 16:24

Just a Man With a Thing About Bees
Christina8 said:

I agree with Bobby O on this one, the fact that you added \"Supercilious\" to this makes it so perfect. Great story telling, I loved it! x

May 7th, 2023 07:37

Just a Man With a Thing About Bees
Bobby O said:

Playful and a tad irreverent , perhaps to set you off guard ? And my recent profound revelation is certainly more fact than theory — any poem that correctly inserts that most quixotic word -SUPERCILIOUS is truly close to perfect.

May 7th, 2023 00:54

Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry
Bella Shepard said:

These days, youth seems something I dreamt of once. And poetry, the crutch that that helps me hobble along. Now the past becomes stronger, by virtue of it being sweeter in reflection. A very estimable write dear friend.

May 6th, 2023 09:27

Upon Recalling Youth and Poetry
orchidee said:

Good write N.
Yes, KP and I went to a Greek island. I only bought her a one-way ticket! heehee.

May 6th, 2023 01:59

Echoes Seldom Lie These Days
arqios said:

P\'raps echoes are reflections sounding off in our hearing.

May 5th, 2023 08:30

Echoes Seldom Lie These Days
Fay Slimm. said:

Long-lasting relationships deserve a tribute and this is surely one of the best penned reminders to listen to nought but the heart - --Great stuff my friend - reminds me of that long-ago song - \"They tried to tell us we were too young\"

May 5th, 2023 04:39

Five Seconds Into An Encounter
L. B. Mek said:

lol
that \'matter of fact\' veracity
as accent to a child\'s, as yet
untainted sincerity
is a life rejuvenating, delight
to witness..
(well, unless you\'re at the end
of their prickling observations)
😌
a wonderful slice of life, dear Poet
thank you for the chuckle

May 5th, 2023 03:19

Mark Well the Purpose of Night
L. B. Mek said:

\'ten times more
invisible
to the naked eye\'
(and so, that much more
preciously, tattooed
within our heart\'s, walls...)
Brilliant!
dear Poet supreme

May 5th, 2023 03:03

Echoes Seldom Lie These Days
orchidee said:

Good write N,
You know I\'m gonna say this - I never got past the first verse with KP. I fainted at the removal of her dress. lol.

May 5th, 2023 02:06

Echoes Seldom Lie These Days
2781 said:

Loved the flow.

May 5th, 2023 00:19