Gratitude

sorenbarrett

Bird's foot trapped, freeing him my hand he pecked
Pulling a thorn from paw of man's best friend my dog bit me
In the storm of fear there is no respect
Feather or tether, a child's rampage wishing to be free
A freed canary returns to its cage
A horse tethered since young will not wander
A tied dog's fear turned to rage
A freed dove, on captor's hand sits a moment to ponder

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Comments +

Comments17

  • orchidee

    Good write SB. Yes, KP could do with being grateful. I don't understand why she complains. I been very generous, giving her double helpings of sewage for her dinners these days. heehee.

    • sorenbarrett

      Thanks Orchi for the read and encouragement some people you just can't please

      • orchidee

        It's not right, is it, her being ungrateful all the time I serves up that lovely food for her. lol.

        • sorenbarrett

          It's not about what's right it's about what's left

          • orchidee

            Yep, left overs are the best for her! lol.

          • archiescott

            This is very real. Nicely put.

            • sorenbarrett

              Thanks so much for the read and supportive words of encouragement. They are most appreciated

            • David Wakeling

              I must admit for me the worst thing in the world is man's ingratitude to man.Although this mentions birds and dogs I see them as metaphors for human ingratitude. There is another theme of the inability to be free.We seem to be trapped in this world.Wonderful poem. Enjoyable read

              • sorenbarrett

                Thank you David for the read and understanding. Yes most all of my poems are metaphors and you are on target here. In animals it is misunderstanding but in man it goes beyond that. Your words are most appreciated

              • Lobsterstrike

                Deeply

              • Friendship

                Nicely done.

                • sorenbarrett

                  Thanks so much my friend

                • Teddy.15

                  Your title speaks volumes here, gratefulness for the small things and the enormous, some of us have no idea how damn lucky we are. 🌹

                  • sorenbarrett

                    Thank you so much Teddy I appreciate the comment

                  • rebellion_in_sanity

                    Stunning lines like: 'In the storm of fear there is no respect'. Really, what is freedom? An easy fave.

                    • sorenbarrett

                      Thank you my friend your read is appreciated and your words of comment and deeply valued. Freedom to me is an illusion, a magicians choice where perception is deceived.

                    • Thomas W Case

                      There’s a hard truth here—mercy offered doesn’t always come back gentle.
                      You’ve caught that wild edge of freedom, how fear can bite even the hand that frees it.

                      • sorenbarrett

                        Thanks Thomas you have it by the tail but I won't bite knowing the intent. I deeply appreciate your words my friend.

                      • Tristan Robert Lange

                        Soren, I’ve known that strange tension where helping isn’t met with thanks but instinct. Your examples feel lived, not theoretical. It reminds me how survival often overrides sentiment. That realism gives the poem its depth. Powerful, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

                        • sorenbarrett

                          Thank you so much for the read my friend and yes have suffered each learning it was my fault not theirs. I deeply appreciate your support and encouragement my friend

                          • Tristan Robert Lange

                            Most welcome, Soren. Always.

                          • Soman Ragavan

                            Often the reactions of creatures which face danger, etc., are not really hostile. They might react from fear or misunderstanding. As for the freed canary, it had got used to the cage, a place where it found security. To see whether it really wants to stay in the cage, we should leave the door open. Freed animals sometimes remember who fed them and looked after them. There is a clip on Youtube showing a freed eagle eyeing the person around it enigmatically. What really went in its mind is difficult to tell. But it appears that creatures recognise people who helped them.

                            • sorenbarrett

                              Animals are more remarkable than we realize

                            • hzugman

                              Good write, SB.

                              • sorenbarrett

                                Thank you so much for the read and comment they are appreciated

                              • Lorenz

                                I like crocs because they have the merit of being predicable !

                                • sorenbarrett

                                  Wore them once they were slippery and almost got prejudiced out of the game

                                • Allie561

                                  We seem quick to bite when we don’t fully understand what someone’s intention is. I hope for myself that I can take the time to think before I act. Very lovely poem Soren.

                                  • sorenbarrett

                                    Thank you so much for the read and comment it is appreciated. Yes it is hard to read someone else's intentions

                                    • Allie561

                                      You’re very welcome Soren.

                                    • Goldfinch60

                                      All these things happen in life soren but we must let them happen as we can learn from them, good write.

                                      Andy

                                    • Aman 12

                                      fear overrides gratitude, instinct overrides reason.Bite of freedom is what everyone wants.

                                      • sorenbarrett

                                        Well put. Thanks so much for the read and comment they are most appreciated Aman freedom comes at a cost, one many are not willing to pay, isolation, when with others there are always constraints.

                                      • Vipassana

                                        really nicely rendered---all the ambiguity and irony and sadness of fear and conditioning (A freed canary returns to its cage). and I like the way it moves relentlessly forward. well done, sir.

                                        • sorenbarrett

                                          Thank you so much I appreciate your review and kind words of encouragement Vipassana.

                                        • William Hromada

                                          Animals show greater gratitude than most humans.

                                          • sorenbarrett

                                            Thank you William for the read and comment it is most appreciated



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