Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Mercy


(. . . because this song insisted on being included.)


“The world will give you that once in awhile, a brief timeout; 
the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, 
where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life.” 
― Sue Monk KiddThe Secret Life of Bees:

The quality of mercy is not strain'd.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.

Children are innocent and love justice, while most adults are wicked and prefer mercy.  - Gilbert K. Chesterton
http://izquotes.com/quote/326102


Midweek Motif ~ Mercy

St. Francis in his famous prayer-poem said "where there is injury let me sow pardon."  

Do we, can we, should we?  

If I had the power to be merciful on a grand scale, I would take in cities of refugees and make sure people who worked all their lives were financially secure to retire and . . . .  I would be the mouse taking the thorn out of the lion's paw.   If only.

Your Challenge: Write a new poem on 
an experience of mercy.  


(Would you believe I wrote this prompt and the next one 
before the attacks in Baghdad and Paris?  
Walk in safety, Poets United, and 
as for words?  Don't hold back.)

I am not one of those who left the land 
 to the mercy of its enemies. 
 Their flattery leaves me cold, 
 my songs are not for them to praise.  - Anna Akhmatova
http://izquotes.com/quote/206082



                        Let’s say it’s half a century later.


                        Let’s say it’s never too late.

                        Let’s say Skull Valley.

                        Let’s say.


                        Let’s say it’s half a century later.
                        Let’s say it’s never too late.
                        Let’s say Skull Valley.
                        Let’s say.
Time has no mercy. It’s there. It stays still or it moves.
And you’re there with it. Staying still or moving with it.
I think it moves. And we move with it. And keep moving.

Eleven years old and soon to be in fifth grade. That’s time.
Boys’ time. Who knows what time it is but them. Eternally.
No one knows time better than they. Always and forever.

Our family. Mama, me, Angie, Gilbert, Earl, Louise.
Kids. Daddy working in Skull Valley for . . .
. . . . 
(Read the rest HERE at the Poetry Foundation.)



(This song insisted on being included, too.)

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Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others 
in the spirit of the community.

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(Next week, November 25th, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  Find Information HERE and many other places including Wikipedia.  I just read about Sheroes, a cafe near the Taj Mahal run by victims of acid attacks. Let's make the theme, the next Midweek Motif SURVIVAL.     Thanks, Susan)


27 comments:

  1. Hey everyone,

    Woooooo hoooooooo its time for Midweek motif! A little bit of mercy can make our world seem less cruel and a bit more just... but mercy is a two way street.. which is exactly what my poem is about. Hope you all like it :)

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The two-way street is GREAT IMAGE. Good to see you today, Sanaa.

      Delete
    2. Thanks Susan :D good to see you too.

      Delete
  2. Thank you for the prompt as always - the Chesterton quote made me think of Alice...she has many good qualities...in the right hands

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So she's for Justice and we're for Mercy? She doesn't seem to care about justice. I do. I'm more of a perfectionist than I want to be.

      Delete
  3. Good morning, Poets! I'm Just waking at 8am with Physical Therapy at 9am! So I won't be here until 11ish .... Mercy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good morning Susan,

      Mercy granted.. (chuckles) have a positive session :D we' ll be waiting!

      Delete
    2. Ouch - but all in a good cause i hope

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    3. It's later than expected, but I'm sitting in a little cafe with coffee and my tablet. Coming around to visit now.

      Delete
  4. Thanks for today's prompt Susan; Happy mid week every one, creative writing hours to all

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Susan. Looking forward to reading the poems.

    ReplyDelete
  6. A relevant topic to contemplate this week, Susan. The world is much in need of mercy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very rough piece from me today. It feels more like the beginnings of a poem---

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a good place to bring your beginnings, Audrey.

      Delete
  8. This is a perfect prompt this week Susan. Perhaps, the world needs to learn what mercy means. What a tough lesson for us all.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good prompt especially in a world we live in that requires more love and mercy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Salem! And thank you for joining in with your sestina. I hope you'll come around and read our poems.

      Delete
  10. Thanks Susan the prompt was apropos. May each of you be recipients of mercy and extend it when you can.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Susan, I am sorry I am so late. I had lacked inspiration. But today I saw an article on Facebook that inspired me. I will be making visits tonight. Thank you for this prompt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to see you, Mary. I couldn't write about "the situation" myself--not on Monday or Tuesday. Maybe I could now.

      Delete
  12. Thank you, for the challenge...meaningful.

    ReplyDelete

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