Thursday 5 June 2008

Chin Up

Hiding in lofts with sandbags at the door
is a coward's game.

We will keep our gazes high,
carry on playing cards

While the waters rise
and forests drown.

Clouds on the horizon

look beautiful at sundown.


storms for Totally Optional Prompts

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I say Amen, to that!

:D

a perfect ending?

Anonymous said...

There is courage and sadness in keeping one's chin up. Lovely poem.

Scot said...

love the end--the switch

Anonymous said...

I think you've captured well the mentality of the developers who, even now, are rebuilding on the Mississippia and Luisiana coast, hurricanes be damned.

Anonymous said...

Very witty but sad as well.

polona said...

powerful poem, made even more so with the last two lines.

Pirate Princess said...

Love this version of riding it out. Wish it had been like that when I was little - we weren't so courageous, but I think it was because my poor mother was freaked out.

anthonynorth said...

Stoicism is - well, stoic :-)

Felicity said...

This is exquisite.
Loved the marvellous interplay of helplessness and courage.

WH said...

Reminds me of the day I went through Katrina. Great poem as always!

Stan Ski said...

Great attitude; facing up to your fears doesn't mean ignoring them.

Andy Sewina said...

Hope you've got an ace up your sleeve, or maybe you're just playing the joker!

Nathan said...

It's wonderful how the 3-sentence form mirrors the speaker's resolve. Each sentence could stand alone as a poem in itself. And the ambivalence, is it admirable to resolve to recognize the beautiful? Is it contemptible to go on playing cards and do nothing? Both? I like this a lot.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Very nice last stanza.

HL said...

Good hands only come once in a while. I played it for all its worth. Thanks.