A hiss of vapor safely let released,
the oil on sprockets, and the cushioned walls
you keep for words that’s hurled in anger, faults
unmentioned and your strength to quench caprice.
As chill of mist condensing and your ease
accepting lack of warmth and tears let fell
for the other cheek that’s turned for peace.
But there beside a rutted road, in smell
untethered from an orchard you might stop
to realize a treasure has been found:
as bees might sting but also bring the hope
of bliss, you feel a strength to heal your wounds
and with patience like the water drop by drop
can carve that rock, how peace can grow, abound.
Theme & Variations Decorative Plate #363 (Bee on Nose) by Fornasetti
Today I have poetics at dVerse, and the I want you to write about peace without making it trite, too sweet, or just against the horrors of wars. I tried to capture how much pain and work it takes. But maybe also how big the reward is. I tried to write a Petrarchan sonnet, with quite a few slanted rhymes. Swing by the pub when we open at 3 PM EST.
—
December 7, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Your poem has inspired me for the dverse challenge!
You did a wonderful job with the form one of my favorites to read. I like how you treated of the subject with so much subtlety, approaching it through the back door so to speak. The image lends a touch of lightness.
We must always keep the hope of bliss…….even when the bee stings multiply.
Hard for many to fathom, the pain, the indignation & accommodation of Peace. Mankind takes turns having relative peace between wars. The saber rattlers, arms dealers, & war mongers politic for strife incessantly. I like your lines /but there beside a rutted road, in smell/untethered from an orchard/.
I love the sonnet and turn to the treasure to be found ~ This part really moved me:
of bliss, you feel a strength to heal your wounds
and with patience like the water drop by drop
can carve that rock, how peace can grow, abound.
You do it well, without sounding trite, melodramatic or preachy. That’s why I don’t think I can respond to this prompt – I tend to ‘lecture’… I loved the smell untethered from an orchard. Really could relate to that!
I actually worked a lot in finding something that was simple enough to love…
What’s not to love about bees? Someday, I tell you, I promise, I will become a beekeeper…
Please do respond. I always so enjoy your writing. Even if you get lecture-y, I’m sure you will do it only for our own good and because we poets are the speakers of truth many times.
You certainly did a beautiful job. These lines:
of bliss, you feel a strength to heal your wounds
and with patience like the water drop by drop
can carve that rock, how peace can grow, abound.
simple, to the point and how those lines brought tears to my eyes as I considered the humble bee, the people who work rather than fight for peace…how it isn’t going to come at once but if we just keep at it, peace will come.
you feel a strength to heal your wounds
and with patience like the water drop by drop
can carve that rock, how peace can grow, abound.
Beautiful lines Bjorn 🙂
I really like these: “the cushioned walls you keep for words,” “strength to quench caprice,” and “chill of mist condensing.”
“your strength to quench caprice” wow that is a mouthful
We all have that place inside where we hold anger, pain, resentment but also there is the place of patience, understanding and compassion…which do we choose? We always have a choice…really enjoyed your insightful work, Bjorn.
Yes, when we find “strength to heal (y)our wounds”, we find peace. The thorns, the stings are worth the sweet rewards!
Gentle, powerful, reflective and filled with hope in a beautiful form which I must now learn… Inspiration, education and joy – you give so very much …Thank you Bjorn
“as bees might sting ”
indeed
This wonderfully penned. You don’t hit us over the head but the message is clear … “with patience like the water drop by drop” – such a strong, vivid image. Nicely done.
Lovely and profound. We live in a world where much of humankind does not subscribe to the notion that zen-like patience can often achieve the, seemingly, impossible. “with patience like the water drop by drop can carve that rock, how peace can grow” – wonderful words.
Pingback: Suggestion Saturday: December 19, 2015 | On The Other Hand·