She Smiles Through The Inevitable

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Billy
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#1 Post by Billy » 26 Sep 2020, 06:24

She Smiles Through The Inevitable

Hope upon hope, never faltering,
at least, not to those concerned
looking on, smiling when she smiles.
The unexpected becomes common
these days. Always has been, really.
Still, we struggle to fathom whys.
Health is a faraway land inhabited
by everyone else, it seems--as far
as the next curtained bed gone
silent. The usually talkative nurses
moving in unison as if in a practiced
ritual performed in secret--a secret
we know that doesn't need telling.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#2 Post by Kenneth2816 » 26 Sep 2020, 07:16

Somber Billy.

Health is a faraway land inhabited
by everyone else, it seems-

Reminds me of Plath

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 26 Sep 2020, 20:15

Yeah, great line...and everything from this point on is really good.

Health is a faraway land inhabited
by everyone else,

love these lines as well:

The usually talkative nurses
moving in unison as if in a practiced
ritual performed in secret--a secret
we know that doesn't need telling.

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#4 Post by BobBradshaw » 26 Sep 2020, 20:21

Hope you'll accept a nom for this...

Michael (MV)
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Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#5 Post by Michael (MV) » 27 Sep 2020, 11:47

Hi Billy,

Nothing new under the sun
and nothing new behind a mona lisa smile

Maybe this poem is in response to the pandemic;
at least my reading finds that possible interpretation.


"Health is a faraway land inhabited
by everyone else, "

^^ recalls to me Emily Dickinson's

"Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed."


😎

Michael (MV)

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Billy
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Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#6 Post by Billy » 27 Sep 2020, 18:41

Thanks Bob, Kenneth, Michael

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Billy
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Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#7 Post by Billy » 27 Sep 2020, 20:32

Michael, I’ve always liked this Dickinson phrase:

“That I have loved
I give thee proof
That until I loved
I did not love enough”

RamanathanSiva
Posts: 127
Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 23:11

Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#8 Post by RamanathanSiva » 27 Sep 2020, 21:43

Billy, each line leads to the next line logically. Philosophical without being obvious. A thirteen lines poem well written. I like the lines when the nurse comes in and the last line makes an impact.
Siva

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Billy
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Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#9 Post by Billy » 28 Sep 2020, 00:58

Thanks Siva

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Billy
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Re: She Smiles Through The Inevitable

#10 Post by Billy » 30 Sep 2020, 16:30

I accept nom.

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