Jagged, or: Tender

Posted on by ben Alexander

‘Edges and Fringes’ – a d’Verse poetics prompt

(best viewed on a horizontal screen)

Papa,
can you
visit us
from the unknowable beyond
to hearten us, for we miss
you
so
and grief’s jagged edges cut us
even as the edges of mortal life are
clear
to us
remaining, as we do, on this side
living; broken; aching 		Boy,
hear me
in dreams
I call
you
every night, all night
tenderly, I watch over you
With love
glowing
and reaching out to inspire you
from beyond the very fringes
of life
to believe…

The prompt

The above poem is my take on d’Verse’s ‘Edges and Fringes’ prompt.

Our mission was to spark on one of these paths, and I primarily found my way along the 1st and 3rd paths:

  1. Write a poem using the word edge;
  2. Write a poem that keeps Millikin’s question in mind:
    • What is the word, the line, that cuts, that can show that edge?
  3. Write a poem using the word fringe;
  4. Write a poem from the fringe, however you define it.

91 thoughts on “Jagged, or: Tender”

  5. David,

    Jagged edges of grief and the fringes of life and death, but beyond them the comforting reality of love known and knowable. Beautifully expressed and I liked the parallel arrangement of speakers. How fitting!

    Pax,
    Dora

  8. Have you tried reading the two poems as one, left to right? They flow… and they create a totally different message that way. This is magical! ❤

  13. Love has no boundaries – neither time nor space. I do believe that love can transcend the grave and as long as the memories last so too can the love. Beautiful poem that clearly shows that the love goes both ways…

  16. Wow. You’ve created that gap between this world and the other, in the shape of a poem examining themes of grief and reconciliation. Well done!

  18. Not to repeat what’s already been said, but Wow…excellent job of capturing the grief and reconciliation of life and the other side while remaining true to the prompt.

  21. This is awesome. Read it in horizontal screen and could appreciate why you suggested that. Brilliant! Beautifully done. Thanks for sharing it. Keep going.
    xoxo, selmamartin.com

  26. David, this poem is a masterpiece! ❤ Heartfelt, poignant, and very beautiful. Brilliantly composed. I love your format and the colors you used to indicate the dialogue. Amazing how it reads so well left to right as one poem, as well as two separate poems! Thank you for sharing this!

    All the best to you and your family. ❤

  28. How beautifully is loss portrayed here, and poignant and tender response is moving. Such a beautiful write.

  29. This is a very touching dialogue David! And beyond everything else, what shines out to me is the hope in the message, hope that life and relationships don’t end, they just reach a different medium. And dreams and the semi conscious mind is just the right medium for that.

  31. “Papa” – that very first word introduces the raw emotion and love in this write.
    ” grief’s jagged edges cut us
    even as the edges of mortal life are clear”
    So very difficult to lose a loved and treasured parent.
    This is a truly beautiful write.

    1. Thank you so very much for the kind comment, Lillian. I actually did call my father “Papa” because the language of our home was Russian. And he really did call me “Boy” (in Russian).

      Yours,
      David

  32. Oh I love this, very clever and beautifully written. Reminds me vaguely of Welly Boots by the band The Amazing Devil for some reason. Fantastic work anyways keep it up!

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