Humanity, past, or: Future

Posted on by ben Alexander

Poetry Partners #18

A Blank Verse poem by Lov of ‘Underthetamarindtree’

(in iambic pentameter)

The surf, sandy beach, mild breeze and the sun,
The ocean yields its treasures, one by one,
I am a child once again, who can still,
From picking coral and shells, get a thrill,
Like a mother’s bosom, the sea swells and,
Embracing me tenderly, takes my hand.
I feel young, and in love with everything,
I have seen, with pleasure my heart does sing,
The sun takes an orange dive into the sea,
Where children tame the surf with water-ski,
On the moonlit beach, in each other’s ears,
Lovers whisper, as they have done for years,
Under coconut palms and wide blue skies,
I found my soul in this paradise!

A Cadralor by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

(comprised of 5 Kimos)

I.

Memories flitting through his deepest dreams
A smile plays upon his face
Childhood revisited

II.

Politicians arguing back-and-forth
Chief Medical Advisor
Has lost the public's trust

III.

A child logs into her online classroom
An only child, she's lonely
She misses her best friends

IV.

Patients intubated at hospitals
Doctors and nurses look grim
Too many have flatlined

V.

Bali's surf, sandy beach, mild breeze and sun
The ocean yields its treasures
Embracing tenderly

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

List of Poetry Partners

26 thoughts on “Humanity, past, or: Future”

  2. I was transported and lulled into a dream by the first. The second brought me back to harsh reality… I’m lucky to be able to dream and yet I am also fortunate to hope. (I’m still suffering a little from my COVID booster but the doctor assures me that a cold compress and some antihistamines should correct the issue – ouch!)

  4. All beautifully written by each author! I thought about the joyful release of beach vacation, almost mythological, and then the inevitable emotions of a broader reality return. That’s what I thought about, anyhoo. 🙂 I enjoy thinking about your posts. Thank you!

  5. Nice this morning. (Good morning [here].) Odd, in a bit of stupid, I nearly “contributed” to your partnership program with a spoof (only) mentioning iambic pentameter. Came to my senses. You know the wastebasket that graces some of my posts? Yep, that’s where it ended-up. You should affix a warning to your work: “Warning! These are trained professionals. Do NOT attempt this at home!”

  8. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous, you two. I adored these. The guest post spoke to the little girl in me who spent many a Christmases that way, under the coconut trees. Thank you so much for that recall.
    The second one: a reminder of where we are today. Together they are just so gorgeous. Tops for me.
    Thanks, David. xoxo and xoxo.

  9. There’s some striking imagery in both poems. I like how your cadralor offers a stark counterpoint to the idyllic scenes of the first poem–those three middle stanzas really shatter any illusion of normalcy and hope, and the way they’re sandwiched between the two wistful beach stanzas makes for a seriously melancholy tone. Just amazing. This is a unique format. I’m going to have to give it a try. Well done, both of you! 🙂

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