A ‘Wounded Couplet’
Having moved twice across the vast ocean, I've been hollowed out as pieces flaked off, Shaken loose by each wave, Wearing away at the last of my brave. Biting chills blow through with my every cough, Being depleted by every motion, Lugging cumbersome baggage everywhere, Full of stubborn hopes and weary despair.
by Bruno Catalano
Wounded Couplet?
- Stanzaic: consisting of any number of octains (eight line verses);
- Syllabic: 10/10/6/10/10/10/10/10;
- Metric: using iambic meter;
- Rhymed: a/b/c/c/b/a/d/d
What do you see prompt? (#WDYS)
This ‘Wounded Couplet’ poem is my response to Sadje’s WDYS prompt this week, which is to write a piece inspired by Bruno Catalano’s sculpture above.
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!
The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱 
Well done, David.
🤎🙏🏻 Dolly 🙏🏻🤎 ~ thanks!
My pleasure.
Melancholic and beautiful. I love this poetry form! 🌹
🧡🙏🏻 Lesley 🙏🏻🧡 ~ me too; thanks!
‘…Full of stubborn hopes and weary despair.’
Very nice take. So beautiful.
💙🙏🏻 Indira 🙏🏻💙 ~ thanks so much
~David
My pleasure.
I love this poem, David. Your words are a perfect embellishment of the image. And the poem, just taken by itself, weave together words of deep melancholy. 🖤
💙🙏🏻 Jai 🙏🏻💙 ~ thanks!
You’re welcome. 🙂💙
Very visual
💚🙏🏻 Andrew 🙏🏻💚
oh David this can make one weary for sure David! ❣️ Living does this to you no matter how far you travel. But I do love the heart in the photo that matters most❤️
💛🙏🏻 Cindy 🙏🏻💛 ~ thanks
❤️😃😇
Words many can relate to, too many. Excellent, David.
❤️🙏🏻 Keith 🙏🏻❤️ ~ thanks
I’ve moved across the country and back several times. The journey takes something out of you because of the people you leave behind.
💜🙏🏻 Molly 🙏🏻💜 ~ yup…
Good stuff , David. Wonderful take on the prompt. Love the rawness in your words. Hits the senses. Makes one want to sit up and read.
💙🙏🏻 Yassy 🙏🏻💙 ~ awwwww!
Welcome 🙏
I’ve never sussed out the finer rules of poetry like this couplet. However, you did it sublimely in telling us the story of how the statue came to be. Well done.
💘 🙏🏻 Mason 🙏🏻 💘 ~ thanks!
~David
So beautiful. And that sculpture…magnificent. 🙂
🤍🙏🏻 Terveen 🙏🏻🤍
You describe well the plight of the world’s refugees, growing larger every day. Too many with nowhere to go, no one willing to make room. (K)
Yep, and not even just refugees – being an immigrant is hard for non-refugees too (I know). ❤
That’s true. Even just moving residences as I know well, especially when going to a totally new part of the country.