Cold Comfort
by Kate Burnside
Monday, May 23, 2005
Rated "PG13" by the Author.
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... This is another from the Catalogue of Pain for manuscript this week... I will try to lighten the load with a bit more positive energy somewhere along the line! :) K xx |
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"Happiness, you are the bright, red lining
Of the dark winter coat
Grief wears inside out."
Charles Simic, "Romantic Sonnet"
COLD COMFORT
Fields, sky and woods mothered me.
Sunshine pinched my cheeks,
coaxing me to shed drab layers.
Soothing trees creaked down their limbs:
grandmothers bending stiffly in shawls
to embrace me with a hug.
Winds ran a whisper rustling through grass:
"Hush, child, hush!"
I wore my jacket with its red lining uppermost;
giving back its glossy smile,
it was tight-lipped and shiny:
Split and torn in so many places,
over-padded by its thick puffy shell,
I wore it to protect me, outside in.
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| Reviewed by Jeff Mason |
5/24/2005 |
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Fields, sky and woods mothered me;
Lack of compassion completely smothered me.
Sunshine pinched my cheeks;
Pain bled free like flowing creeks...
coaxing me to shed drab layers;
seeking answers to all my prayers.
Soothing trees creaked down their limbs:
Eyes rained tears from reddened rims
grandmothers bending stiffly in shawls
to embrace me with a hug.
frozen here as time still crawls
like some perfect, numbing drug...
Winds ran a whisper rustling through grass:
"Hush, child, hush!"
Telling me this, too, will pass;
Try not to be in such a rush...
I wore my jacket with its red lining uppermost;
giving back its glossy smile,
it was tight-lipped and shiny:
I felt my passing as if a ghost
treading every senseless mile
watching you reflect so finely
Split and torn in so many places,
over-padded by its thick puffy shell,
I wore it to protect me, outside in.
Broken and lost amid your traces,
living in this certain hell,
I tore your picture - my final sin.
[Kate, I hope you don't mind that I became inspired (though darkly) from your wonderful verse. Just testing the waters again. -- Jeff]
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| Reviewed by Lori Moore |
5/23/2005 |
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| Excellent write. |
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| Reviewed by jude forese |
5/23/2005 |
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| mataphorical magnificence! |
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| Reviewed by Felix Perry |
5/23/2005 |
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Oh Kate this is special and I think I can feel the comfort of that old red coat, sorta like how my jean jacket still seems my favorite coat winter of summer.
Felix (Pops) |
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| Reviewed by Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner |
5/23/2005 |
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Kate,
Pain resonates in each word--you ran to the outside to be comforted by what was most nuturing--God's beauty. A most beautifully, yet powerfully penned, poignant piece that resonated within my soul--for I, too, am most comfortable in Nature (unless it's storming, then GET ME INSIDE!!).
(((((HUGS)))))) and love, Karla. :( |
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| Reviewed by E T Waldron |
5/23/2005 |
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Kate another masterful depiction in your inimitable style that keeps your poetic offerings ,a must read series of impeccable work!
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| Reviewed by George Carroll |
5/23/2005 |
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| Even split and torn and worn in many places, sounds like the heart that has seen its share, but continues to beat, keeping the wearer of this raggedy old jacket comfortable within. |
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| Reviewed by Sandra Mushi |
5/23/2005 |
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Kate, sound very warm and cheery to me. The jacket might have been split and torn, but it was worn with pride. And embraced with love. Beautiful!
God bless,
Sandie. |
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