This poignant piece is so beautiful Axilea. .....hanging like an ex-voto a red nest of ether........
wow my dear, a sadness in your truth touches my heart.

I love this poem my friend. It's very poetic as
a poem should be to the reader. It's not a novel
or tale but poetic words that linger-prevail.
Author Aleja Bennett
Only The Strong Can Survive
Aleja's Beautiful Poetic Strategy in Recovery

A challenging and provocative work, Axilea. I agree entirely
with Dawn's review: You write with such intelligence. -gene.

A good, long cry by osmosis.

Me: "Antedotal cries" Sigh...(Oh, how I long for those sometimes!) But a good, flying curtain of rain will do just as well. I visualized my lungs dry-sobbing out there in the rain, and lifeless flowers lying limp and muddied all around them. And I love the feel of that last stanza. It's very liberating somehow to visualize those emptied vessels hanging out there. My lungs feel positively purified just thinking about it-- no bleach-- no soap-- just some sobs and a good swamping rain! I love it. (Here, I'm breathing in deeply again-- very deeply-- still breathing in-- lots of room in there...

Thanks for the rain and the good, long (virtual) cry. I needed it. --Charlie

Great work, Axilea

The sickness/health themes(search for health as something fundamental to psyche) developed in this poem (and 'Homeopath') lead to some startling images of mortality and what I can only describe as the importance of 'being in the moment'. The fragility of the state of being depicted is held in tenuous check by the stanza form which gently guides but does not overpower content/epiphany. A v. moving poem.

Axilea - Truly unique poem, the imagery as vivid as a painting. I (may be wrong but I sense that this is a meditation on life inspired by the

...empty vases washed
from the memory of fancy flowers
that were deposited there
to drink to their death –

Especially liked the lines:

Lungs left outside to heal
scar tissue, an issue found
in soothing darkness, then light
a rhythm recalled
impetus from the heart –

and the closing lines:

tonight, like any other night
you see absurd, simple things left
to their true nature again -

I've almost quoted the whole poem. One of my favorite poems of yours.
- David

Moving emotons that certainly moved me...stunning as is sadness~

this took my breath away, and gave it back

Intense, with lots of great lines to let the mind drift over...well done.
fee

The work of a fine mind and unique sensibility, Axilea.
You push your own and our imaginations and drive language and image to new meaning.

John

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 'To drink to their death'--------BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!! Liana Margiva

I often wonder how you write....are they ideas that form in your mind in the way of bits and pieces....fragments that are then put into poetic verse? You write with such intelligence, and your work is always unique....another winner, Axilea.

The amount of thought and meaning injected into this piece is truly astounding! Very well done.

How well you write with such inner meaning and truth, very moving piece...

Be always safe,
Karen

I really love the first stanza Axilea, the way you set the stage for this most mysterious and powerful poem. The images are magnificent.
Best Wishes,
Christine

A thought-inciting and meaningful metaphorical offering; thank you for sharing it, Axilea. Love and best wishes to you,

Regis