embracing her own shoulders
like a mast with famished sails

A fine simile, Jude; and the whole poem is worthy of much more than a single reading. Thank you. Love and peace to you,

Regis

Excellent and captivating poem,take care

EDWIN

contradictions live within imaginations malnourished, lacking the vital sustenance of love and a willingness to perceive happiness and joy -- interesting write Jude -- deeply emotional thoughts and perceptions -- you wrote it very well my friend -- peace and love -- Jon Michael

I've been thrilled by this little pack of Happy Family poems, Jude, perhaps living on the edge of danger's dysfunction. I like the grouping. Perhaps this is a mature version of the "she" in solo, acting out a scenario from her heavy earth and sky full of holes. Cetainly here her sails are, shot through by life and love's cannonballs. All that potential and energy birthed in dreams shot down and atrophied. A crying shame. Another accomplished, perceptive and intuited psychological sketch and what I have enjoyed and noted most about these is that you don't force an interpretation on your reader: the mark of mature writing. Muy bien, Kartero. Kastaway Kate xx

The overly critical can never love, even themselves. A compelling portrait Jude.

I'm reminded of a so-called "bag-lady". One of the lost souls in between worlds and talking to herself. You are so attuned to the demons that battle the mind. Another impressive character sketch, Jude!

Self Emmaciation of the mind. Well you really wowed me with this Jude.. If Yosemite ever had a female Twin, on the lighthearted side now, this character would be she. Oh heck I've been down in Toon Town too long LOL...
Ch'erie ;)

We are our usually our own worst enemy. Nothing risked though, nothing gained. ~ Sara

The woman, in her own way is the antithesis of the man in the previous poem. They make a nice couple--a stormy relationship like my parents-- for 62 years.

Ron

Sometimes, life doesn't throw us a life preserver, so we have to find a way to swim to the surface and survive just one more time. Life is all about the flow and this poem certainly says that.
Much peace, love, and light,
Amber "V"

We too often suffer from our own doings Jude. Offended by her own convictions, she wails across vast sea of pity. So true. Thank you for sharing.

Newfie hugs, Rose

Powerful write responsibility for happiness depending upon
What kind of situation you’re dealing with
I believe responsibility
Lies within one’s self
After all you are the captain of your own life
Brilliant write left my mind to ponder
Peace Love and Light…Yolie

Well structured potent poem...ET

How sad when one loses control over themselves and is no longer the master of self....

Be always safe,
Karen

Jude....profound as ever....loved the opening lines...powerful....BHUWAN!!!

Powerfully penned, Jude, well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

We must be captain of our own ship and steer it where love is "alive" and "given". Nothing is better than to feel "alive" and be well-entertained, and be accepted for who you are.

So we must choose where we should go to be happy.

Sandie Angel :o)

Hi Jude,

offended by her own convictions,
she wails across vast sea of pity:
a foreign, murky
panorama of self-anointed defacement

she refuses to examine the conditions
and contradictions surrounding the vessel
she decided to embark upon"

You write from the conscience, and not just your own... excellent intuition...

In Spirit,
Bear

a stirring look at life done in such a creative way

That vast ocean of life seems to often stretch on forever in a plain solitude of aloofness until a storm on the horizon, a reef scraping on bottom or a doldrum of calm air can bring us back to the reality that life is just one long trip...
Fee

This does bring to mind that old saying that "We must be the captain of our own ship." Indeed, the responsibility for happiness and how we see our life situation lies within our self. We can choose to be a powerless victim of circumstance, or we can choose to be happy, no matter what life throw our way. It is not the responsibility of anyone else to be our entertainment committee or our savior. If we wait for someone else to bail us out and toss us a "life preserver," we will surely drown, alone. Deep and observant, you write about a person each of us has encountered in our lifetime and as sad their life seems, there is nothing we can do to change it.
Take care,
Sherry

"...crushed by pride and self mutilation..." human beings can be compared to sea vessels, some cross the distances, unscathed through storms, others just founder on sea-port before any departure, weighed down by their own inadequacies.

Georg

Often your poetry is dark...but it is also easy to identify with...if even for moments. You write with power, Jude. And one of the things that I like about your writing is that you present the situation (so vividly)as is...without trying to make your readers feel pity for your characters...and often times, at least for me, it's quite the opposite, where I just want to say, "Okay...now it's time to get on with it!" You take an instant in a life...an instant that others perhaps would give little thought to, or maybe would go unnoticed...and you present it. Your talent amazes me.

wow, you do find some dark shadows...you go where most fear to tread....just knowing her comfort medicine would be some self love if only she'd take a spoon full...
sending my blessings