“Ezekial’s Whirlwind” by Patricia Kimsey Bollinger
the wind and the whirlwind
the sand and the sandstorm
blow through my spaces
the places inside where I
fought all the good fights of
autoimmune heart and mind
vice and virtue engaged in
their life and death struggles
to clinch final judgment
empty chambers now sapped
howling voids all the fight
long gone out of me never
achieving conclusion just
wartorn and weary arenas
where standards of sinners and
saints snap like windsocks
in gales of abandonment death
when it comes mere formality
[ Smiles ] Very nice poetry!
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much appreciated, Renard
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Fabulous. I love the image of standards snapping like windsocks, be they of sinners or saints.
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the wind assaults us all the same
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Doesn’t it though. And it shows our real character.
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Love the image. I agree, you have captured something “there”
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thank you kindly
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The words of your poem echoed the picture beautifully. I really enjoyed your phrase choices.
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I greatly appreciate that
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Love this, the poem truly is like a synonym to the image you’ve chosen.
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thank you most kindly
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Beautiful poem.
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thanks for reading and commenting
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It’s the fifth time I’ve come back to read and reread this poem . . . Why is that? Except that the whirlwind you describe so powerfully holds us all in its whirl . . . A vortex called ‘mortality’ which in the end will claim each of us, and yet not without the tug of the centrifuge of faith . . . Thank you!
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yes, yes, yes
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Paul, I came across a poem recently written in 1919 I’d love to send you; is there any way I can contact you directly? I promise not to load you down with unnecessary stuff . . . let me know . . . peternotehelfer@gmail.com . . .
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Love it. I wonder what comes first, the image that you find on the net, always beautiful, or the poem?
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with rare exception, the poem always comes first – then I have fun searching for a complementary image
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Doesn’t even need the image if the truth be told (fine image that it is). The words are all! Magnificent.
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thanks kindly, Mike
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Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.
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A powerful metaphor for the struggle and glory of life…
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I appreciate that
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you have clenched my feelings in lyrical perfection!
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so glad to know that it worked for you
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It can be a dark world that wears us down to death. But fortunately that dark place can be just a doorway to a world where the wind reinvigorates rather than shreds.
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that belief sustains me, friend joseph
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Me too!
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Gripping and overtly personal.
Hoping this finds you well.
Elouise
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I wrote it last February – thank you for your kindness, Elouise
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Yes, I saw it was last February. Thanks for your kind response.
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Excellent photo!
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glad that you liked it
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It reads as powerfully on the 6th reading as the ones before . . . As dark as the night, the poet still sings within you . . . Bravo!
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there is much poetry in despair – thanks, Peter
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Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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Wonderful. Stopped me in my tracks as I searched the net for visual whirlwinds. Really reminds me of a book character I’m writing about. Very inspirational words. Thank you for sharing, Paul. I hope you don’t mind me sharing on my blog and Facebook page.
Trace :o)
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I appreciate that very much
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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“There is much poetry in despair.” So true Paul. This is lovely, but quite sad, almost lonely. Life has been pretty good to me lately. Maybe that’s why I can’t seem to find the word these days. Some of my best work has come when I am filled with despair. Thanks for the wonderful read!
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I’m so pleased to hear that you are in a good place these days – for me, those were the times that sustain me through the rough spots
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