Day 8’s optional prompt, was to write a palinode, a poem in which the poet retracts a statement made in an earlier poem. ~ via The NaPoWriMo Website
You could take that route or, if you don’t have an actual poetically-expressed statement you want to retract, maybe you could write a poem in which you explain your reasons for changing your mind about something. It could be anything from how you decided that you like anchovies after all to how you decided that annoying girl was actually cool enough that you married her.
So with “Day 8’s Prompt” I chose a poem from the “Australian Poetry Library” by Philip Hodgins (an Australian Writer), Then next is Guest Poet – Amanda Carrington interpretation, And after that is my submission to the Challenge!
Happy reading and hope you all enjoy!
@@@@
A Palinode
My second childhood has begun
but the rhythms and the rhymes aren’t quite right.
The way my cells increase
is not unlike the vague, unbutton child
reaching up to childhood’s end.
But with one difference.
My half a bucketful of blood
is filled with rumours of an early death
and I am alone in a room
full of dying flowers.
I think it is the body’s palinode
and as far as I can see there is no God.
By Philip Hodgins (1959-1995)
@@@
Hate To Love
Spiteful boy I hate you
With all your sticks and stones
Why you always preyed on me
I swear I’ll never know
Your hurtful words and viscous jibes
Broke down my self esteem
You never told me what I did
To make you act so mean
Junior school then Middle school
Your hatred still in place
Every time you looked at me
I saw it on your face
I tried to keep my distance
I kept you at arms length
Weighed down by your disfavour
I began to lose my strength
Senior school was different
You looked at me in awe
The gawky ugly duckling
Didn’t live here anymore
Your demeanour was so different
I even saw you smile
You treated me with courtesy
I even liked your style
Seven years came and went
You still walked by my side
Until the day you begged of me
That I should be your bride
It seems hauntingly ironic
How you came into my life
I never thought I’d see the day
That I’d become your wife
Precious man I Love you
You make my world complete
To think my childhood bully
Now worships at my feet
Sometimes the unexpected
Can catch you by surprise
Hate can turn to love
As much as truth can turn to lies
© Amanda Carrington (2015)
@@@
Lessons Learnt
As a innocent child
I lived my life
With a faithful belief
That if you strived to do right
Life would turn out good…
I am now in the middle of my life
With many painful lessons
Learnt along the journey
And if I could part – my now wisdom,
Back to the child I once was: I would say
that the statement you once believed
doesn’t turn out to be true!
That in this life you have to love yourself
And put yourself first in all situations.
With all relationships in your life –
Each person has to meet each other 50/50,
Otherwise it’s not worth you time and effort.
And don’t rush into to things…
always try to wait, look and listen!
© debradml (2015)
