Broken Pieces

mostly spontaneous ... not my norm :)

compliments of Twisted Sifter

Broken Pieces 

We can see them all around us

...........................look .................................

shattered scatterings like

dead winter leaves blowing and breaking                        crushed                        burning

We can smell them and see them in pieces and 

singed hair

scalding over blisters healed

unfolding every day

all around us

bullets to the head as they say                                                            They say a lot of things

don't they ............ 

                                                                        and then there is silence

in the screaming.

01/20/2023

E.

Author's Note

Reviews

[DIVYA]

Such a darkness to this piece. Yet so relatable for now...Bullets to the heads....People take bullets to their heads as calmly as we would take a hat to our heads! No patience, no endurance, no fortitude. They say a lot and then there is silence. Their screams drown unheard. The shattered casing of their heads, their 15 minutes of fame. A Poem from you after so long, dear E and certainly one to remember and return for re-reads. Loved it and the lovely artwork too! ❤🙋‍♀️❤

[Einstein Noodle]

you have made my day, Divya! i couldn't imagine more from a review .. thank you for all your support, right here at the Cafe' ;)
E.

[Einstein Noodle]

ps. i love how you expanded on the bullets to the head ... you inspire me

[DIVYA]

Then I'll expect more of such poetry from you, dear E. Sorry for the delayed response as I've had a bad couple of days from a cold.
Its always wonderful to read and reconnect with you, dear friend! ❤

[Einstein Noodle]

back at ya .. so happy you are feeling better. we had an unusual wind and snow storm that knocked power out of most of N. Central AR. .. mine was restored yesterday .. after 4 days ... so grateful for propane, generators and fireplaces! ;) thank you for all your encouragement .. i take it seriously as a challenge to stop being so lazy. i will say, in my favor, ;) i am working on a sonnet .. but those take me forever to complete .. i need the 3V and closing lines .. and then to make sure it is true to the form .. very foreign territory for me but also very satisfying if successful .. i turn to forms when my creativity wanes to nothing .. luv and hugs on ya dear one

[DIVYA]

I wish you all the best for the sonnet, dear friend. If you love the process of creating one then let it take forever. I love my journeys with writing more than the destinations I reach with my words. So may you have much joy and bliss-filled days with poetry and of course in the blessed warmth and light of the fireplace and the generators! :)

[Einstein Noodle]

:))))))) thank you Divya!

[DIVYA]

Cheers! ..... :))))))

[Ladysue]

There is so much pain in the world. It’s seems we thrive on violence and solve problems with violence from top down. We live in a deep seated sick society. We have lost a general consensus of truth and so much more. Humanity has lost its way. Your last four lines are extremely powerful.

[Einstein Noodle]

"..for all have sinned and gone astray" ;) what a deeply gratifying review you have given this one Ladysue! so blessed you felt it in such a way ... there is redemption tho eh!? .. we can still make a difference in even the smallest of ways .. to dispel darkness ... we turn on the Light ;)))))))))))))))))
E.

[Ladysue]

Yes we can make a difference one small act of kindness . even the smallest of ways as you said. it can have a rippling effect and light shines brighter.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ....................

[Tom]

Yep, it sure ain't all roses and sweet chocolates, while dreams can and do come true, alas only very few experience such a realisation, truth is most fall headlong into the mire, shattered illusions and the rest is history as they say...

Both poet here accompanied by singer Linda Ronstadt testament to that I say 😥

[Einstein Noodle]

much appreciate your taking time to read, review and listen to Linda .. such a beautiful voice says i! i agree .. we all get broken .. even the successful, i think .. it makes us human needing others and aat a point .. needing our Creator ;) luv on ya Tom .. grateful for your visits
E.

[willweb]

I often think I am a broken piece and wonder where I belong, what should I be glued to, who the hell am I? Then I write a poem and have no idea where it comes from and think...maybe that is it, but, it never is, I don't think. Your poem feels like that as well, at least that's what they say...they say a lot of things, don't they? This dark but very cool and very creative.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes ... they do say a lot of things :)))))))))))))))) being broken really aint' so bad tho is it!? it forces us, like illness .. to rely on a power greater than any of us .. says i! ;) luv and joy brother! thank you so much for reviewing
E.

[MomzillaNC]

Profound and powerful exposure of the darkness in humanity.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for taking time ... and your encouraging review ... we do horrible things to one another don't we :(((((((((((((((
E.

[MomzillaNC]

Sadly, there is too often little humanity shown among humanity.

[Soren]

Dear Einstein this poem of death, injury, pain casts its darkness in a web catching my attention and hauling it in, tangled and tied in its net. Unable to escape from beginning to end, I find myself floundering and gasping for air. The use of your spacing like the holes in a net tie it together and give it more strength. The last few lines are so vivid and give it the knockout punch. Very powerful.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much, Soren! that's one hell of an inspiring, encouraging review .. i am truly grateful this spoke to you in such strong terms ... you are a sensitive and caring person to empathize in such a way .. God bless you and thanks again for such encouragement
E.

[Betty Hermelee]

There is much misery to this poem... and we all know about it, but can do nothing about it... and it is all around us, everywhere.... bullets are a common way to literally tear one to pieces.... flesh and rancid stench.... we let them lay there to rot.... and the screams go unheard until the person is already gone for the burn.... This is a great comment on an importance matter which should not be ignored....
Best, B

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for your passionate and empathetic response .. i think even the little things we can do go a long way tho. .. a kind word or act ... speaking out for what it right and allowing the ridicule ... you really hit the nail, Betty .. and heard me .. what more can a writer ask? ... thank you!! peace and love my friend!
E.

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome E. So nice to hear from you!!!
Best, B

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Life is full of broken pieces. I like to think of it as a mirror. When whole, it reflects in one clear image. When shattered, it reflects so many things at once. I also think of the mirrored finish inside of the bathroom at the personal palace of Shah Jahan's wife at Agra Fort.

During her bath hour, the regal Mumtaz would lie in the bathtub and her handmaids would light up candles at every corner of the bathroom to create a spectacle with sparkling lights.

As per the custom, musicians, who are only eunuchs, would play music outside the ghusal khana or the Mughal bathroom, while the queen enjoyed her long bath. So much so, the walls of the queen’s bathroom were made to produce different musical notes when tapped by the hand.

The tiny mirrors used in the bathroom were imported from Syria. All this was done because Shahjahan wanted to have enough of his beloved wife and enjoy her beauty by beholding several images of her.
This part of the fort is called Sheesh Mahal, or the Palace of Mirrors.

[Einstein Noodle]

wow! thank you for the education on Agra Fort!! i looked it up ... wow! what a palatial structure!! did you grow up in Pakistan or reside there now? i am astonished my poem brought the mirrors and such incredible history to your mind .. thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts ... blessings my friend!
E.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

My pleasure. No, I've never been to Pakistan. There are particular things about history that really stand out for me, and that was one of them.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .......................

[Lorry]

We all have our greatest hits moments that somehow manage to keep our heads above the greatest misses we endure as a whole, as well as an individual through this crazy little thing called life E, but it seems to me at least that broken is becoming the new norm, whether it be war, strikes or even sifting through the news for the lesser spotted "unfake" piece.
It's enough to send people off down their own rabbit hole of "it wasn't like that in my day" as we fondly recall cold wars, the acceptance of domestic violence and the time when orange soda was good.
Perhaps it is that we all just miss the fact we were made to grow out of our innocence whether we wanted to or not, when the biggest worry we had was if we wanted to see someone we had to use our legs to actually go se them!
If you were five minutes late for a date, chances are you would never see them again.
Now I'm wishing for some of that orange sofa.
They don't make things like they used to! 😊

[Einstein Noodle]

i feel you Lorry .. thank you for sharing your thoughts and reactions to this poem .. no .. the wheel has most certainly turned and the world is not one of orange sodas and creamsickles ... St. James the Apostle of Jesus Christ wrote of the "end times" and those in that day thought it was coming soon for them .. who is to say .. i think America has sunk to the depths of an abysmal swamp ... one has to find hope somewhere .. being broken .. i think has been around along time .. it forges character with fire .. really appreciate all your thoughts on this my friend ... when we heal from it .. we recognize broken .. and maybe can lend a hand ... love and joy Lorry .. thank you for such a thoughtful ... deep review
E.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

The awful things that the living endure, the dead never have to suffer. But, to quote a very old Arabian proverb, "Even a living dog is better than a dead lion." Whether we are kings of our jungle or subjugated servants seems to have little to do with the measure of hope. If anything, the hope is greater in the lesser because he has more to aspire to while the "master" may just become a victim of avarice. We see wealth and fame destroy many of its owners. We may suffer so we can understand and have empathy to the suffering of others. If that is the case, then I won't begrudge my own trials so much here. I'd truly hate to be without empathy for my fellow men and women. Bless, F.

[Einstein Noodle]

i think you earned what you learned Fabian .. trials and tribulations surely will test our metal and we are forged by fire ... hope is for everyone, i think .. rich or poor .. what matters is seeing who we really are .. and the need we have .. without that .. i think we really are hopeless ;( love on ya brother .. thanks for your reading and thought provoking, deep review .. peace and joy!
E.

[Sami Khalil]

Wow! Emotionally powerful. Realistically mournful. Some sad truth dear poet. I hope we can stop that , but it is hard.
Awesome you.

[Einstein Noodle]

Sami! you touch me ol' heart with your review. thank you so much for taking time .. :)
E.

[Sami Khalil]

All the best. You are welcome sir Einstein.