Stayed

Someone put me to one word

She always had one word for me: "stayed"

Used to describe our differences

Stayed

Unlike the creek that softly spills

Through the backyards of southwestern Portland

Stayed

Very much like the trees

That line that very same creek

Their powerful trunks promising backs respite

And their tendril roots

Ensuring continued reliability

Without them the creek

In its ever flowing and easily influenced wisdom

May very well end up a grand puddle

If the sun were to shine bright enough

It would dry up and leave nothing

But dirt and displaced insects

Perhaps when she used that term

She meant that I should have...

Author's Note

Reviews and criticisms welcome

Reviews

[Mai L Nissen]

I don't know the exact context in which you were labelled 'stayed'. However, as described above, I wouldn't mind being a 'stayed' person :) You make it sound so appealing! Though, the end suggests that the context is a bit more complex, containing bad as well as good associations...?

regardless, I think it is a beautifully written piece. Thanks for sharing!

[James O'Rourke]

I totally agree that I left the context a little vague. When I wrote this I remember being pretty upset at someone. They had always used that term to describe me, but had always said it in a derogative tone. So with that, I believe they wanted "stayed" to be some sort of insult.

So I thought on it a bit and decided to follow a train of comparisons of what is "stayed" and what is not. A tree and a creek. Although both cannot exist without the other I wanted to show how "stayed" could be a strength and how being too fluid or easily influenced could pose a problem.

Soooooo...that's pretty much it in a nutshell, or at least what I can remember. Thanks for reading my work! Look forward to more of your responses!

[Beccy]

Nothing wrong with stayed, now 'staid,' that's a different matter entirely. :)

Beccy.

[Beccy]

No criticism here. This is almost classic in its feel and how it expands just one simple word into what is a lovely and well written poem.

Really enjoyed this. Beccy.

[James O'Rourke]

Thanks for reading Beccy. There is a person in my life that continues to describe me as a "stayed" person, and I haven't always received the description well. made me think of trees for some reason and how if they weren't "stayed" then a body of water, which is very much the opposite, may very well end up nothing.

Then again...I may have been drunk. Hahaha!