28 Oct 2010

Magpie Tales # 38

A Tanka

In Memoriam.
Chiselled stone bears the two dates
which span a whole life;
stories between birth and death
an unwritten legacy.



For more obituaries this week, see others who heard the call from Willow at Magpie Tales.

21 comments:

  1. It is sad that there are so many unwritten legacies. As poets, we have to make sure our legacies are written!

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  2. A wonderful take on Mag #38. A whole story in five lines - love it.

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  3. 57577 I wasn't aware of the Tanka form. Thanks Jinksy. Lovely poem. Strange how obsessed we are with dates. Life is like a hamburger - it's what's in between that counts.

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  4. So much fits in the space in between

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  5. I am astounded! I read so much here in so little.
    I see a Grave stone with birth on the top and date of death on the bottom.
    In between lay the story...
    May I tell you one?
    "As you are now,
    So once was I.
    As I am now,
    So one day you will be,
    Think on this,
    And pray for me."
    God Bless CML

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  6. What a beautiful poem. I truly enjoyed this one!

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  7. Yes, we all of us have stories...if we die young or old, if we led exciting or boring lives...we all of us have stories.

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  8. So many unwritten legacies through the ages. Thought provoking piece.

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  9. Given the restrictions of the form, you handle the prompt very well.

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  10. Nice, very mice given the restrictions as mentioned by Good Ole Doc. Nice Mag. Love and Light, Sender

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  11. Love this Jinksy....so true, and sad.

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  12. We sometimes forget, a whole life is a whole life, no matter how long.

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  13. nice. i like that..so much unsaid in that dash....

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  14. The elegance of the Tanka form is perfect for this, and funnily I used it too! You did a great job.

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  15. Well written- so short a life so sad

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  16. I am always surprised at how precisely so few words can say so much. That was perfect for this prompt!

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  17. Wonderful take on this prompt... and yes, the legacy between unspoken by just dates. What was thise life?

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