Monday 14 November 2011

What if



life is
not just 
two       sides
yes            no
black     white
  but         also 
maybe, 
what if,
if this is,  
just because,
just a little, 
not quite,
not really,
almost there,
not so there,

negotiable  

wiggle room

grainy ash

most
of
the
time






Author's Note:   This is my insight after undergoing almost 3 weeks of training for my new job.  Ironically I have to learn the rules, to know how to bend them, depending on circumstances.   


Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Night - Monday.
D'verse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight.   Doors open every Tuesday at 3pm EST.    

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41 comments:

  1. France14 November 2011 at 19:16

    Ah yes, those gray areas... I wonder what it'd be like to live in an world of opposites.

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  2. Brian Miller14 November 2011 at 19:30

    i hear you...once you know the box you know how to play...

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  3. Pat Hatt14 November 2011 at 20:01

    Great play on words and life, you really went to and fro, stop and go, up and down, all around..haha.. enjoyed the read much.

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  4. Mary Ann Potter14 November 2011 at 21:31

    You are absolutely right, and your ideas are expressed so beautifully here.

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  5. Sub Radar (Mike)14 November 2011 at 23:01

    Your poem structure has slain me yet again, very nice.

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  6. Anonymous14 November 2011 at 23:51

    My comment got booted cause I typed my name wrong... anyway the short story is I remembered how easy life was before I learned gray.

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  7. Jinksy15 November 2011 at 00:09

    Learning to bend rules is indeed an art...

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  8. Kerry O'Connor15 November 2011 at 03:23

    You make a strong point in this poem, and I love how you set it out on the page - a concrete poem to express fluid ideas!

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  9. Abin Chakraborty15 November 2011 at 09:51

    love the arrangement and the idea.

    btw: are you becoming a criminal lawyer?

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  10. Lolamouse15 November 2011 at 10:24

    Indeed, you must learn the rules before you can know how to break them effectively!

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  11. Maude Lynn15 November 2011 at 10:36

    Excellent piece, Heaven.

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  12. Scarlet15 November 2011 at 11:32

    Thanks for the comments.

    Abin - no. I am in the business of risk assessment, insurance field.

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  13. Anonymous15 November 2011 at 11:49

    LOL! Good question; good post.

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  14. ayala15 November 2011 at 14:31

    Nice piece...so many gray areas...

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  15. Daydreamertoo15 November 2011 at 15:47

    Love the shape... looks almost like a fish.
    I also like how once you know the rules you can bend and shape them a little, as long as you don't break them... nice!
    Very nice piece from you :)

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  16. Adura Ojo15 November 2011 at 15:59

    Beautiful, creative and insightful. Daydreamertoo thinks it almost looks like a fish. I think it looks like a person standing. Hmmmm.

    Wising you the best on your new job, Heaven.

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  17. signed...bkm15 November 2011 at 16:19

    Nice...love the grainy ash look at it all - best on your new job...bkm

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  18. steveroni15 November 2011 at 17:01

    EXCELLENT!!! I love wiggle room...always did, always will! And your format explains it SO GOOD!

    About the job: "A violin player has to learn how much to tighten or loosen the bow--by doing it!" And each violinist does it differently--in different situations. NO right way--wrong way. OK?

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  19. Kay L. Davies15 November 2011 at 17:07

    Wow, I love how you've made the poem its own illustration, yet chosen an illustration to support it as well.
    Wonderful.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  20. Ravenblack15 November 2011 at 18:31

    Yes a lot of things are in degrees, whether to say yes or no, whether something is allowed or not -- it's a lot of "yes, but...", "No, except for.." Keep things negotiable, easier to get along, but that is not rule either, some rules must never be broken. See what happens... :)

    I can relate to this poem.

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  21. Unknown15 November 2011 at 19:48

    I've always liked the gray area, the space between and I think you summed it up wonderfully. Really like the visual construct you chose as well. Very nice touch, thansk

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  22. Anonymous15 November 2011 at 20:24

    Much of life is like that, neither one or the other--a nice blending. I really enjoyed this, Heaven.

    Good luck with your new job!

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  23. tinkwelborn15 November 2011 at 20:49

    Okay, I like this. and this is the First structured poem I like, of all I've seen. I haven't been a big fan of it; but yours is good. thank you. you may have saved me yet.

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  24. Laurie Kolp15 November 2011 at 22:08

    I love the simplicity here and the form, too. Congrats on your new job!

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  25. Chris G.15 November 2011 at 22:10

    A simple message, but one we could all stand to learn! Too many see the world in black and white, for all its intricacies - would that we could all see "the wiggle room."

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  26. Joseph Hesch15 November 2011 at 22:21

    The poem is spot-on, Heaven. And the Author's Note is intriguing as well! It took me a very very long time to understand that life isn't built on binaries and absolutes. Here, you carved me a forever obelisk to remind me of that hard-won knowledge.

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  27. Claudia16 November 2011 at 00:13

    true..life isn't black / white..it's also maybe and all the nuances in between and often needs much wisdom to play the right ball..congrats on the new job as well heaven

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  28. Shashidhar Sharma16 November 2011 at 04:03

    Reminds me of the rain maker where the Great Benefit gives standing instruction to their employees to reject all the insurance claims for the first time... but then the life is not so black and bleak too...

    In his wonderful talk “How Will You Measure Your Life” given by Harvard Business School professor Clay Christensen, he says that the moment you give a little leeway the first time, you are bound to give up on all your principles... (A lovely talk if you would like to read it, here is the link... http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/10/talking-point-how-you-will-measure-your.html )

    I liked the way you have structured this poetry... and your words are beautiful...

    Thanks for sharing...

    Shashi
    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/whispers-where-you-will-go.html

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  29. theborgpoet16 November 2011 at 08:54

    I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing and have fun in that new job!

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  30. Steve King16 November 2011 at 10:01

    Loved this compact treatise on the reality of ambiguity. I guess it's how many of us live our (professional). Great form, distinctive voicing. Enjoyed it.

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  31. Tashtoo16 November 2011 at 10:45

    In my nightmare day job its all about contracts, bankers, governments and lawyers...know the breaking point and all will be well. But the grey area's turn black pretty quickly! Best of luck!

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  32. Dulçe ♥16 November 2011 at 15:46

    redundant it may sound... but you always take to heaven and your choice of pics, I just LOVE!

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  33. Denise Covey 16 November 2011 at 16:20

    Hi Heaven. This must be one interesting new job! All the best for it! Great poem of contrasts.

    Denise

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  34. Rosemary Nissen-Wade16 November 2011 at 19:10

    I agree! :)

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  35. kaykuala16 November 2011 at 19:52

    Heavens,
    Bending the rules like inadvertently committing a mistake, are allowable as long as these are not material.A slight irritation is forgiven but not a major damage!

    I like the presentation

    Hank

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  36. Unknown17 November 2011 at 03:12

    You have a very interesting site that takes me back to a college Poetry class. We had a great instructor who was supportive of each of our writing styles. Your writing is great! Just stopping by for a visit.

    Best!

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  37. James Rainsford17 November 2011 at 11:46

    Clever and accomplished. Reminds me a little of ee cummings. Great job.

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  38. Anonymous17 November 2011 at 21:13

    Yes, what if it is what you say - would we be able to live more in peace? I think perhaps...
    Love this poem, the thoughts voiced, the shape, yup, everything about it.

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  39. Anonymous17 November 2011 at 21:14

    Yes, what if it is what you say - would we be able to live more in peace? I think perhaps...
    Love this poem, the thoughts voiced, the shape, yup, everything about it.

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  40. Anonymous17 November 2011 at 21:14

    Yes, what if it is what you say - would we be able to live more in peace? I think perhaps...
    Love this poem, the thoughts voiced, the shape, yup, everything about it.

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  41. Barry16 February 2012 at 21:33

    So well structured in every way.

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~

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