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.    

41 comments:

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

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

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

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

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  6. 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. Learning to bend rules is indeed an art...

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  8. 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. love the arrangement and the idea.

    btw: are you becoming a criminal lawyer?

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

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  11. Thanks for the comments.

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

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  12. LOL! Good question; good post.

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

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  14. 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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  15. 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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  16. Nice...love the grainy ash look at it all - best on your new job...bkm

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  17. 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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  18. 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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  19. 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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  20. 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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  21. 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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  22. 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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  23. I love the simplicity here and the form, too. Congrats on your new job!

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  24. 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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  25. 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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  26. 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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  27. 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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  28. I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing and have fun in that new job!

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  29. 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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  30. 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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  31. redundant it may sound... but you always take to heaven and your choice of pics, I just LOVE!

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

    Denise

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  33. 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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  34. 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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  35. Clever and accomplished. Reminds me a little of ee cummings. Great job.

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  36. 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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  37. 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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  38. 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. So well structured in every way.

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