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- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
- Sprache: Englisch
This poetry anthology is a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences divided into six evocative sections:
Love & War: A celebration of love in all its forms and complexities and an exploration of human suffering in war's raw and brutal realities.
Nature & Cosmos: A journey through the untamed wilderness and boundless expanse of the universe, where the mysteries of existence unravel in whispers of wind and starlight.
Time & Memories: Threads of reminiscence woven into time’s fabric, where nostalgia and reflection entwine.
Seasons & Liminal Spaces: Capturing time’s ebb and flow in seasons and liminal spaces between what was, what is, and what will be.
Observations & Views: Perspectives painted with the strokes of keen observation and introspection offer glimpses into the human mind's diverse landscapes.
Wounds & Contemplations: A canvas of healing and introspection, where individuals wear scars as badges of resilience and contemplations resound in the chambers of the soul.
Together, these sections create a multifaceted exploration of the human experience, inviting readers to engage deeply with love, nature, time, and the complexities of existence.
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Seitenzahl: 96
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024
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THE EDGES
POETRY & PROSE
CARO HENRY
CONTENTS
Introduction
Love & War
I. Love
COME AWAY
EROS
FUGUE IN BLUE
MOTHER’S LOVE
SENSUAL
WHY IS IT?
II. WAR
BATTLE SCARS
CONSEQUENTLY
HISTORY LESSON
HOPE
IDEOLOGICAL WAR
SACRIFICIAL
WAR HAUNTINGS
Nature & Cosmos
I. Nature
CROWS DESCENDING
FOG WATCHING
AN ODE TO GREEN
NATURE, RED
OCEAN VIEW
ON GOLDEN POND
RIVERSIDE
WOODLAND MUSINGS
WOODS IN THE MIST
II. COSMOS
APOPHIS
CASSIOPEIA A
COSMIC SONNET
TWELVE COSMOLOGICAL WONDERS
Time & Memories
I. TIME
AGE DEFYING
A NEW YEAR
GRIM
TIME PASSING
TRANSTEMPORAL
UNWRITTEN WORDS
II. MEMORIES
BORN(E)
CRUNCHY DECADENCE
MUSIC’S POWER
REM SLEEP
SWINGING
TIME SLIPS
Seasons & Liminal Spaces
I. SEASONS
AUTUMN’S EMBRACE
GIVING THANKS
NATURE’S CYCLE (A HAIKU CHAIN)
SEASONS
SEPTEMBER SONG
SPRING AWAKENING
WINTER’S GRACE NOTES
II. LIMINAL SPACES
A HAUNTING
ANANCY
AN OTHERWORLDLY REALM
SURREALITY
THE EDGES
THE MACABRE
Observations & Views
I. OBSERVATIONS
ALL THAT JAZZ
BASKETBALL DREAMS
FROM SUN TO SNOW
IN HOSPITAL
PLASTICS
SEA WORTHY
SERENDIPITY
THE IMMIGRANT
VENETIAN DREAMS
II. VIEWS
CHOICE
HATE RISES
IMMUNITY
MEDIA WEAPONIZED
SHADOWS OF AUTHORITARIANISM
STALKING FREEDOM
ERODED
Wounds & Contemplations
I. WOUNDS
DEPRESSION
BRUISE
DAUGHTER’S LAMENT
GOODBYE TO LOVE
H(A)UNTED
HOPELESS
SNOWSTORM
THE GIFT
VIOLET CIRCLES
WOMAN RISING
II. CONTEMPLATIONS
DEEP DELICIOUS BRUSHING
WRITER DREAMING
INCARNATE
KNOCK ON WOOD
LISTEN
WRITER, LION, COMB
MOTE
PROPHECY
YEARNING
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright © 2024 by Caro Henry
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions, contact:
Printed in the United States of America.
Imprint: KemoDog Press
Names: Henry, Caro, author.
Title: The edges / Caro Henry.
Description: Baltimore, MD: KemoDog Press, 2024.
Identifiers: LCCN: 2024918401 | ISBN: 979-8-218-49156-7 (paperback) | 979-8-9914912-0-4 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH American poetry--21st century. | Nature--Poetry. | War--Poetry. | Love--Poetry. | Time--Poetry. | BISAC POETRY / Subjects & Themes / General | POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Animals & Nature | POETRY / Caribbean & Latin American | POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Death, Grief, Loss | POETRY / Subjects & Themes / Political & Protest | POETRY / Subjects & Themes / War
Classification: LCC PS3608 .E67 E 2024 | DDC 811.6--dc23
Cover design by Laura Simon
Cover art photo by Caro Henry
First Edition: September 2024
For my husband and daughter
INTRODUCTION
I am fascinated with the liminal. I mean the edges and borders that provide a transition from one state of existence to another.
Within liminal spaces, doors open to surprises, portals transport, and nature reveals its transformative power. These spaces encourage us to venture into the extraordinary, embrace the unfamiliar, and uncover the marvels that exist beyond our awareness.
In this anthology of poetry and prose, I explore the edges, those liminal spaces. At times, I inhabit them and venture into past, present, future, and otherworldly realms.
My aim is to touch you with my words and evoke deep emotions within you.
Divided into six sections, each segment of this anthology is a portal to a different realm.
Love & War: A celebration of love in all its forms and complexities and an exploration of human suffering in the raw and brutal realities of war.
Nature & Cosmos: A journey through the untamed wilderness and boundless expanse of the universe, where the mysteries of existence unravel in whispers of wind and starlight.
Time & Memories: Threads of reminiscence woven into time’s fabric, where nostalgia and reflection entwine.
Seasons & Liminal Spaces: Capturing time’s ebb and flow in seasons and liminal spaces, between what was, what is, and what will be.
Observations & Views: Perspectives painted with the strokes of keen observation and introspection, offering glimpses into the diverse landscapes of the human mind.
Wounds & Contemplations: A canvas of healing and introspection, where individuals wear scars as badges of resilience and contemplations resound in the chambers of the soul.
Each piece is a reflection, each section a journey. This anthology testifies to the power of words in illuminating the beauty and complexity of the human experience.
I hope my writings inspire, challenge, and transform you, just like they do me.
LOVE & WAR
You cannot find peace by avoiding life.
VIRGINIA WOOLF
LOVE
COME AWAY
Come away with me, and be my love,
Let's explore the vast unknown,
As we sail the seven seas,
Discover treasures not yet shown.
Together we'll visit ancient lands,
And marvel at modern sights,
From mountains reaching for the sky,
To peaceful meadows, bathed in light.
Come away with me, and be my love,
On wings of dreams, we'll fly,
Across the zones, we'll journey far,
Reconnect with friends gone by.
We'll share stories of our lives,
Cherish moments, big and small,
Savoring scones and laughter,
Creating memories to recall.
Come away with me, and be my love,
Down winding roads we'll roam,
Embracing nature's wondrous gifts,
Flora and fauna, we'll call home.
In this world, we'll travel hand in hand,
Facing challenges, side by side,
Conquering all life throws our way,
Our love, unbreakable, our guide.
So, come away with me, and be my love,
Let's embark on this grand endeavor,
Together we'll navigate this world,
Our hearts entwined, forever and ever.
EROS
It was night again and as
I felt for your presence in
Darkness not yet complete,
Yawning stillness forced me to
Consider the warm contemplation
Seen earlier in your eyes.
Calculated to a degree to hasten
To a fever pitch; to feel slowly,
Then hear the rushing moon
Breathing across a light-riddled sky.
Cutting slivers of fleshy passion;
Forcing raw explanations again,
As the room rolls majestically,
Musically, in its own rhythmic
Order of life; reborn, renewed,
And life gathers us in closer,
To face yet again the truths we
Try to hide in pale sunlight.
FUGUE IN BLUE
I hear the music
And as our souls
Twirl, spin, negotiate
Each turn
I saw them dance
Their figures
Blurred blue
Loving, swirling,
Sometimes fused
Ah! the longing
Do souls ache?
Pillowed sweetly in
Repose, feebly laid
As the lute whines
The nascent dawn
Clasps us to her breast
Then, I awaken
Feel the weight
Of you there,
Hear your
Sleep-stained breaths
MOTHER’S LOVE
I am a mother.
My love flame burns bright;
The words I speak, the tone I use
Light her path, her journey through life.
I am a mother.
From nascent flutters of thought,
To the moment I first held her,
I swore to protect and nurture.
I am a mother.
Through sleepless nights, weary days,
Sacrificed my own wants, own desires,
Ensured her happiness, fulfilled her needs.
I am a mother.
In her teen years of angst and yearnings,
Supportive when emotions heightened,
Attentive when winds of change blew fiercely.
I am a mother.
Torn between desire to protect, need to let go,
Reaffirmed her worth, her potential,
Encouraged her to embrace her dreams, to fly.
I am a mother.
There, as she emerged from her chrysalis of adolescence;
There, as she learned to navigate the complexities of adulthood;
There, as she transformed into a successful adult.
I am a mother.
My love knows no bounds;
It is an unbreakable bond,
Transcending time and space.
Because I am a mother—
My love flame burns bright;
The words I speak, the tone I use,
Light her path, her journey through life.
SENSUAL
Your gentle yet electric touch
Igniting a fire within me
Each caress causing me to
Unravel
Lips soft and hungry
Meet in a dance of
Desire and surrender
Skin against skin
Rubbing teasing
A symphony of
Longing and pleasure
Your voice breathing
Caressing my skin
Surrender complete
As my inhibitions fade
And a hunger awakens
Every kiss every touch
A thousand tiny explosions
Scattering my essence into
A million little pieces
Hands exploring every curve
Every angle
Lips tracing a path of fire
That leaves me trembling
Kisses on my neck
My collarbone
My every inch of exposed skin
And I feel myself teetering
on the edge of a precipice
ready to fall into the
abyss of ecstasy
Ecstasy that easily
Shatters me into pieces
Then rebuilds me as new
That leaves me breathless
Wanting more
WHY IS IT?
Why is it so hard
To find words
That pour, stream,
Flow, wine-like;
That slide, glide,
Slip gradually,
Unobtrusively?
Why is it so hard
For my bruised heart
To say
I love you,
I need you?
When my salve
Exists in your arms,
Entangled
In your lips.
WAR
BATTLE SCARS
The hands of war tighten their grip,
A symphony of horror with malevolent notes.
Battlefields, once vibrant with life,
Now wear cloaks of destruction.
The air, heavy with the acrid stench of
Ammo and fear, spins
Tales of anguish and despair.
Death, its appetite insatiable,
Devours souls, their cries echo,
Lost in the cacophony.
Amidst the fray, hearts shatter,
As the cruel hand of fate reaches out
Separating loved ones.
A mother, eyes brimming
With unshed tears,
Clutches the tattered
Photograph of her son.
Memories dance in her mind as she
Traces the contours of his face,
Fingers trembling.
In a foreign land, a man,
Displaced and uprooted,
Clings to remnants of
His shattered homeland.
A foreign language and
Unfamiliar faces replace
Familiar sights and sounds.
He longs for the scent of
His native soil, the embrace of
Loved ones, the comfort of belonging.
War horrors paint
Vivid canvasses of desolation.
The earth, scarred and ravaged,
Bear the marks of countless battles;
Once-lush fields transform
Into desolate wastelands.
Trees, barren of leaves,
Stand like sentinels of despair,
Branches twisted, reaching
For a touch of life.
Oh, the horror of war!
That master of cruelty,
Tears families asunder,
Leaves trails of broken hearts,
Shattered dreams.
So, humanity weeps,
Its soul shattered,
As sorrow and guilt
Embrace each
Survivor’s heart.
CONSEQUENTLY
Consequently, nations clash like thunder and lightning,
Their differences sparking fires that engulf the land,
As power-hungry leaders, thirsty for dominance,
Fuel the flames of conflict with their rhetoric.
Consequently, borders become battlefields,
Where soldiers march to the beat of war drums,
And families are torn apart, hearts heavy with sorrow,
As they flee from the devastation of their homes.
Consequently, the innocent suffers the most,
Caught in the crossfire of political ambition,
Their lives shattered like fragile glass,
Dreams crushed under the weight of war.
Consequently, the world watches in horror,
As nations wage wars of aggression,
Their reasons obscured by propaganda,
Their true motives hidden beneath a veil of lies.
Consequently, hatred spreads like a virus,
Infecting hearts and minds with prejudice and fear,
Tearing apart the fabric of humanity,
Leaving behind scars that may never heal.
Consequently, generations bear the burden,
Of the sins of their ancestors,
Haunted by memories of conflict,
As they struggle to build a world free from strife.
Consequently, peace becomes a distant dream,
A flickering flame in the darkness of chaos,
But hope lingers in the hearts of the resilient,
Who refuse to let war define their existence.
Consequently, we must strive for understanding,
To bridge the divides that separate us,
Find common ground amidst the turmoil,
And build a future where peace can prevail.
Consequently, empathy must be the language we speak,
With understanding a bridge of connection,
Compassion an armor against the flames of hatred,
Love a beacon of hope in times of despair.
Consequently, dialogue should be our weapon of choice,
Our words instruments of peace,
