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Notes About The Poem

The Sinking Ship of Negativity

It's disappearing like buffalo across the vast plains...
familiarity has become distorted, both sour and rank.
There's an abandoning of the ship of negativity, 
bringing grief far worse than nine months of labor.
It's given cause for an elegy, so who is to thank
for the decline of what was a tranquil sanctuary?
In backwaters, gossipers have rippled the waters.
They're are not allowed in the Creek to reek havoc.

But kindness has been fading here for near a year.
Likened to the end of a day when sunlight dims...
Warmth and friendliness have drowned with the sun; 
into the dark depths of the sea, flounders serenity. 
A sinking ship weighs anchor where sharks gather
for shallow shoals are dangerous places to swim
when bites are taken at the whim of the gnarly.
A few want to steer the ship with a broken rudder
and some don't bother to utter a word,
afraid to rock the boat that's trying to stay afloat.

Grief has been born and thievery has no shame.
How many times can eyes look the other way?
How many 'Gotchas'  does it take when a name
has been given and proof's translucent, not opaque?
A chance at redemption is rebuffed and denied
when recognition holds sway. Too many are blind
to see that peace of mind can't possibly be found
when echoes refrain; it's always more of the same.

The only constant in life is that things keep changing.
The worms in an apple orchard continue to nibble,
caring only to wear crowns of usurpers on a fling. 
They want to scream and sing a victory song 
but rancid is the fruit on trees where they've grown
and the odor is repugnant on mid summer's breeze.

S.S. Negativity ran aground due to an Eeyore complex.
A brain in a jar needs fixing, take it for show and tell
and don't dwell on those with a burdened mind.
Some things should never be swept under a rug,
but when a bug is planted in the ear of those in charge,
they should be looming large to fix and nix it. 
Too long unheeded without another reprimand.
Flowers wilt past their bloom; withered petals dance
their swan song in the face of inevitable doom.

Annoyance never brings about an ounce of satisfaction.
Gut reactions always trigger the grossly needy.
When jalapeno seeds are added by fatuous hands
broth is ladled from a brew muddier than a pig wallow.
Animosity and pomposity should never be swallowed
when it's awful offal, but billed as vichyssoise... chilled

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Daniel Henry Rodgers Date: 8/15/2025 2:33:00 PM Dear Lin, O so Powerful. I think I appreciate the way you balance critique with observation, showing the effects of neglect, gossip, and animosity, while showing in the inevitability of change. I love how you beautifully capture the sense of loss without ever losing elegance. After all you are a great Poet! Blessings, My Dear Lin, Daniel Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 8/16/2025 8:51:00 AM You see what many have not, Daniel. Your years of experience in your field of work give you great insight. I am always grateful for your thoughts. Thank you.

Duke Beaufort Date: 8/12/2025 11:42:00 AM Lin, an amazing analogy and poem. It's also an apt description of where we are on many fronts. It's amazing what some will resort to in an effort to make themselves feel better. However, we know they can never experience true joy like some of us can. To any discerning and insightful poets, they appear to be very lacking in the self-esteem department. You must certainly have touched a nerve! Take care and (of course)...smiles!! When they hate, we just laugh!! Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 8/12/2025 12:27:00 PM That sounds like Michelle Obama's advice. From the high road we look down and laugh at what they seem to take more seriously than they should. Goading about trivialities makes me wanna yell, "Man overboard" while I'm hiding the life preservers.

Tom Cunningham Date: 8/12/2025 10:55:00 AM With a broken rudder and no one on the bridge I'd say Women and children first then shout "Every man for himself". Tom Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 8/12/2025 11:29:00 AM Lots of things are broken, aren't they, Tom? You are a gentleman who would make as good a captain as you do a mayor. The problem is that no one wants to bail the water, so it's become as you say..."Every man for himself." That's not the way a community survives.

Tania Kitchin Date: 8/12/2025 10:31:00 AM Lin, so well penned. Powerful and true. I hope things improve because the ship is sinking. Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 8/12/2025 11:23:00 AM I can't see it happening until the worms are out of the orchard, but we have a lifeboat reserved that takes us to other places. Thanks, Tania.

Jan Allison Date: 8/12/2025 8:15:00 AM Wow Lin you certainly speak your mind in this epic saga. Folk need to open their eyes, to see how things have deteriorated to the depths of the deepest ocean, yet nothing gets done about it. sad times indeed:-( hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Lin Lane Date: 8/12/2025 8:40:00 AM I've had my say of observations that are also the concerns of quite a few others. Not all changes are for the better nor the betterment of those involved who would love to have things as they once were. If it's not to be, than we either move on or accept status quo. It's not acceptable to me to allow plagiarism nor the robot poet. I'll dawdle with my lines here when the mood is right.