A Tomb of An Ancient Bloom

You look at me and see a northeast highway after winter
Cracked, worn, roughened by conditions not meant to be endured.
I was once the most beautiful cobblestone pathway through a garden of ripe, unpicked fruit.
I was the apple whose sweet center no man could resist tasting
But you see affliction where held addiction.

You think my mind feeble, that thoughts slip through my brain
Like water through a child's fingers in a sudsy, post-playtime bath.
But I was once the network that ran every station in the steel-girded high rise
And ran the split level in the suburbs. I never needed to reboot.
A victim of time, still in her prime.

I look in the mirror and don't understand who that old woman is who gapes back.
I have long blonde tresses and eyes that rival Liz Taylor on her best day.
This, this is a shadow -- a black and white picture version of a colorful scene.
Inside I am 25, still as vibrant as the peacock whose feathers once graced my favorite hat.
I'm a tomb . . . of an ancient bloom.
                                                                        February 14,2016.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016



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Date: 8/27/2023 11:39:00 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Date: 5/10/2017 6:50:00 PM
Hello Cindi, I apologize for the late closure of my contest and I appreciate your patience. Your take on the theme of own it was creative. The metaphor works so well. Thank you for sharing this on soup. Cheers, Cyndi
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Date: 8/7/2016 9:04:00 PM
This is a great ;poem. Could be the winner in any poetry contest. Love, Joyce
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 8/7/2016 11:01:00 PM
Thank you, Joyce! I appreciate you reading and commenting! ~Cindi~
Date: 8/7/2016 7:14:00 PM
Cindi, congrats on your placement with this wonderful poem :)-luloo,
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 8/7/2016 7:35:00 PM
Thank you, Laura Loo!
Date: 8/7/2016 11:01:00 AM
Interesting write. Congrats on your win. :) Sunita
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 8/7/2016 11:25:00 AM
Thank you.
Date: 8/6/2016 9:53:00 AM
Congrats on your win in my contest.
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 8/6/2016 11:28:00 AM
Thanks so much for placing my poem!
Date: 5/7/2016 4:42:00 PM
Cindi, nice to see this poem in Justin's contest. *skat*
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 8/6/2016 11:28:00 AM
Thank you, Skat!
Date: 3/19/2016 11:54:00 PM
Cindi, nice to see your poem got an HM on Justin's latest contest. HUGS ~LINDA~
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Date: 3/15/2016 1:06:00 AM
A pleasure to read your verse yet again, Cindi. Still enthralled the next go around ... what you feel on the inside will affect your outside. Our minds are powerful.
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Date: 3/3/2016 8:53:00 AM
Cindi, a wonderful interpretation of this very open and stimulating theme. Beautiful use of metaphor and simile. ("Old? I didn't know until you told me." My one posted quote on the Soup.)
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 3/3/2016 10:16:00 AM
Thanks! Only by looking at my grown daughters (22 & 23) and the mirror (yikes) do I remember I'm old too! Great quote!
Date: 2/25/2016 5:40:00 PM
Women often mourn their lost youthful beauty and we men often mourn our lost youthful vigor and sex drive. Truly exceptional verse you've created and images and truth in it are by any standard awesome. A7
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Date: 2/18/2016 10:03:00 AM
Hi Cindi: It's a pleasure to be introduced to your prolific writing a tomb of ancient bloom. Great Poem!
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/18/2016 10:41:00 AM
Thank you so much! And for taking the time to read and comment.
Date: 2/18/2016 9:13:00 AM
Your write is very powerful and expressive, Cindi...metaphorically rich and reaching out emotionally. Touched by the end stanza. gl in the contest. // paul
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/18/2016 9:20:00 AM
Thank you. Appreciate you reading and commenting on my work!
Date: 2/18/2016 12:08:00 AM
I've read a few of these entries, but I enjoyed how different and abstract your take on it was. Your self-portrait is very vivid with colorful wording, especially the peacock line. I hope this does well in the contest.
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/18/2016 8:59:00 AM
Thank you. I love reading the other entries and seeing where each mind was taken by that incredible prompt. I wonder if, like me, there was only one road to follow? Regardless, thanks again for reading and commenting!
Date: 2/16/2016 6:12:00 PM
Great thoughts and angle on this subject. Such a wonderful expression of a faded beauty...it is the hardest loss for a woman. I am giving this a seven and a FAV to read again. It will place high I think. SuZ
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/16/2016 6:39:00 PM
Thank you. Always felt for my mother, who was a great beauty in her youth. Fortunately, I don't have as far to fall!
Date: 2/14/2016 8:58:00 PM
Forgot that one can't rate without using this space. On your comment, reply, that's a possibility. You may wish to put a date on your entry so the sponsor sees the original, and place you accordingly.
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Date: 2/14/2016 8:24:00 PM
One of the best I've read for this contest. Powerful metaphors and images. Hi Cyndi. Is it ok to ask here the meaning behind "And the split level in the suburbs, never needing to reboot"? It's the only line I didn't get. Thank you. I really like your write. Kim
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/14/2016 8:53:00 PM
See my comment below. I feared others mike find the same inspiration.
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Cindi Rockwell
Date: 2/14/2016 8:49:00 PM
It goes with the sentence before: I was the network that not only ran the office but also the home setting and never needed to reboot like today's computers.
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