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An Open Poem Sans Punctuation

somewhere
red poppies
                   grow
fertilised
              by blood
              sun
and
       winter snow
lost 
      freedoms
                      seed
on widow's
                   weeds
       sadness flows
to that
    no-mans land
    where
    there
           are
                but crows

poetrywarfree verse

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Carole Duet

July 2, 2017 at 11:00 PM

Back again! Alright...every time I read this poem another layer of understanding is added to my elemental brain. And now I simply love it. It is really beautiful and is a new FAV for me too. I can see this field of poppies maybe with a delapidated cannon and a cross on a grave with the widow standing there as the crows fly over the field. I'm inspired. I think I'm going to do another painting!!

Brian Strand

July 2, 2017 at 11:08 PM

Thanks Carol for all your comments on this poem.

Carole Duet

July 2, 2017 at 10:53 PM

Okay...upon reading it again (and again) I think the "lost freedoms seed" must be referring to the death of a soldier on a battlefield where the poppies now grow. Did I get it? lol This is a deeply sad poem, Brian, but beautiful "sans punctuation". :) Thanks for referring me to this example.

Brian Strand

July 2, 2017 at 11:20 PM

Yes you did Carol

Carole Duet

July 2, 2017 at 10:46 PM

I understand this poem "sans punctuation", Brian, except for the lines, "lost freedoms seed". I just don't get how that phrase fits into the poem. Sorry. Otherwise, I like the poem, especially the way you broke up the lines which did make it easier to read. However, if you had written it in a regular line form I wonder if it would have been as easy to read. Thanks for your interest and comment on my blog.

Brian Strand

July 2, 2017 at 11:24 PM

Carol, the format has to be this way,if punctuation is left out.As you say it would not make sense in a conventional poetic line format.Marianne Moore was my inspiration for this style of open poetry.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart

July 2, 2017 at 10:11 PM

Awesome piece Brian. Beautifully done, a lover of less is more word smithery, to mind Flanders Fields and the Unknown Soldiers with your apt title, brilliant, this is going in my faves drawer...

Brian Strand

July 2, 2017 at 11:08 PM

Thanks Maureen