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Burlap and Satin

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Image result for girl night ledge

In burlap, she had always clad her dreams And tucked away the rations of her hope But choices that now lay a-fraying seams So dangled from a wispy length of rope Too often she had let her breaks go by In favor of her duties and her debts But now a final chance to spin and fly To make a lasting bloom of her regrets She signed her journal, taking from her hair A satin ribbon, pressed to mark her place Then closed the gold-trim diary with care As last, a tear fell from her lovely face With one sweet breath of eve out on the ledge ... She danced into the night ... and off the edge. ~ 6th Place ~ in the "Burlap And Satin" Poetry Contest, Anthony Slausen, Sponsor. ~ 3rd Place ~ in the "Contest Number 415" Standard Poetry Contest, Brian Strand, Sponsor.

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Sara Kendrick

Date: 4/3/2018 3:11:00 PM

Congrats on your creative winning work. Way to go. I enjoyed reading this one. Sara

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 4/4/2018 7:30:00 PM

That's very sweet of you, Sara - thank you so much! Blessings to you, Friend! :-) <3

Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 3/31/2018 6:01:00 AM

I am back to this poem. read it again. Congratulations on your win, Kai

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:58:00 AM

Thank you so much, Buddy - I hope it worked on more than one reading. Blessings, my friend! :-)

Eve Roper

Date: 3/30/2018 9:37:00 PM

Congratulations on your win! Have a wonderful Easter Hugs Eve

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:56:00 AM

Happy Easter to you, Eve ... and thank you so much! :-) <3

Janice Canerdy

Date: 3/30/2018 7:51:00 PM

So Sad--but beautifully written! CONGRATS, Greg! Janice

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:55:00 AM

Very kind of you, Janice - thank you so much, my friend! :-)

Line Gauthier

Date: 3/30/2018 7:33:00 PM

Lovely, Gregory. Congrats on your win.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:53:00 AM

Thank you very much, Line! :-)

Sandra Haight

Date: 3/30/2018 7:01:00 PM

Gregory, your poem is so powerfully sad, summing up her unfortunate life in so few words, and then there is something positive..."But now a final chance to spin and fly...To make a lasting bloom of her regrets..." gives a moment of hope to the reader, only to be unexpectedly dashed in the final two lines! Took my breath away! So well written...my very heartfelt congratulations to you on your nice placement on this short list of winners. Sandra <3

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:53:00 AM

Oh, that's so nice of you, Sandra, and I'm really happy that you liked this one. I think it's important to let folks know that many people who end their lives do NOT see it as a bad thing, and very often just the opposite ... until we have those understandings, we won't be able to get a handle on preventing it. Blessings to you, my friend! :-) <3

Carrie Richards

Date: 3/30/2018 5:41:00 PM

Oh wow.....This one caught me by surprise with the last line!! What an awesome poem, and well deserving applause, Gregory!! I mark this one high on my list!

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:50:00 AM

Thank you very much, Carrie, I'm so pleased you enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the other winners, (I am so behind on comments and reads - ugh!). Blessings to you, my friend! :-) <3

Kai Michael Neumann

Date: 3/30/2018 2:24:00 AM

How beautiful is that? I did not expect that last line. It sounds like such a light way of dancing of the edge. Great poem. Kai

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/31/2018 6:49:00 AM

Very kind of you, Kai - thank you so much, my friend! :-)

Nette Onclaud

Date: 3/26/2018 6:56:00 PM

pensive yet beautifully scribed.... enjoyed the end lines, greg..huggs

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/27/2018 11:21:00 AM

Very kind of you, Nette - thank you so much! :-) <3

Dale Gregory Cozart

Date: 3/26/2018 11:29:00 AM

This is beautiful and sad. I love "rations of hope".

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/26/2018 5:56:00 PM

Thank you so much, Dale, that means a great deal, my friend ... I think suicide is an important topic, and I don't believe we'll ever have a chance of minimizing it unless we learn to identify the reasons and the motivations - that it's not always seen as something negative from the perspective of the victim. There are a number of situations where it is viewed as something positive - a release from physical or emotional pain, an escape from overwhelming responsibility or negative circumstance, etc., and whenever it's viewed as a blessing by the victim, it is VERY difficult to spot it or prevent it. There ARE still signs, though, and the more we write about it, the more attention it will get, hopefully.

Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 3/26/2018 5:56:00 PM

WAY more than you needed for a reply, lol, but I'm hoping folks will realize that I don't write about it to be morbid, but rather to shine light on the issue and HOPEfully add to the discussion in a positive way, or at least give it another voice. Many thanks and blessings, my Poet Brother! :-)