Home » Poems » Nette Onclaud » Garlands and Helmets

Garlands and Helmets

...........+++++............ again, she waits till granite morning becomes juniper borealis and marble evening returns to morning… many of days the stars hide from arrogance to radiance, shut eyelids burning heaven’s fireplaces stillborn soft. and she waits wondering waning wandering till heaven holds her spleen from whispers stenciled with half-known embraces far, far away unto decaying killing fields where bullets pierce the hope of many a man who starve for homemade broth and slices of children’s chaste eyes fool, fool of maiden faith daughter of tribal’s gliding ebb tell me, are you diminished or stretched by bravery that taunts the pain? all rights reserved © ...........................................................

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Joyce Johnson

Date: 12/28/2011 7:44:00 PM

Congratulations on your three poems getting through. Great work and good luck in the final round. Love, Joyce

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 3/14/2011 10:30:00 AM

So sad. An excellent one to depict the great sorrow of war. So many lives wasted. YOu did the topic justice, nette. Congatulations to you!

Stephen Parker

Date: 3/11/2011 8:59:00 AM

The second stanza captures the dichotomy of the warfront. You must be a fan of the show 'Military Wives'. Enjoyed the juxtasposition and the burnished similes!

Tahera Mannan

Date: 3/9/2011 5:02:00 AM

So much pain in such hopes. Lovely Nette. many congratulations for this win.

Wilma Neels

Date: 3/9/2011 4:39:00 AM

Hey there Nette, congratulations on your win in Chris's contest :) stunning write

Kabuteng P.Ink K.

Date: 3/8/2011 10:45:00 PM

This sure is such a moving poem, Nette and I couldn't help reading it twice in a row--your talent shines here, so super congrats on your win in Chris' contest :D! hugs

Linda-Marie Sweetheart

Date: 3/8/2011 8:21:00 PM

Congrats Nette dear on another great win in Chris's contest.. another awesome write as always luv.. enjoy.. we were out all day and we are great luv... took a day to be lovey dovey ... back to reality now..haha..

Harry Horsman

Date: 3/8/2011 7:59:00 PM

this is delightful Nette, could it be written from personal experience? so profound and moving, love your poems you never disappoint, congrats. Harry

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 3/8/2011 5:35:00 PM

Such a beautiful poem, Nette. Very sad, but incredible images of those who wait for lost loved ones. Congratulations on your win! Love, Carolyn

Tom Mcmurray

Date: 3/8/2011 5:30:00 PM

Nette, I rarely feel sated by free/verse poetic on the internet vanity sites on the internet and for good reason; few can achieve competency in tennis played without the net. You, however, are not only competent, your skills are extraordinary no matter what the venue. Your talent is right up there with McClure, Giovanni, Ferlenghetti, and maybe above all the above. I am gleeful I found your review of a poem I wrote today for the trade-off was a complete winner for me. tom

Francine Roberts

Date: 3/8/2011 4:33:00 PM

wonderful piece nette, congrats on your win in the contest

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 3/8/2011 12:39:00 PM

Congratulations on the third place win in the contest of Chris, nette

Carol Sunshine Brown

Date: 3/8/2011 11:40:00 AM

Congratulations on your well deserved win in Chris's contest Nette. Love, Carol

Debbie Guzzi

Date: 3/8/2011 10:07:00 AM

a marvelous mystery of bread crumb trails eaten by crows searching for starlight ;) fav line "starve for homemade broth and slices /of children’s chaste eyes" BIG Congrad's Light & Love

Carrie Richards

Date: 3/8/2011 8:21:00 AM

Once more, you are a poet that reaches above the mark! Another example and well deserved win! ~

Sidney Beck

Date: 3/8/2011 7:53:00 AM

Nette you are outstanding...i've said it before and I wil l say it often.....I grovel in your presence :)).....my very best wishes Nette

Sidney Beck

Date: 3/7/2011 1:16:00 PM

Is GARLANDS a different side of you? To me, Nette, no - it is obviously the same poet, but merely in a dark mood temporarily. best wishes

Sidney Beck

Date: 3/7/2011 1:15:00 PM

Your other serious poetry often shows repeated use of images like ”Dawn”/”morning”, “Marble”, “ lamps”, and a few other such symbolic choices. It strikes me that the speaker is seeking absolute truth, the shedding of light - marble hard and inflexible - on the darkness of life. This search will of course be fruitless, and so the search goes on endlessly. Life consists of “half embraces” “pierced hopes” of a person who seems a “clown” who can only “wail and wait”.

Sidney Beck

Date: 3/7/2011 1:14:00 PM

To me, the poem seems not very different from others of recent origin….it exhibits a speaker searching inside for a resolution to feelings. Look at three examples. “Daily Bread” starts with the word “ and”. “Garlands Helmets” starts with “again”. “March Wildness”starts with “lately”. These are the very first words and therefore of crucial importance in the poem, and each suggests a state of recurring personal analysis.

Sidney Beck

Date: 3/7/2011 1:13:00 PM

In this offering I like very much the phrases “Granite morning” “Heavens fireplaces” “Play and underplay” and especially “Homemade broth and slices of childrens chaste eyes” which suggests a double meaning to me…of the soldier’s own kids whom he misses…or of haunting eyes of kids he has perhaps killed in the war. I like your images a lot they are powerful.

Deb Wilson

Date: 3/6/2011 9:10:00 PM

Very vivid and well written Nette...best of luck to you! Love,Deb

Linda-Marie Sweetheart

Date: 3/6/2011 8:05:00 PM

Stellar write Nette dear and good luck in the contest.. I entered an old poem.. It's All Good about my hubby and love.. my first hubby that is..haha.. awesome as always luv..

Sara Kendrick

Date: 3/6/2011 3:30:00 PM

Good one that reads like winning material..Good luck in this great contest..I especially like the last two lines..Sara

James Fraser

Date: 3/6/2011 2:46:00 PM

So many garlands were exchanged at the end of world war 2. I can see the images now in many a liberated city in Europe and the Far East. Excellent piece Nette, and it comes as no surprise reading the tremendous levels of your writing. It's always a pleasure to read you. Good luck in Chris's contest....:)

Nette Onclaud

Date: 3/6/2011 2:11:00 PM

in these times, may we give peace a chance...