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One Stone

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Image result for heart-shaped stone

hard, cold ... with weight to crush impervious to all, save the elemental burdenous, and dense with unfeeling matter oh, it shines in its own way it is indeed a rare gem fit for only the most hospitable of environments and it pulses with an extraordinary energy, innate and lasting though it betrays not, its bearing how I have labored to penetrate its unyielding exterior how I have plied and chiseled and hewn striving with all I am and know to create a masterpiece from corporeity to mold warmth from its raw and ridged form and bring forth the bounty from within oh, the moisture of my brow! oh, the stinging weep of my eyes! spent in vain for the sake of its ingress countless, the moments wasted on its rigid margin but I shant break the unbreakable much as even THAT would be a success and a reckoning ... though twisted. I. Am. Done. no more will I bring my spirit to bear ... no more will I shed sweat OR tear for its regard and should it one day shatter and split - whether by its own course or another - I will no longer care or consider but I will also NOT pleasure in its undoing for I loved it more than life oh, yes, even that much this exquisite object ... this one stone ... your HEART. ~ 3rd Place ~ in the "Two Word Challenge" Poetry Contest, John Lawless, Judge & Sponsor.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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Date: 2/2/2021 10:04:00 PM
Congratulations on your win, Greg, you' ve highlight the beauty of the heart of the stone. It is magic that the stone hasn't been tumble over with the wind or waves. Hugs Eve
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Date: 2/2/2021 10:04:00 PM
Congratulations on your win, Greg, you' ve highlight the beauty of the heart of the stone. It is magic that the stone hasn't been tumble over with the wind or waves. Hugs Eve
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Date: 2/2/2021 10:56:00 AM
Congratulations Greg on your top win. You have highlighted so many emotions in your verses. The metaphor is perfect for unrequited love and resolution. Such a pensive write so eloquently stated. All the best to you and blessings my friend.
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Date: 2/2/2021 10:56:00 AM
Congratulations Greg on your top win. You have highlighted so many emotions in your verses. The metaphor is perfect for unrequited love and resolution. Such a pensive write so eloquently stated. All the best to you and blessings my friend.
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Date: 11/17/2017 9:21:00 PM
Dropping back with my congrats Greg I knew this one would be on the winners list - its back to the drawing board for me lol:-) hugs jan xx
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/18/2017 5:48:00 AM
That's very kind of you, Jan, and I so appreciate your thoughtfulness, friend! :-) <3
Date: 11/17/2017 9:02:00 AM
Gregory, this is so beautifully written using an amazing allegory that only unveils itself at the end. Congratulations on your well-deserved podium win. Sandra
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/18/2017 5:47:00 AM
I'm so very pleased you liked this one, Sandra, thank you so much for reading and commenting so kindly! :-) <3
Date: 11/17/2017 6:43:00 AM
Congrats on your win, Gregory. Love the picture!
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/18/2017 5:46:00 AM
Thanks so much, Agnes! :-)
Date: 11/16/2017 6:41:00 AM
Back with Congratulations dear poet xomo!
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/16/2017 6:58:00 PM
Thank you so much, My Dear Mo! <3
Date: 11/16/2017 12:49:00 AM
Great write. Congratulations on your placement in the contest. ---James
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/16/2017 6:57:00 PM
Thank you so much, James - very kind of you, Brother! :-)
Date: 11/15/2017 8:23:00 PM
Congrats Greg!
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/15/2017 10:16:00 PM
Thank you, Kim!
Date: 11/15/2017 6:18:00 PM
Well Gregory, the vibrant and vivid imagery in this poem....awesome. And the subtle shift at the end.....poignant. Thanks for participating in the contest.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/15/2017 10:17:00 PM
Thank you so much, John, I am honored and humbled by the placement, and so pleased that you enjoyed my take on the theme! Blessings! :-)
Date: 11/10/2017 4:03:00 PM
Excellence of creativity and rendition, Gregory! Your pen and chisel have served you well, my friend. I see a sure winner. Regards // paul
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/10/2017 11:13:00 PM
Oh, that's very kind of you, Paul, and I'm so pleased you liked this one, as it is very special to me. Blessings and thanks, my friend! :-)
Date: 11/10/2017 8:14:00 AM
What a marvelous, moving, emotional poem! Yes, the heart can be the coldest and hardest of "stones!" Janice
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/10/2017 11:08:00 PM
You are SO right, Janice - it certainly can! Thank you so much for your kind comment - I'm so pleased you liked it! Blessings! :-) <3
Date: 11/8/2017 5:10:00 PM
I forgot to say earlier how interesting that rock is with having a heart shape in your picture. I should have searched pictures like you did to be inspired by.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/8/2017 10:08:00 PM
Thanks, Dear Friend, there were many other pics of heart-shaped stones, but this was one of the few "natural" ones, and it has so many cracks, shades, rough edges, and "personalities" ... it seemed the perfect inspiration, and a "real" one, not contrived or shaped by human hands, but crafted by Nature or God, as a woman's heart would be! Does that make sense?? :-)
Date: 11/8/2017 5:09:00 PM
Hope I am your lucky charm!!! (replying to your reply on my comment)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/8/2017 10:05:00 PM
Me, too! You ARE charming, after all ... ;-) <3
Date: 11/7/2017 11:10:00 AM
such a powerful , sensitive write, greg... love how it ended!..huggs
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/8/2017 6:03:00 AM
Thanks so much, Nette - much appreciated.
Date: 11/7/2017 9:26:00 AM
I think, Greg, that our spirit takes us where it wants to go! <3
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/8/2017 6:03:00 AM
I think you're right, Kim ... and sometimes the Creative Conscience/God/Higher Power, if we keep our hearts open to that "still, small voice" ... :-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 6:38:00 PM
A deeply emotional write Gregory. The intensity of feelings growing in each stanza. I enjoyed this very much.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:20:00 AM
That's very kind of you, James, and I'm very grateful that you liked it - thanks so much, my friend! :-)
Date: 11/6/2017 6:30:00 PM
Fantastic and so sad...not flesh but stone! Love it!
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:20:00 AM
Blessings, Kim, I'm pleased you liked it ... I wasn't sure what direction to take, so I just let the keys, (and my TWO finger typing), lead the way! Thank you, friend! :-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 3:17:00 PM
wow, this is SO GOOD, Gregory. You put your heart and SOUL into this one. I only did a simple sijo (will put it up later). if this does not score high, I will be so surprised.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:17:00 AM
Oh, that's very sweet of you, Andrea, and I appreciate it so much ... usually when folks like a poem BEFORE a contest it ends up as an N/A, lol, but I hope you are right, and I certainly take your opinion seriously ... my lucky charm, perhaps? Blessings, my friend! ;-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 9:52:00 AM
Oh the chill of the stone cold heart! Fantastic pen Greg :) my best to you in the contest! xomo
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:14:00 AM
Thank you so very much, Mo, I am blessed to know your friendship and receive such kind comments ... even more so that you like my poem! Best wishes, Friend - I hope things are well with you! :-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 8:19:00 AM
You are a romantic poet with truly wonderful romantic writes showing deep emotional feeling with an ending that is sure to be a winner. Best wishes Greg. Looking at the stone in the picture, you do things in a big way.
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:13:00 AM
That is so very thoughtful and sweet of you, Janis, and I am so thankful that you enjoyed this one, and that you took the time to make such a wonderful comment! Blessings to you always, Dear Friend! :-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 6:11:00 AM
You have an amazing pen Greg, your imagery is incredible as the the theme you chose for the contest and I love the image you found I predict a winner!:-) hugs jan xx
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:11:00 AM
You are very kind to me, Jan, and I so look forward to your sincere and thoughtful comments ... I'm really glad you liked this one, the photo I just happened on by accident, but it worked out well! Blessings, Friend! :-) <3
Date: 11/6/2017 5:33:00 AM
Wow! That's a winner, for sure, Greg:) a brilliant take:)
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Gregory Richard Barden
Date: 11/7/2017 2:09:00 AM
Thank you so much, Jo - so pleased you enjoyed my poem, friend! :-)

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