Release

Hold onto life, my little leaf,
in spite of pain,
in spite of grief;
and, when the wild winds rape the bough
till trembling more than now,
you almost lose your grip:
hold yet to life.

Hold onto life, though brittle brown,
remains alone of life’s fair gown;
for Spring must come again, I know
and warm your roots ‘neath melting snow;
you cannot give up now:
hold still to life.

Hold onto life, through life seems past,
and though the lots have all been cast;
for somewhere Summer walks in green
and somewhere Love crowns her queen
who knew him not below:
hold on, then, go.

© 1987, Faye Lanham Gibson
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014


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Date: 7/19/2016 11:52:00 AM
Your leaf's last conscious revelation is charming. Never thought of it in this way. Congrats. Love, daver
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Date: 6/17/2014 2:37:00 AM
Nice win....Love ~SKAT
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Date: 6/17/2014 2:05:00 AM
Faye.... Congratulations:) Thank you for supporting one of my latest contest... Stop by and enjoy my newest poem "Mr President" OR my fresh blog "NOT ENOUGH" if you want or have time. :):):) Hugs & Love ~~ LINDA ~~
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Date: 4/10/2014 1:35:00 AM
Written from your heart and straight into ours Faye. my thoughts are with you I am so pleased you have joined and found a channel for your inner thoughts. Hugs Jan x
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Date: 4/8/2014 12:10:00 PM
I read all your poetry and was overwhelmed as I too have lost a son, my first born. Feelings come through your words and straight to my heart. Welcome to the soup you will be on my favorite poet list for sure.
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Gibson Avatar
Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 3:59:00 PM
Thank you. Only those who have lost a child can understand.
Date: 4/8/2014 8:56:00 AM
A beautiful crafted poem!!! Love the emotion I gained from reading this..Welcome to Poetry Soup!
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Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 4:00:00 PM
Thank you. I do feel welcome.
Date: 4/8/2014 8:44:00 AM
Very charming and you have some nice meter going in there too! Light & Love
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Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 4:03:00 PM
Thanks...makes me brave enough to keep doing this.
Date: 4/8/2014 7:38:00 AM
WOW! And I mean wow! I don't wow poems often and usually if I find a few lines to commend, I do. Your entire poem shimmers... profoundly... reminds me of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, though not a sonnet. It is a wondrous thing when a poet can take raw emotion and create something that reads as literature. You have done this. Thanks to Tim for the invite. I'm working on a novel while mothering an almost five year old, I love soup but have little time... I hope to visit often. Welcome to soup!
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Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 7:52:00 AM
Thank you so much! Love to write but, like you, have to steal time to do it.
Date: 4/8/2014 5:49:00 AM
Many thanks to Seren, Chris and Francine...
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Date: 4/8/2014 1:38:00 AM
Was a lovely poem to read, just so sorry that a tragedy caused you to write it....Seren
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Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 7:54:00 AM
Thank you!
Date: 4/7/2014 9:41:00 PM
this is a beautifully penned piece, reminds me of the writing of our own wonderful Elizabeth Wesley's work, has the same musical flow to it
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Gibson Avatar
Faye Gibson
Date: 4/8/2014 7:56:00 AM
Thank you. Hope to make Tim proud.
Macmillan Avatar
Cyndi Macmillan
Date: 4/8/2014 7:41:00 AM
YES! I once compared Lizzy's work to EBB as well. It is because of passion being tempered by poetic insight, difficult mix. Few truly have that natural way to take rhyme and make it feel "organic, wholly natural." Hi Hon! Hope you are well!
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