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Notes About The Poem

Still Life - Staffs of Life

Fare waits upon the table— hard and fluid kind:
three glasses filled with golden liquid, shards of ice;
another two- the amber-colored flow, defined
and clear, no ice, their smooth opacity concise.
Supported are four slices—lightly toasted bread
that stand on end, grouped, dry without a hint of spread.

Oh, such a wondrous setting—bread, the staff of life,
the basic need that fed all men since long ago,
life-giving manna all across the world, where strife
engulfs and threatens those of humankind that know
without the staff of life, their days come to an end—
without their daily bread, grim death will soon attend.

And, there along with bread, the liquid stands beside
to quench the thirst, provide as a life-sustaining mate.
Without this sacred flow to balance and subside
the dryness in the throat from bread—this would negate
the need for food—for fluid is our liquid gold,
and mixed with bread, the staff of life becomes two-fold.


April 14, 2014
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Kendrick Avatar
May 6, 2015 at 6:00 PM
Congrats on your winning work!!Sara
A  Avatar
May 6, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Sandra, :-) Congratulations with your wonderful win in Giorgio's "Ekphrasis" poetry contest. Forever *SKAT*
May Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 9:24 PM
I really enjoyed this poem Sandra...well penned...Congrats on your win
Breidenthal Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 8:45 PM
This is a fantastic version depicting the picture... amazing work! Congrats on your wins as well! <3 Always, Laura
Phookan Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 3:10 PM
You showed great skill and eloquence in your writing here! Congratulations Sandra on a great win in this contest! love and smiles...
A   Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 2:54 PM
Sandra, Congratulations on your awesome win. Love LINDA
Ackerson Avatar
May 5, 2015 at 2:12 PM
Nicely done, Sandra - congrats!
Poteet Avatar
April 26, 2015 at 4:36 AM
Great response to Giorgio's ekphrasis prompt, Sandra. Your piece takes us way beyond the concrete toast and beer to the abstraction of bread and drink. You have aced the prompt in my opinion; I enjoyed reading your entry.
Haight Avatar
April 26, 2015 at 8:59 AM
Reason, I am so grateful for your uplifting remarks about my poem. Thank you so much for stopping by to read it! Hugs, Sandra
La France Avatar
April 15, 2015 at 10:54 AM
Sandra, I love how you interpreted this image and your poem is beautifully penned, 7, best of luck in the contest and thanks for visiting my poem, The Ghetto
Haight Avatar
April 15, 2015 at 8:54 PM
Thank you so much, Broken Wings. I so much appreciate your encouraging comments and support! Hugs, Sandra
Das Avatar
April 14, 2015 at 9:05 PM
Bread the staff of life. What a wonderful poem. Beautifully written. This will surely be a winner.
Haight Avatar
April 15, 2015 at 8:55 PM
Hi Nandita, thank you so much for your positive comment. So nice of you to stop by. Sandra
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The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide
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