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The Red Geranium

When the pungent dust and smoke settles on empty streets and on the rubble strewn, bombed out blocks - when all colour has been bled out of the land leaving a shroud of deathly grey, what can we do but weep and let our tears trickle down onto that red geranium clinging to life in a battered pot balanced on the last windowsill left standing in our homeland.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 7/21/2025 5:06:00 PM
Life may not thrive in times of hardships but life in any state is better than the alternative. Thoughts your lines evoke, Paul.
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Paul Willason
Date: 7/22/2025 3:12:00 PM
Indeed, where there is still life there exists the possibility of hope and renewal. Thanks Lin for reflecting on the poem and giving your thoughts...as always gratefully received and valued. Take care my dear friend.
Date: 7/21/2025 2:43:00 PM
such touching imagery and words Paul, amid the chaos and destruction there is beauty with the image of the flower which brought a lump to my throat. hugs Jan xx
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Paul Willason
Date: 7/22/2025 3:07:00 PM
Your comments Jan mean a lot to me....such a poem walks a delicate line and it's hard to know if it conveys the right mix of suffering and hope. However it is a subject that in someway I felt compelled to write about. Thankyou my friend...
Date: 7/21/2025 12:59:00 AM
Oh my Paul how heart wrenching and incredibly powerful this poem is! That little bit of life, colour and beauty hanging in there! Debx
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Paul Willason
Date: 7/22/2025 3:02:00 PM
Took a little effort to put this poem together...came through in stages until it formed on the page. Difficult and challenging subject to handle. Thanks Deb for your sensitive comments.
Date: 7/20/2025 4:27:00 PM
Your poem left me breathless! Such gentle flow and powerful imagery! Faving
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Paul Willason
Date: 7/22/2025 2:57:00 PM
Many thanks Sara for reading the poem and providing such positive comment. Appreciated. Regards
Date: 7/20/2025 3:12:00 PM
Oof! This one's a tearjerker Paul. Pass the Campbell's, please. Awesome poetry
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Tom Woody
Date: 7/20/2025 3:23:00 PM
You're welcome. Have a pleasant evening
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Paul Willason
Date: 7/20/2025 3:21:00 PM
Thanks for the comments Tom...though the subject matter of the poem and the referenced suffering of people is not something that should be tarnished with even a whiff of humour or word play. The poem moves on serious ground.

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