Silent One Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

For Craig Cornish's Wabi-Sabi contest

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic philosophy that embraces the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. It finds elegance and tranquility in things that are imperfect, aged, and transient. The term is a combination of two Japanese words - nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect.

 

Wabi - Sabi

We wander through so many gardens,
doting robins, ignoring the crows.
Our personal oasis is an unfinished poem.
Plastic flowers may last longer, but their dead scent,
cannot compare to freesia and frangipani.

In fading grey sunset,
I crumble, crouching in musk air.
An arch frame with withered wood skin
and paint peeling in need of black dye,
but still Shalimar honeysuckle wraps like a quilt,
weaving around amber roses and velvet clematis.
Battle scarred thorns may stick and prick
these gangly timber legs, but each blemish 
is soothed from butterflies floating from petal to petal.

In speeding winds I rock like an armchair,
helpless to save cherry blossoms falling,
creating a carpet of pink upon flakes of green.
Knotweeds sneak through a resurfaced pebble path,
but my dandelion heart seems fond of its purple tint.

Midnight raindrops sting like sake,
but I know dawn will bring bright blue skies.

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Karen Jones January 9, 2024 at 5:46 AM Congratulations on your win!

Maria Williams January 5, 2024 at 7:21 PM Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect. I simply love the whole Wabi Sabi philosophy, after all Japan is my second home and for good reason. In its imperfections Nature is perfect, everything is perfect seen through innocent eyes.An ancient cultivated art the modern world has stripped from us. I love your poetic words, in my humble opinion you should have been the Winner, but who am I to say, one never knows what appeals to the judge. Congratulations dear...Hugs

Terry Miller January 5, 2024 at 2:09 AM Love the image of plastic flowers, congratulations

Subimal Sinha-Roy January 3, 2024 at 9:33 PM Congratulations on your top win.

Subimal Sinha-Roy January 3, 2024 at 9:32 PM Great metaphorical take on the theme. The last lines say it all.

Kim Rodrigues January 3, 2024 at 7:10 PM Just so beautiful! Plastic flowers may last longer, but their dead scent, cannot compare to freesia and frangipani… Knotweeds sneak through a resurfaced pebble path…Congratulations on your 3rd place win!

Paige Hind December 29, 2023 at 5:21 PM Wise, and very beautiful. I could envision you meditating, lol.

Joseph P. DiMino December 29, 2023 at 4:10 AM Nothing always lasts -- nothing to decay. Nothing is finished, finished before start. Therefore, perfectly never. "In speeding winds I rock like an armchair, helpless to save cherry blossoms falling," Don't I sense this, especially as age takes its toll on this form I yet wear. Beautiful imagery my friend. The entire poem outstanding.

S.Zaynab Kamoonpuri December 28, 2023 at 8:22 PM your awesome poetic walk through nature has just cheered up my spirit depressed by the ongoing genocide footages. your mention of flora and flowers is exquisite and so admirable to my poetic senses. kudos great poet, long may you write and ink on such nature and poetic muses,

Bill Baker December 28, 2023 at 4:53 PM I enjoyed your Wabi Sabi, Silent One. your use of metaphors to display the imperfections and then following each imperfection with the beauty that it still attracts was eloquent. "paint peeling in need of black dye, but still Shalimar honeysuckle wraps like a quilt,". Your poetry matches the definition of Wabi Sabi well. Great entry for the contest, this poem should do well. Have a great 2024! my friend. Bill

Jude Herrick December 28, 2023 at 4:36 PM Wow, Silent One. This is extremely deep and encompassing! Such poetic talent! Beautiful thoughts

Frederic Parker December 28, 2023 at 11:35 AM This is a perfect poem for an imperfect world seen through the eyes of the poet where imperfection is perceived as perfection...well done

Paula Goldsmith December 28, 2023 at 11:29 AM I enjoyed reading your wonderful/lovely "Wabi-Sabi" write. Thanks for your note on the top. Love This One. Great Ending... "Happy New Year 2024" .................

Sam Kauffman December 28, 2023 at 10:22 AM SO, I love the setting of your poem in a garden - a perfect metaphor for the imperfect, transient and aged - where your "dandelion heart" wonders. Every word in your poem is so carefully crafted with a depth of meaning and impact! Each line is a jewel - "helpless to save cherry blossoms from falling," ignoring the crows, "weathered, wooden skin (wonderful alliteration). There is such a sense of the transient bearing hope. Knew I was in for a poetic treat! I think you have a winner. Blessings! Happy New Year!

Sotto Poet December 28, 2023 at 7:31 AM The poem, sweet Silent One, is a perfectly composed work with an energetic style that draws the reader in. It takes one's breath away because it resonates so deeply with the lyrical spirit. The phrases in this piece speak to a deep truth: our inner sanctuaries are unfinished poems. This idea resonates strongly with me, and I appreciate the elegant way in which imperfection is depicted in its numerous expressions, finally conveying acceptance of such defects. The imagery used throughout is both subtle and engaging, resulting in a very magical experience.

Vijay Pandit December 28, 2023 at 6:24 AM Battle scarred thorns may stick and prick these gangly timber legs, but each blemish is soothed from butterflies floating from petal to petal--perfect illustration of finding beauty despite realms of imperfection.

Ink Empress December 28, 2023 at 5:06 AM This is so beautiful, the poetic garden within your soul can be felt and seen through your wabi sabi. In the first stanza youve depicted that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we are within an oasis of an unfinished poem. I love how you’ve said “ Plastic flowers may last longer, but their dead scent, cannot compare to freesia and frangipani.” How deep is that. I dont personally like frangipanis. But surely youv made it seem intriguing. And second stanza, how youve started is so evocative Ink Empress December 28, 2023 at 5:09 AM “ and paint peeling in need of black dye, but still Shalimar honeysuckle wraps like a quilt,” creative diction and way of delivering your thoughts on imperfection that still can be perfect, “ Battle scarred thorns may stick and prick“ deep and has a philosophical touch there. And i love the internal rhymes givin and assonant sound to your lines. Iv watched so many videos on wabi sabi and kintsugi to gain an understanding of the concepts and i can see both of them, flowing through your well crafted eloquent lines, “Midnight raindrops sting like sake, but I know dawn will bring bright blue skies.” Hope felt so strongly through that ending! Brilliant take on wabi sabi. You’ve nailed it, definitely a top winner i hope, fave for me