Leaves of Passage

Posted on February 3, 2018 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub – The Ghazal  (posted by Paul) for Meeting The Bar:  Critique and Craft

The ghazal is a traditional Arabian verse form with the first two lines ending in the same refrain, which is then repeated at the end of each stanza. The ghazal consists of at least five, but often up to fifteeen, two-line stanzas.Each stanza should be independent, but should tie together with the whole. (Like a pearl on a necklace) The first two lines end with the same refrain. This refrain is repeated at the end of each stanza. The final stanza is a signature, where the author can use his/her name to seal the poem.The lines should be of similar length and rhythm. Themes are traditionally melancholy, introspective, loving, longing and thoughtful and in the Sufi tradition of Hafiz, directed to the Beloved [Source: Poetic Metre and Form: Octavia Wynne]

Sitting in the lap of a tall maple tree
years leap by like aged bark of  maple tree.
Child to teen, teen to adult, and into old age
on stages, where countless plays drift as leaves from maple tree.
Does degree of pain vary during each stage,
or do we become tougher skinned like an old maple tree?
Teen years seemed devastating, so ill-equipped
was I emotionally to grow like new leaves on maple tree.
Decades of uncertainty passed before independence
grew in my heart and head, lulling me under maple tree.
Sara’s acceptance of life’s see-saw affords her
fond memories as she sits in lap of maple tree.

https://dversepoets.com/

About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York. My goal is to create and share poetry with others who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve in you, and feel your sparks as well.
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17 Responses to Leaves of Passage

  1. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:
    February 3, 2018 at 10:51 am

    I do think we are a bit like trees… both as young we can be joyful as the leaves in spring or when we get older be more like the gnarled bark….

    Liked by 1 person

  2. rothpoetry says:
    February 3, 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Nicely done Sara… Loved the see saw of life that affords great memories. I pictured the lap of the maple as being the leaves all scattered around the base, in the fall!
    Dwight

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  3. rivrvlogr says:
    February 3, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    I could feel life’s stages in the seasons and life of a maple. Well done.
    The maple is my favorite tree.

    Like

  4. Kathy Reed says:
    February 3, 2018 at 5:51 pm

    Trees (for me, cedar and birch) offer such solace. Really like this.

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  5. Bekkie Sanchez says:
    February 4, 2018 at 4:38 pm

    I adore trees and your poem. Memories can be both painful and kind.

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  6. paul scribbles says:
    February 5, 2018 at 7:53 am

    Fantastic use of the form. The refrain is powerful, soulful and metaphorical all in one. Such a lovely ghazal Sara.

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  7. Rosemary Nissen-Wade says:
    February 5, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    This one works very well!

    Like

  8. Frank Hubeny says:
    February 5, 2018 at 2:45 pm

    Nice concluding two lines and the sheltering of the maple tree throughout.

    Like

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