They Come and Go

Posted on November 28, 2019 by purplepeninportland

Written for:  Poets United Midweek Motif~Longing  (posted by Sumana)
“What do you long for?”

“I cannot resist sharing one of Ran’s poem I Come and Stand at Every Door.”

[It’s a plea for peace from a seven-year-old girl, ten years after she has perished in the atomic bomb attack at Hiroshima, Wikipedia] :

I come and stand at every door
But no one hears my silent tread
I knock and yet remain unseen
For I am dead, for I am dead.

I’m only seven although I died
In Hiroshima long ago
I’m seven now as I was then
When children die they do not grow.

My hair was scorched by swirling flame
My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind
Death came and turned my bones to dust
And that was scattered by the wind.

I need no fruit, I need no rice I
need no sweet, nor even bread
I ask for nothing for myself
For I am dead, for I am dead.

All that I ask is that for peace
You fight today, you fight today
So that the children of this world
May live and grow and laugh and play.

 

Longings come and go
changing with age.
I no longer pine for a red wagon.

My shoe fanaticism
seems to have flattened,
as I mostly live in Sketchers.

My intense longing
to become a singer
or musician fell a few notes short.

These days I long for
contentment, a healthy
planet, a friendly smile.

http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.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.
This entry was posted in Purple's Home and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

12 Responses to They Come and Go

  1. Sherry Marr says:
    November 28, 2019 at 2:33 am

    Yes, feelings begin to matter more than stuff after a while.

    Like

  2. susanstoo says:
    November 28, 2019 at 3:27 am

    Heart felt and lovely. Details like the red wagon and the shoes bring this poem home.

    Like

  3. Sumana Roy says:
    November 28, 2019 at 4:58 am

    I totally agree with your view expressed in the last stanza.

    Like

  4. Eileen T O'Neill says:
    November 28, 2019 at 9:02 pm

    I long for so many things to be better. My eyesight, feet and hands. Oh how I’d love to relive my glorious shoe days too. Too be able to see without problems, would be just wonderful..I long for summer sunshine, instead of darkness..Like you, I long for a safer and happier planet:)

    Like

  5. revivedwriter says:
    November 28, 2019 at 9:50 pm

    This is very nice. I like the inclusion of the red wagon.

    Like

  6. Rosemary Nissen-Wade says:
    November 28, 2019 at 10:00 pm

    I think you have arrived at the place of the best longings!

    Like

Comments are closed.