Bridging

Posted on July 28, 2021 by purplepeninportland 
Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics:  The Proverbial
(posted by Merrill)

"For this prompt, choose a proverb or a pair of proverbs. Use them as you wish—as an epigraph or within the poem. Be serious or funny. You can use one of the proverbs above or choose one of your own."

Yes, we’re going to be working with proverbs today.
This got me to thinking about proverbs and how poets incorporate them into their poems. I also noticed how often there seem to be proverbs with equally well-known opposite messages. I’ve listed a few below:

Many hands make light work.
Too many cooks spoil the broth

Birds of a feather flock together.
Opposites attract.

You are never too old to learn.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Stop and smell the roses.

He who hesitates is lost.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Look before you leap.


They say that birds
of a feather, flock
together.  I see 
a problem in that
proverb.  If you stick
only to people like
yourself, how will you learn
other cultures, customs,
and a way to bridge
the gap that separates
one person from another.
We are all part of
humanity.

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.
This entry was posted in Purple's Home and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

25 Responses to Bridging

  1. larry trasciatti says:
    July 28, 2021 at 12:57 am

    Hey life is all about context

    Like

  2. fireblossom32 says:
    July 28, 2021 at 1:09 am

    Some people don;t seem to want to. 😦

    Like

  3. Christine Bolton, Poetry for Healing says:
    July 28, 2021 at 1:30 am

    I agree on Birds of a feather. I love and welcome the differences between us. Most proverbs are all contradictions of each other. I wonder who is responsible for that…hmmmm ☺️💕

    Like

  4. Lucy says:
    July 28, 2021 at 1:59 am

    So true and beautifully written! We need different people in our lives to learn and grow.

    Like

  5. msjadeli says:
    July 28, 2021 at 2:05 am

    One of my mom’s proverbs is, “It takes all kinds to make a world.”

    Like

  6. Helen Dehner says:
    July 28, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    Oh Sara … always with the voice of reason! (a supreme compliment.)

    Like

  7. memadtwo says:
    July 29, 2021 at 11:03 am

    Excellent observation. (K)

    Like

  8. merrildsmith says:
    July 29, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    You are so right, thank you.
    I was actually thinking of this proverb the other day when I was walking by the river and there were geese, egrets, turkey vultures, and crows all next to each other on the beach and shallow water. Not exactly together, but . . .and in the spring there are ducks that do hang out with the geese.

    Like

  9. Hank Kaykuala says:
    July 29, 2021 at 2:45 pm

    how will you learn
    other cultures, customs,
    and a way to bridge
    the gap

    You got it right, Sarah! One just can’t fathom the seemingly inappropriate outcome in real life.. The ‘context of situation’ should be a tell-tale hint, to get the right picture. Thoughtful write, Ma’am!

    Hank

    Like

  10. sanaarizvi says:
    July 29, 2021 at 6:58 pm

    Beautiful! May humanity reign for a long time to come 💝💝

    Like

Comments are closed.