graces uniting at times deceive us
Goals
To critically assess …
- The extent to the nature of a relationship is a matter of perception
- Whether our choices are more of our making or of opportunity
- The difference between labour of love and love of labour
- How having a common opponent can be a uniting factor
- Whether good new or bad new has greater impact on our lives
- Whether an interpersonal difference is best addressed or ignored
Quick Hard Shove
Gini gave a quick hard shove
and Jeri stumbled back.
Tripping on a garden hose,
it seemed like an attack.
When the brick fell at his feet,
their eyes and mouths drew wide.
Sure to land upon his head,
were he not pushed aside.
She saved my life, Jeri thinks.
Our feud’s now at an end.
It only takes one caring act
to go from foe to friend.
But Gini never planned to save.
She saw no falling brick.
Not a shove she had in mind,
stepping back to aim her kick.
What do you Think?
- Why does Jeri have a change of heart, but not Gini?
- To mix metaphors a bit, is she going to kick him when he’s down or trying to set him up?
Rose Wars
Growing roses is a labour of love,
as much as a love of labour.
Each year would prove to be kind of
a contest with the neighbours.
Mr. Lincoln is good in a clutch,
a hybrid tea from sixty-four.
A brilliant red that proved too much
for the neighbours grandiflora.
But the enemy of my enemy
united us in common front.
Seeking answers desperately
on leaf and bud of battlefront.
Fungus, mites, mould, grubs, slugs and rot.
Sounds like a pack of nature’s lawyers.
In courtyard gardens our battle’s fought
defending floribunda’s honour.
It helps to spray some dishwater
and post a bird feeder nearby.
But the mantis answered our prayers
when the lady bugs became allies.
Working together proved useful.
That nature’s a mother of a mentor.
With organics playing to neutral,
our rose wars resumed once more.
What do you Think?
- Why grow roses if they are so much work?
- Competition becomes cooperation against a common opponent. If so, why not invent the opponent to promote cooperation?
Embers
Un-stoked fire turns to embers,
cinders reduce to ash.
Relationships not kept aflame,
turn cold and dark — and past.
Why bother now, I have to wonder.
Not like we’ve talked in years.
Perhaps a health scare’s blind reminder,
death’s calling card is fear.
Have you seen the light of passion,
love or other noble cause.
Come now to share with bright insight,
if so, I shall give laud.
We might pretend there is no void,
unsaid as if unseen.
Take up near where we left off,
ignore the gap between.
Address what caused our cold divide,
work our way back to truth.
Accept that both have played a part,
choices which time proved moot.
Whichever route reunion takes,
let’s start with opening.
Not just the door before each other,
but heart to homecoming.