Labyrinth in Grand Rapids, MI. Photo taken August 5, 2020.
Gethsemane’s Check
A large carved brick disc is plopped in the
center of a near-urban churches’ garden.
Chartre-styled snakes undulate with
purple petunias at midday to wind chimes.
Highway noises call like trapped surf in
machined shells, far from the sea.
Only ants walk with me.
Victoria C. Slotto is today’s host at dVerse. Victoria says:
So, I want to invite you to join me in celebration of this summer, putting aside the chaos that surrounds us for a few hours. Let’s hop into the garden of words and write a quadrille, a poem of exactly 44 words, excluding title, that uses any form of the word GARDEN.
Tao Talk 
I like that you have a moment of peace even in the presence of the cityscape conundrum
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bjorn, am trying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lisa, you astound me once again with the pure depth of your figurative imagery:
“Chartre-styled snakes undulate with
purple petunias at midday to wind chimes.”
This is doing wonders for my mind’s eye! Such evocative lines in a wonderfully written poem. I especially enjoyed the last line, implying the walk with nature, including animals, in the garden. That is amazing. What a fantastic take on the prompt! It’s quite lovely. ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you enjoyed the poem, Lucy, thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I adore the idea of walking with ants. Your words convey the peace in this space so well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda. It’s a beautiful place except for that constant loud highway noise blotting out any chance of peace. The ants were oblivious to it, which should be a lesson to me. Will have to go back there early some weekend morning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps you can use the noise as a mantra….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the idea. Will try it if I go back…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the unique comparison here…”Highway noises call like trapped surf in
machined shells, far from the sea.” Yep, they can stay there…this place seems so lovely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You had me at “highway noises”. This is very well penned; one of your best.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Glenn!
LikeLike
I found some layering in thia. The title, Gethsemane, and then the aloneness at the end of the poem strikes me deeply as Christ rebuked his followers for leaving him alone in his suffering. Maybe intended, maybe not, but poetry has a way of establishing connections for readers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Victoria, I’m glad you made the connection. Seeking solace in suffering only to have it driven away by the loud highway noises. Not to diss ants, but I was hoping for another to walk with me (spiritual guidance/comfort) in the labyrinth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do need each other. And, from my perspective, God, to journey with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLike
We do need each other. And, from my perspective, God, to journey with us.
LikeLike
Love this! Most especially those last three lines! Living smack dab in the city of Boston in a high rise, I love finding a hidden away urban oasis! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I had gone over to GR to pick something up from my son’s house and learned of the labyrinth a few days before. When I mentioned it my son said he knew about it as he and his girlfriend had been there looking for Pokemons 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is absolutely amazing in its use of diction! I love; “Chartre-styled snakes undulate with purple petunias at midday to wind chimes.” Wowww! 💝
LikeLiked by 1 person
I called them as I saw them, Sanaa. I swear as soon as I began to walk past the chimes they created music.
LikeLike
I love that you can turn the highway sounds into the sounds of the sea. Such tranquility of mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sarah.
LikeLike
the title caught me … you also wrote of this and that but the ants are your teachers!
divine work Lisa 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you connected with it. Thanks, Kate 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
a pleasure Lisa, take care 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Lisa… Love all the images you reflect in you poem. I liked this…
Highway noises call like trapped surf in
machined shells,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dwight.
LikeLike
These urban gardens often bring such a sense of peace. Last year, we often took my mom to the garden belonging to a Mormon temple, which was next to her building in Philadelphia.
I liked “Highway noises call like trapped surf in
machined shells, far from the sea.” Perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Merril. I’m glad your mom gained peace from the garden ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. She did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even in small steps, walking that maze would be a peaceful practice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was. It took longer than you might think. I need to try it again and shut out the noise of the highway, or do as Linda suggested, use it as a mantra.
LikeLiked by 1 person
a labyrinth garden! How wonderful! (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kerfe, you might be amazed how many labyrinths are out there. There’s another one I want to visit this week about 50 miles south of here that also happens to be by an old some-say-haunted mansion. Hoping to take a lot of cool pics.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m looking forward to seeing them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ants from my experience in gardens are quite troubling creatures.
Happy Monday
Much✏love
LikeLiked by 1 person
These little critters didn’t bring much peace 😦
LikeLike
Love this poem of yours! Only ants walk with me! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thanks Sadje
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a beautiful surrounding…it looks so peaceful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The church did a wonderful job with it and I’m sure I’ll be going back there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to have a garden like that in the backyard…somewhere to relax .
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking about putting one in. The way the ground shifts here though no way would one like this one stay flat. Will probably use stones.
LikeLike
Yea our backyard is slanted but we could do it…it would have to be stones as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely imagination! So soothing, very nice, Lisa 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jay 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I loved your poetic description. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So evocative, Lisa. Beautiful lines.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleasure is mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i can see. i can hear. i can feel. your words are alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, glad you connect with them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love labyrinths! What an evocative feast for the senses you set for us! Brava!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Frank 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your quadrille. Oh, I would the one to walk the labyrinth path with you and the ants. I’d be a modern day Minotaur standing in its center feasting on the beauty of the surrounds. I am completely charmed by the landlocked fish off to the side as out of place yet belonging as the urban sounds that remind us of another type of life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love what you see with your eyes, Raivenne ❤
LikeLike
Beautiful snapshot, both the words and the visual! This caught my attention from the very beginning (“A large carved brick disc”) because of the sounds of the words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
An inspirational poem of place…an oasis in spite of traffic and ants.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lynn. I need to get back there and give peace another chance 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m curious…which church in GR?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orchard Hill
LikeLiked by 1 person