dVerse — MTB — Mother always knows best.

https://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large-5/little-lamb-sculpture-mm-anderson.jpg

this, our living dream
we huddled ones without a home?
flocking, schooling, living rainbows.

back then
sweet with their secrets
of touch and time

We’ve been waiting for you. What took you so long?”
We may never know

parents weep at grave
to death’s fragrant song
doom’s dissonant stay
No more poem to write today

Top image:  photograph titled, “Little Lamb Sculpture,” by MM Anderson

I chose the 13 last lines from the last 13 poems I wrote. One of the lines is the title.

Laura is today’s host of dVerse’ Meet the Bar. Laura gives us two options and I chose this one:
take the very last/final line from each of your most recent poems and re-write them as a poem
– choose at least 12 poems (since it is the 12
th month!)
– keep each line intact, unadulterated
you may add preposition, conjunction or change of tense if it helps the flow
you may use enjambment to break a line
– the lines do not have to follow date order

 

57 Comments Add yours

  1. That last part with the parents at a childer’s grave… I can understand that there are no more poems.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Bjorn.

      Like

  2. a sadly sweet joy to read Lisa not least:
    “back then
    sweet with their secrets
    of touch and time”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Laura.

      Like

  3. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi says:

    Oh my heart this is so poignant ~

    Liked by 1 person

  4. The last stanza is so powerful!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. lillian's avatar lillian says:

    That second stanza is delectable! The final stanza…more negative and very powerful!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Lillian, thanks much.

      Like

  6. Grace's avatar Grace says:

    That last 4 lines pulled my heart strings. So many ifs, we may never know.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Grace.

      Like

  7. Ron.'s avatar Ron. says:

    Final stanza (esp last 2 lines): Bella!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Ron, glad you enjoyed.

      Like

  8. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen says:

    Brilliant, Lisa … with a perfect ending!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Helen.

      Like

  9. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    Very well done, Lisa. Love the music as well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Dwight. I love how they sang it also.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

        You are welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. I really don’t know how you put these poems together based on what to me sound like pretty complicated instructions. What I do know is I like the performance of the choir. Did you know that Eric Clapton covered the tune as well in a reggae-flavored version?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Christian this one was easy: take the last lines from your last 12 or more poems and try to put them in an order that makes “sense” and I use the term loosely. Yes, I know EC’s cover it and the female singer puts a great emphasis/spin on it. That’s probably the raggae version?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I guess I should have listened to EC’s cover before making my clever comment. It’s definitely not reggae. That said, to me, it does have an island/ Caribbean feel to it, though that’s my subjective perception! :-)

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          The version I’m thinking of is from his album, “There’s One in Every Crowd.” Looking at wiki, the two female backup singers are Yvonne Elliman (of Mary Mag in JChristSuperstar fame) and Marcy Levy. Not sure which one does the breakout vocals. I used to have this album many moons ago am pretty familiar with it. Wiki says it was album he made right after 461 Ocean Blvd. Yes, it has a Caribbean feel to it and starts out sounding kinda raggae.

          Like

  11. Both sad and beautiful are these last lines that haunt, well done! 👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Tricia, thanks much.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Margaret Schaff Bednar's avatar Margaret Schaff Bednar says:

    The questions that never get answered… haunting, yes

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Margaret.

      Like

  13. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    They work very well together.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Sadje. Lots of good found poems coming out of this prompt.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        I’ll try it too.

        Liked by 1 person

  14. merrildsmith's avatar merrildsmith says:

    Lovely and so very poignant, Lisa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Merril.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. merrildsmith's avatar merrildsmith says:

        You’re welcome, Lisa.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. Hauntingly beautiful, Li! Your lines came together beautifully. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Punam <3

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My pleasure. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Sunra Rainz's avatar Sunra Rainz says:

    A lovely poem, Lisa, though bittersweet at the end. The last line is so fitting.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Sunra. I was going to have the last line be what I turned into the title.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sunra Rainz's avatar Sunra Rainz says:

        I would say that was definitely a good decision, as I prefer the last line you chose :-)

        Liked by 1 person

  17. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    That third stanza especially resonates. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Mish's avatar Mish says:

    A heartrending piece yet so gently rendered. I love the way the dialogue found its way in so perfectly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Mish, thank you.

      Like

  19. lifelessons's avatar lifelessons says:

    An intriguing prompt. Okay, perhaps I’m hooked…Going gathering.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. poetisatinta's avatar poetisatinta says:

    Beautiful especially the last line <3

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, AJ!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Dora's avatar dorahak says:

    Beautifully arranged, Lisa. These last lines harmonize into such a poignant mixture of grief and hope for the future.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Dora, thank you very much.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. pvcann's avatar pvcann says:

    Indeed, we may never know, but the question is a good one, what took you so long is both playful and a grief, beautiful poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Paul, many thanks <3

      Liked by 1 person

      1. pvcann's avatar pvcann says:

        My pleasure Lisa

        Liked by 1 person

  23. Cute, cute, cute, cute , CUTE! 😍
    I just love that cute little lamb! 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Glad you like it, thanks, Gia!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar Badfinger (Max) says:

    That got a little grim at the end…I like the change in it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Max. It surreally made sense.

      Liked by 1 person

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