History repeating itself, itself, itself...

I passed by a strange vexation the other day,

a place with more than a dozen crossroads

and couldn't decide which way to go,

then I spotted a sign that said,

'Lost Victories this way.'

It was weather beaten, 

part hidden by lichen;

even so, it intrigued, 

so I followed.

Eventually I came to an ancient potting shed,

where seeds languished in dried up 

containers. 'Old Memory plants,'  

pronounced one faded label,

'forget-me-nots, another.

I couldn't really tell the

difference, but there 

was no attendant 

I could ask.

I paused for a while, made myself a pot of tea,

wondering why there was no attendant,

that perhaps the water had drained 

due to high midsummer heat 

over the copper coated hills,

but in my own device

it was guesswork,

like a blind man

with no stick.

So I decided to water the seeds, 

a pyrrhic victory of sorts. 

Then went home 

and waited;

I am still 

waiting.

Reviews

[Dr. YumnaKay]

We keep waiting and harboring hopes, despite everything. Makes me wonder if those seeds one waters are really seeds or mere pebbles...
This one I like for its story telling quality and it definitely made me think of where we stand as humans.
Interesting write.

[Neville]

I dont think mankind will ever learn.. and I say that with a very heavy heart indeed, greed shall be our eventual downfall.. that and the purchase and discard mentality of so many... tis the wanting this and the wanting of that.. never really satisfied.. and with no consideration for our environment or for those yet to come .. it has taken a long time to get where we are today and I fear that all positives can be undone in a fraction of that time........ an amazingly good post Beccy your fan & true.. me...

[M.E.Lyle]

This is an extremely interesting piece and leaves me wondering, was there a right choice.

[Chris Shaw]

We never seem to learn by the mistakes of the past. When I look at situations of conflict and how they have developed into full scale warfare knowing full well there are no winners in war. And look at what we are doing to our planet. We know what to do to slow down the destruction, but no one is listening. I too would have watered those parched plants in the hope that.........I enjoy your style of writing Beccy, your thought provoking subject matter and your language choice.

Chris

[Beccy]

I was just wondering really; you know, how come our species keeps getting it so totally wrong, given how fortunate we are to have been gifted this beautiful planet.

Thus far, those 'lost victories,' remain lessons not learned.

Beccy.

[Lorry]

I know where the road with all the crossroads is, but didn't see the sign for lost victories. I will look for it the next time though, just on the ogf chance that I find a lost victory of my own.
History does repeat itself and it really works with the title, like the itself is echoing around and around, until we don't know if it's an echo or deja vu. And then we wonder..."is that an echo, or is it deja vu?" :)
But despite the cost of your victory, you still wait In hope, like us all.
I really enjoyed the sound and feel of this. It kind of felt like trying to ascend while gravity works against us and is determined we descend.
I am going to shut up now before I risk a virtual slap, by again mentioning echoes and deja vu :)

[Einstein Noodle]

first of all...the form by itself is visually pleasing to me reading eye ...then your story telling gifts are pronounced clearly in this .. i really enjoyed your poem ... so unique in every way and i think there is depth in the metaphors and theme .. i think a lot of thinking and living went into this one Beccy .. and the open ended closing has left me hanging on it ... i really want to know how those seedlings grew ... or not ;) the flow for me is smooth as glass my friend ... wouldn't change a thing ..were this a series on TV i would be taping them to not miss out on what happens next!! ;)
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

people get lost as well...and we may try to help them in some way or another...then only time will tell if our efforts take seed...
whether they do or not, we can take some comfort in having made the effort.
j.

[Beccy]

People getting lost, yes, they are the lost victories faded from memory. How quickly we unlearn the lessons of history.

Thank you for your insightful words jacob.