Paper Boat

Letting go

We were a blank sheet of paper

Begging to be drawn on

I imagined green hills, red flowers,

Shady trees, bubbling brooks

Heart-shaped clouds and

Two stick figures holding hands

Under a perfectly arched rainbow

Painted in a clear blue sky

 

It was all impatient, sketchy contours

Pure, glaring, primary colors

Archetypes of primordial

Harmony and happiness

An innocent, childish fantasy

Painted with a grown man’s

Big, rough, clumsy hand

You smiled at this picture I painted

And I mistook your pity for joy

 

You thought it was neither

Very artistic, nor a bit realistic

So, this land of sunshine

Saw snow for the first time

The flowers lost their color

And withered

The trees dropped their leaves

And shivered

Cold winds scattered the clouds

And the rainbow turned into

A long, black ribbon in a gray sky

 

You were right, I know it now

Nowhere in the real world

Do you see such

Perfect colors

Nowhere in the world

Can you find such

Carefree lovers

The devil is in the details

They say, and true, I didn’t see

The weeds among the flowers

The crows and the angry bees

Circling around the trees

 

I should’ve known that

Rainbows don’t last

And heart-shaped clouds

Change shape very fast

What am I to do now

With this picture of death?

I fold it into a boat and set it free

Wishing it finds its way back to

The land of red flowers

Wherever that may be

 

Reviews

[Dave Brown]

Another of your many impressive offerings
Beauty is out there and we do often have to let go and it is often very difficult to do so.
I think we all have our perspectives.
I never find bees angry although, they can get a bit testy

[danielle.]

But beautiful things that don’t last are beautiful none the less, no? I really enjoyed this piece in all aspects, the metaphor of the picture, different perspectives and the sadness or disappointment in loss... very thought provoking.
Elle

[Laz K.]

Thanks for taking the time to review this poem.
"...beautiful things that don’t last are beautiful none the less, no?" Yes, but I guess letting go, and/or learning the transient nature of things are hard lessons to learn.

[danielle.]

But beautiful things that don’t last are beautiful none the less, no? I really enjoyed this piece in all aspects, the metaphor of the picture, different perspectives and the sadness or disappointment in loss... very thought provoking.
Elle

[B. C. Carlson]

The second stanza stands out a lot to me. It makes me think about how some mistake a display of emotions/affection for weakness. The last two seem to question the first premise, that maybe this person has pity because they dont understand what affection should look like. At least, that is my interpretation. Thought provoking stuff here - GJ

[JR]

Well chosen image, man, and you carried that sucker all the way through. So very visual, nice use of colors, and I loved the tension between the unnatural, perfect world inside and the disordered natural world on the outside.

[Laz K.]

Thanks JR, your words are much appreciated!