Innocence

Innocence

A Poem by Lisasview
"

Very different from anything I have ever written Free Verse

"

    Innocence....

     Innocence flew by,
     like an old crow
     looking for a place to die,
     with a world to discover ...
     few moments to listen.

     She sought what she felt;
     yet, never found it;
     time rose up 
     like an angry whale ...
     her heart tore.

     In spite, she waited
     for a moment of reprieve,
     tossing her wishes away,
     as the whale
     swallowed each.

     Wanting more of her innocence, 
     the whale waited.
     Waters opened 'n flowed;
     still, the whale waited ...

     Time disappeared; 
     as did she ...
     with her innocence.

              ~~~

© 2023 Lisasview


Author's Note

Lisasview
If you happen to pass by and read my poem I would appreciate a review. I always review whatever I read.
Thank you,
Lisa

My Review

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Featured Review

Lisa,
I've long wondered what the loss of innocence actually means. I remember back in 1967, 8, and 9, I lived in Pensacola, Florida with a coterie of brilliant, beautiful friends discovering weed, and acid, and reveling in this new paradigm of sex, drugs, and Rock-n-Roll. Claudia introduced two new innocents into our tight group, and they were gorgeous, laughed easily, and danced like crazy! They were both engaged, but never brought their guys around. Both got married in the same church at the same time, and disappeared. A year later, I had moved to Wisconsin and did the same.
When I returned to Pensacola, I wanted to show off my new friends to my former classmates and went to find Claudia. Her mom gave me her new address, an old Painted Lady divided into apartments where she shared rooms with those two girls. They were divorced, and broken" their faces were hard, and their eyes flat. Innocence lost. I wrote about it:

IN THE GARDEN

In the garden of rock and roll girls
I knew back then were the eyes of
innocent laughter ripe for the gathering.

The taste of living was honey
on their lips and thighs
when they smiled at us
to the sound of guitar
poetry painting fantasies in
the blue nights and yellow days
spent guileless in the garden of
rock and roll girls I knew back then.

They danced with us in the
smoke of our wildest dreams
breathless, bouncing hair
and the drum of burning blood,
a fire in the garden until midnight
when the harvester comes wearing
a jeweled grin to share with them.

He lives today around their
white necks and naked wrists
slit by the fangs of innocence.

As you can see, I have long been troubled by this "rite of passage." And a few minutes ago, I clicked on your picture again, but it wasn't the same one as accompanies this poem. In that one you are giving a great guffaw, and full of joy. The one here speaks better to the theme.
Hmmm. I wonder if commenting like this is what we are supposed to do, rather than an analysis or critique, "Why did you use that word? or What did you mean by that image?". But somehow It is a little richer, I think, to speak directly to the poet and the poet's thoughts and feelings, Something I can't do with D. H. Lawrence, or Charles Bukowski or any of those other dead ones. So, unless you tell me otherwise, I'll carry on. But with messages rather than here, because I'd love to delve into some of the images and thoughts in this poem.
I hope your shoulder is healing, and i understand the pain, and the limitations it puts on how much you can write,


Posted 1 Year Ago


2 of 2 people found this review constructive.

Vol

1 Year Ago

OW! Lisa!
I can relate... It is awful, and even the deep knowledge that this will pass does .. read more
V.R.S.C.

1 Year Ago

Both a powerful poem and top review. I have nothing to add. Thank you both Lisa and Vol for sharing!
Lisasview

1 Year Ago

Thank you so so much!
Lisa



Reviews

Brutal large irresistible irrefutable force. The whale. Waaaaoww, It is visceral, the loss of personal power being swept away. Feeling as if out of our element. Perhaps that old crow will feast on the beached whale. But it wont be able to extract the innocence back...

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

3 Months Ago

I forgot to give you the name of the reviewer… E.P. Robles
Lisa
Brad Dehler

3 Months Ago

EP Robles. Thank you!
Lisasview

3 Months Ago

He alays leaves me vivid descriptions in his reviews of my work...
Great read hear. I love the whale metaphors. I was thinking how similar the vanity of Moby Dick and vengeance is to keeping our innocence.
Growth is not always comfortable. It’s not always in a good direction. Yet many things in life are indeed inevitable… far more than most people want to admit.

Thank you for sharing.

Scott

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Nice to see you Scott and thank you so much for your review. This poem is very very different than .. read more
I find it so cool that the whale, at least in my mind, represents the time passing, swallowing her wishes as fast as she could wish them. Time does feel like that, weaving its way through our lives, taking a little of us each time it passes. Nicely done Lisa.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Oh I am so glad you understood the meaning of my poem. Thank you so much for the outstanding review!.. read more
I love the metaphor with the whale, weaving through this poem, which is so splendidly written... loss of innocence can be very emotional as you must face many paths some of which can be troublesome... I always think of whales as peaceful, playful beasts, but they too can have anger emotions...the whale was somewhat patient...I like the line "time disappeared, as did she with her innocence"
Best, B
P.S. How silly of me, you're on my first friend page!!!

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Thank you so so much for your wonderful and intuitive review.
This poem just poured out of me.. read more
Betty Hermelee

2 Years Ago

You're very welcome Lisa, yes please write some more; you're so talented.... Best, B in Black Mounta.. read more
Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Hi Betty,
Wow, what a nice thing to say.
I do plan on writing more.. hopefully this we.. read more
I’ve never cared for the simile of a whale, a very gentle creature, being angry. The Bible and Jonah, along with Melville ruined these great animals’ image.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Hi Maxwell,
Yes, whales are gentle..however this poem of mine is full of metaphors. Everyone.. read more
This is a splendid poem Lisa. I love the opening verse, the image of an old crow looking for a place to die is very stirring. The metaphor of the whale moving through the poem is strong and captivating. For someone who says English was not her first language, you have a remarkable grasp on how to use it.
SPLENDIDO my friend

Ken e

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

You are so kind to have read and reviewed my poem...I have no idea where this came from but I wrote .. read more
What an honest and powerful offering. I teared up, maybe because I recognize every emotion you have painted beautifully. I have had a lot of trauma in my past, so the idea of having innocence stripped away and learning to live with that is very real. You use beautiful and simple language and images to bring these feelings to life for the reader. Thank you for sharing.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Good morning Peyton,
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my poem.
I am so glad.. read more
“Innocence flew by,
like an old crow
looking for a place to die,”
This is such a poignant, dramatic and powerful poem and artwork Lisa. It grabs your heart starting from the eyes of the little waif, through the last word of the verses…and beyond. Innocence, once taken by crime or time, cannot be restored. Time robs wishes, innocence in life. As well, So many innocent children lost, abused, stolen, addicted, murdered- the tide is red with their blood. The metaphor and image of the whale is ominous, looming and perfect. Well-penned , great imagery and deeply moving poetic expression of grief for things, people lost.

Posted 2 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Lisasview

2 Years Ago

Hi Annette,
You definitely got my poem in a nut shell!!!
Because it is filled with met.. read more

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51 Reviews
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Added on March 1, 2022
Last Updated on August 31, 2023

Author

Lisasview
Lisasview

Benitachell, Alicante, Spain



About
I have been writing poetry and short stories since I was 10..so 64 years! I have never connected with any groups but recently thought why not.. So here I ..looking at where this adventure leads me. more..

Writing

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