Poetic Bloomings, a new and interesting site, wanted poems about “lost and found.” Then Brenda’s Sunday Whirl gave me words that culminated in the poem below (those prompt words are in bold). Give these new sites a whirl yourselves! And, of course, I’m on the right sidebar at Poets United! Peace, Amy
Lost in the Weeds
She is lost in the weeds.
She’s good wheat, but what sprouts near her
possess voices that pierce and keen.
No matter how strong her fortress,
an unfamiliar, frightening force
rattles the bars of her gate.
She needs an image to cling to,
wholly holy, distinctly divine.
A steadfast vision beyond this
jangling jungle of fear becomes clear.
She shakes off the weeds, uproots them,
and splinters the yoke of despair.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
Victoria Ceretto-Slotto
Perfect…this relates to the Gospel I heard at Mass last week!
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, my husband is a pastor and he preached on the same thing. He maintains that people think it’s always someone else who is a weed – and that judgment proves THEY just might be a weed! Funny how his sermons always have a turnabout. And now I know your real name, YIPPEE! Peace, Amy
Mike Patrick
So smooth, Amy. Your writing never fails to please.
Sharp Little Pencil
Why thank you, Mr. Patrick. I will say the same about you as well! Amy
vivienne Blake
Tere’s a Bunyanesque quality to your poem. Bravo, good wordling.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wow, that’s the first time my writing has been called “Bunyanesque”! I’ll have to read up. Thanks so much; your bravos are not given out willy-nilly, Viv, and I treasure this comment. Amy
Susannah
Nicely done Amy! I enjoyed reading. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Susannah. I’m coming over your way now! Amy
akweelife
Oh, very nice! I so enjoy your poetry.
Perhaps even more since I just cannot do it 🙂 I love the way you string the words together and the images you make with them.
Just very nice. Thank you!
Kwee
My Writing
Sharp Little Pencil
I’ve been at your blog and left comments… you have a fine style, Kwee. Your prose, your stories, so detailed and yet familiar in a way. It’s like you let people into your world, and that’s what I look for in a good write. Your County Fair, for example, reminded me a bit of Hardy’s Wessex, only funnier! Thanks so much for coming by so often, Kwee. Your mutual admirer, Amy
Daydreamertoo
Wonderful imagery… she needed to break free of her own chains and find herself, again. Great use of the wordle words 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you so much. Yes, it’s always about breaking the chains when you are young. We are tethered indeed by our upbringings, the way we thought things were (according to our parents) vs. finding out for ourselves. An astute comment, thanks again, hon. Amy
Traci B
Terrific use of the wordle in a great poem, Amy. I particularly like the lines “wholly holy, distinctly divine” and “jangling jungle of fear becomes clear.” 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Traci, when I wrote it, those phrases came after the rewrite. Had to work my way into it, but those are my fave parts, too! LOL Thanks, Amy
Renee Espriu
This certainly packs a ‘punch’, Amy! You can do wonders with words.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Renee, I appreciate the compliment! Peace, Amy
brian miller
nice…glad they found their freedom from those weeds…nicely penned….
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Brian. It’s a hard break away, but she did it. I’m coming your way now. Peace, Amy
dani
oooh! love the line ~
“splinters the yoke of despair”
this is a marvelous poem in its own right, but the use of so many prompts is truly amazing, Amy! ♥
Sharp Little Pencil
Dani, thank you so much. Have you tried The Sunday Whirl? Brenda Warren comes up with wonderful sources for her Wordles, and fitting them together just takes time. I never write a line for the sake of “sticking one word in,” and often don’t use every single word. Try one! ;^) Amy
kaykuala
A whirl of a lifetime looking for weeds. I’d rather not have anything to do with weeds . Weeds can be a wimp
Sharp Little Pencil
Actually, I love weeds, but that’s probably because there was an unmown field behind my house growing up. Sumac, Queen Anne’s lace as big as a pie plate, all sorts of lovely flowers. To each his own, right?
Roger Green
I was in a production of Godspell in New Paltz in 1975, and that Scripture has resonated ever since.f
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, and this is Godspell, Junior edition. Instead of electrocuting Jesus, we hang him on inverted clothes hangers with ribbon. I fashioned it so that, at the moment of Jesus’ death, wide silk red ribbons come billowing out from where the actor palmed them, giving the illusion of “blood flowing.” Easier on the kids, you know, and their understanding of the crucifixion is already there. A lot of fun, but man, do I feel every MOMENT of my 54 years after a week of rehearsals!@ Thanks, Rog. Amy
leiffyv
Ah, lost in the weeds indeed. I have heard and seen this situation before, those sweet people thrown in with the people they associate with. Great write, very introspective for me. Thanks for sharing Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Leif, for sharing your experience as well. Peace, Amy
dreamingthruthetwilight
Weeds of anger,weeds of fear;Weeds of doubts that I long to clear.Weeds that choke and my growth does stall;I shook them off and I now stand tall….Good for her:-)
No matter how strong her fortress,
an unfamiliar, frightening force
rattles the bars of her gate….liked those lines very much.
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda’s Wordle afforded many wonderful words for crafting poetry. It’s like being given a palette with only certain colors on it – how you blend, bend, and shape them is up to you. This one haunted me until I got it written, so thank you, Nadira. Amy
Bodhirose
I love this, Amy. It speaks of the perseverance of the human soul–we can break free. Powerful write!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you… yes, it is about perseverance and the ability to loosen the shackles. I really appreciate all your comments! Amy
Jess P
“wholy holy, distinctly divine”
A wonderful line
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Jess, and very glad you came by! Sometimes the words sing in my ear… Amy
brenda w
I like everything about this, Amy, but I LOVE the last stanza.
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda, thank you so much for this. The Wordle was a gift, indeed, and I thank you for that! Amy
pmwanken
Love the flourishes of alliteration, Amy. Well done! Especially “wholly holy, distinctly divine.” Beautiful.
Here’s my wordle response:
http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/a-mighty-fortress/
and my PB “lost and found” poem:
http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/found-and-lost/
~Paula
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Paula, and yes, I’ve had a couple mentions of that turn of phrase, which sort of made itself, whispered itself into being on the second draft.
Went to your blog and commented on both posts. You are not only prolific, but brilliant in your use of “texture,” do you know what I mean? Thanks so much, Amy
pmwanken
Amy –
I’d love an expounded commentary on “texture.” But I’ll go back and read those poems and your comments to see if I can see what you mean (I hadn’t seen this reply prior to my having seen your comments on my blog).
In the meantime….
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S on having this poem chosen as poem of the week at Poetic Bloomings!! Here’s the link: http://poeticbloomings.blogspot.com/2011/08/beautiful-blooms-prompt-14.html
A well-deserved honor, my friend!!
xo
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Paula, you were the second person to inform me of the honor… glad I didn’t miss it!
Poetic texture, for me, is the way words sound as one reads them aloud. I read every single poem from every single post aloud, and sometimes, the words feel really good in my mouth. Don’t know any other way to describe it, sorry! Hope that makes sense. Peace, xxoo Amy
pmwanken
Ah, thanks for the explanation, Amy. That makes sense…and thank you for that compliment, then! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
You are more than welcome, friend! 😉 Amy
Madeleine Begun Kane
Your poems are consistently excellent!
Sharp Little Pencil
Madeleine, you are unfailingly kind! Amy
Nanka
Amazing and loved the noise in the “jangling jungle of fear” The last two lines brought relief and felt as if being led away from harm by divine intervention!!
Sharp Little Pencil
Nanka, I’m so pleased you liked this poem. It’s a lot to do with my daughter’s experiences in California on her own. Amy