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Human

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Charmaine Pauls

Empty fills the face of sand.
Dry is a hump between its knees.
Hunchbacked over broken rocks,
a weight that flattens the shoulder.
Forgotten lingers in the crevices of its smiles
as days of hunger have weathered by.
Preserved in saltpeter and banished by shade,
a leathered façade has grown over green.
It splits and cracks under the burden of laugh,
and underneath festers the everlasting mud.

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12 Responses to Human

1. l douglas st ours says:

   March 25, 2013 at 5:03 pm

   I like the building crescendo in the eloquent connecting of the dots….you find and create beauty from austerity

   Reply
   • Charmaine Pauls says:

     March 25, 2013 at 7:40 pm

     Thank you Douglas. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And you always see the beauty.

     Reply
2. Stan says:

   March 25, 2013 at 8:04 pm

   Interesting poem. I’m not much of a poet – did you write it?

   Reply
   • Charmaine Pauls says:

     March 25, 2013 at 8:07 pm

     I don’t think I’m much of a poet either Stan. Yes, I wrote it. Was really inspired by this scene. Reminded me of humanity / human nature.

     Reply
3. Stan says:

   March 25, 2013 at 8:15 pm

   Interesting. I’ve never really understood poetry unless it was so simple that it slapped me in the face as if to say, “Hey, I’m a poem!” But I appreciate those who write poetry. Thus, I would also add that your poem contains some good imagery. Emotionally I’m still not sure of my reaction, but that’s me – besides, I have no talent regarding poetry. Not even college class helped!

   Reply
4. Debbie Kienle says:

   March 25, 2013 at 8:37 pm

   Beautiful!!!

   WOW – Wish I could write like that – I’m hopeless. !

   Reply
   • Charmaine Pauls says:

     March 26, 2013 at 1:09 am

     No you’re not! You’re very expressive. And I do have to write a blog about your toilet tales.

     Reply
5. Charmaine Pauls says:

   March 26, 2013 at 1:07 am

   I’m with you on that one, Stan. For me, this was a way of expressing an emotion, a metaphorical geographical description of human nature, I guess.

   Reply
6. Julie says:

   March 26, 2013 at 6:14 am

   Ek het ook gewonder waar het jy dit gekry? Klink soos ‘n gedig uit een van daardie ou vergeelde bladsye boeke! Pragtig! xxxx

   Reply
   • Charmaine Pauls says:

     March 26, 2013 at 12:50 pm

     Dankie! Ek hoop ek kan eendag my gedigte op daardie geel bladsye sien!!

     Reply
7. Carl says:

   March 26, 2013 at 10:53 am

   A great poem, the first line sets the entire poem and is a beautiful openeing

   Reply
   • Charmaine Pauls says:

     March 26, 2013 at 12:46 pm

     Thank you Carl! It means a lot coming from an accomplished poet like you.

     Reply