Image via Wikipedia
This is a poem posted some months ago, just after the May 21st predictions of the endtimes. Today, over at dVerse, Mark Kerstetter invites us to reflect on endings and beginnings. Because of the flurry of rumors about the end of the world in 2012, I thought this might be appropriate.
Be sure to join us over at dVerse for an amazing, poetic New Year’s Eve celebration. And if you do plan on going out tonight, please be safe. Happy 2012 to all my poet friends.
Armageddon in Slo-Mo
It didn’t come quickly as predicted
on a fair spring day in May.
Rather, cutting a wide swath
across the center of our land
it sucked up souls, one at a time
like a street-sweeper.
Today, further to the North
floodwaters seep through the pores
of nature’s edematous limbs,
defying her well-defined boundaries.
Somewhere in an untouched corner
of the world, an old lady pulls
cheatgrass from her garden,
prepares to plant nasturtium
and wonders if this is the year
that she will die.
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
happy 2012.
Appreciated your support.
blessings.
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I really enjoyed this…and it did fit so well. I guess none of us will ever know for sure the end until it is our time to know..so I’d rather just not waste any of my precious moments dwelling on it. I’d rather use them for something much more productive!
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As always beautiful, Victoria. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy new year!
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I so agree, Caty. We have only today to throw our energies and hope into. Happy New Year, everyone, a day at a time.
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This is a great poem for any time of the year. Wish I had written it. Victoria, I wish you the best for 2012 and BIG CONGRATS on your new book!
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Thanks so much, Mark. And joy in 2012 to you also.
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don’t remember this one… so real is this write… makes us all wonder what’s ahead
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love it, you sure have your way with words!
A Happy New Year to you and I hope it goes good for you.
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Wow, loved the ending:
“prepares to plant nasturtium
and wonders if this is the year
that she will die”
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Loved this Victoria. Cherish every minute and write when you can. Still challenged here but hoping for the best. Sending all best wishes to you for a great 2012. Much love, Gay
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Really sharp writing in this Victoria–and you know how much I can relate to that final stanza– also, sucking up souls “like a streetsweeper” was also an inspired word choice. A Happy New Year, to you and yours.
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smiles…i remember this one…it has been an interesting year and i wonder will 2012 bring us better or worse…esp considering the predictions…i wonder if it will come anything like we believe…happy new year!
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The end of the old year always feels portentous… and so it’s very apt that you offer up this poem. Something to ponder on, as the new year draws nearer.
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Heavy piece but very apt per topic at D’Verse. I love it when a topic arises and I already know I have my perfect response completed days, weeks, months before. As I would guess, by the strength of this piece, was the case for you. Really glad you linked it, as I didn’t catch it the first go round, and am glad I was now able to. Happy New Year Victoria, to you and yours and an equally happy 2012, every day of it. Thanks
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Wonderful. I especially like the cheatgrass. Happy New Year! k.
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Victoria- You never cease to amaze me. Thank you for sharing your lovely words with us. I think we should all enjoy each day as if our last.
http://lkkolp.wordpress.com/2011/12/31/these-final-days-of-2011/
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You never know what you might face in the future. One persons tragedy is another’s sound bite on TV and, sadly, the public soon tires of images of destruction. I pray the coming year is good to us all and no one has to endure Mother Nature’s wrath.
This was a very good piece of writing and really hit home for me.
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No, the end of the world didn’t come. And we all lived to see the end of this year. We don’t know what the future will bring for our world or for us as individuals. One day at a time, one year at a time! Happy New Year to you.
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this is great victoria..love the contrast with the old lady in an untouched corner pulling cheatgrass from her garden…happy, happy new year to you!!
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do you have to be an old lady planing to wonder if this next year will be the one when you will die? i don’t think so….
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Good point, Bat-Ami. But I’m kinda qualifying myself now…though I don’t feel it. :0)
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Absolutely beautiful in a terrifying way. You have put to music the horror that waits in the pit.
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this is beautiful. very beautiful. nasturtium are dazzling flowers.
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wow! powerful poetry..especially the last para:)
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Nature doesn’t have any boundaries. Your last paragraph is remarkable and sums it up so very well. Thank you!
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“Rather, cutting a wide swath
across the center of our land
it sucked up souls, one at a time
like a street-sweeper.”
Beautifully written.
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Oh wow… what closure… I didn’t get to this on the board yet, keep meaning to as I love your poetry… you are such a treasure. You always kick me in the guts and when I can talk again I say “Thank you”
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Thank you so much, Luke. Your poetry does the same to me.
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“..cutting a wide swath
across the center of our land..
The destruction was so unreal, nothing but piles of tinder that were once people’s homes and lives. You painted this so well Victoria.
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Heyy nice 1 .. chk out my stuff !!
Hope you’ll enjoy this 1 .. 😉
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“it sucked up souls, one at a time
like a street-sweeper.” I loved this line. Fantastic job!
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Nature is cruel and it has been very cruel, lately. It really is devastating.
You have captured the fear of the unknown.
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This is so sad … sob
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Just adding a thought to your wise “international diluvium”: African storms are the scariest thing and nothing happens, while unannounced floods are deadly devastating…
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Yes, the unexpected is so devastating. I live in earthquake country.
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Oh, that last stanza pulls it all together so perfectly. Awesome poetry.
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I’ll take a hurricane any day over these massive tornadoes and their winds well over 200mph–some close to 300!
I guess we’re all in our own little personal armageddons aren’t we. I loved how you ended your poem with the old woman wondering about her last days.
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the last line makes it more heartbreaking.
deep and sharp words.
masterfully penned.
Happy Potluck!
😉
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Such a big part of our world, these days. A reminder of impermanence always …
Well done, Victoria, and right on theme.
Hope you and hubby are passing a pleasant Memorial Day weekend.
Jamie
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It was scarily good poem, having in mind how sometimes there is nothing we can do to prevent nature from going crazy!
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You capture it so well, and it is not an easy task.
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wow. this is incredible victoria. perhaps i should return you comment from yesterday. nature is indiscriminant in who it touches, this year more than most it seems. so sad to see those that have lost much. the turn to the lady in the end brings it together nicely…we never know when our time is coming so all we have is now…
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What a poetic description of questionable times, Victoria.
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The photo is terrifying. I don’t like to look at it. This has been a year to remember. Your poem describes the personality of this unwelcome cloud. Blessings to you, Victoria…
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The slow imagery worked well ! sharp and touching !
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Victoria…is this yours?
It resembles a saying from where i come from.
“The world will end…when you die”
Your writing is full of prose and in such a small amount of words.
Lovely observation
Jaye
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