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Ice Will/Can’t Suffice
Our fireplace offers us its warmth,
but chill descends on all who mourn
the loss of innocence, of life.
We struggle to respond to strife, to heal, to love.
Oh, Paris, blood spilt in your streets
in several spots where friends may meet
to share the ending of the day–
there hope has died where bodies lay, at hatred’s feet.
Stark cold, such evil steals our dreams.
Faith falters at the sound of screams.
Our hearth is cool, now drowned by tears.
Can good prevail when ruled by fear? How to forgive?
Yet, deep within our souls we know—
in sorrow, seeds of grace may grow.
Such wickedness must not succeed.
Rekindle fire our world does plead—the fire of love.
Written for Gayle’s prompt at dVerse Poets’ Meeting the Bar, where we are to write a poem using the Florette. Rhyme: AABA, Syllable Count, 8, 8, 8, 12. In line 4 syllable 8 rhymes with the ending syllable of the 3rd line. Try it–it’s fun.
I suspect I am not alone in needing somehow to write of the horrible events of last week.
The title of the poem comes from Robert Frost’s Poem “Fire and Ice.”
Victoria C. Slotto, Author 
A very powerful message of hope, Victoria.
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love is a mighty weapon and light can cast out darkness
thankful for people who are brave enough to love even in difficult times
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That is really well crafted and I think your message comes through so strongly. Am on a speaking up for peace course but not much time to write ..yet.
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This is excellent!! The second stanza grabbed me and would not allow me to continue reading until I had read stanza 2 a second time.
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A pity such an episode had happened. Violence begets violence and the innocents take the brunt!
Hank
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You echo so many of my feelings here. It was healing to read it!
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Oh gosh, this was beautiful! I love so may lines here. So many. My first favorite was the line on faith faltering. Very impressive writing!
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Great form in this. Iambs make things like this seem to go easier. And yes, there is grace in sorrow and hopefully seeds that grow into hope and forgiveness. We are better than the haters and your poem brings that clear.
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You are indeed not alone to feel the need to talk about the horrible recent events (and ongoing, I’m afraid, as more news comes in of hostages and gunmen in Mali etc. etc.). So timely, so elegantly rendered.
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You have captured such a powerful message with your words. May the world hear the cries and strive for a more peaceful world. One can hope!
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Truly.. Love is the answer
to terrorism.. it might
sound flowery to say
that but it is a flower
that blooms.. when
provided from
early
childhood..
particularly
to the male
of the species
and sure we know
how that works
in patriarchal
ways by
history
of our own country..
Lessons of Love
EARLY.. are
prevention
of
terrorism
later..
at least
in paRt of
the art of life
away from guns..
fear and hate.. and
repressing and oppressing
the human heart.. spirit
expresSing sAMe.. and
a soUl that thrives
when balanCinG
in mind and
body way
just
now..
it’s harder to take it
away than give it
as even bonobos..
our closest primate
cousins live
agression
and violence free
all innately.. instinctually
and intuitively by the power
of Love gifted by the God of
Nature.. so who is the enemy..
culture.. religion.. or God..
the answer
is simply
all stuff
human culture
than can be
all of the
above.. if one
cannot feel God
within as well.. smiles..:)
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Lovely use of the form, Victoria…it made me think of all things portrayed as fire and ice…metaphors for so many topics like peace and war, hatred and love.
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Such a touching & beautiful poem.. so in tune with the recent events.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Such a beautiful & touching poem… so in tune with the recent events.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Smooth to read Victoria with the message that speaks about our thoughts about Paris and the need for fire of love ~ That last stanza is really outstanding with: Such wickedness must not succeed.
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An important message in your poem, Victoria. I was inspired by the husband of one of the people killed who publicly stated that he wasn’t going to let this act make him hate the murderers. A stunning comment after losing his wife. He showed incredible grace under the circumstances. Thanks for joining in with an exquisite offering.
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Beautiful. I love the final stanza and especially the line “in sorrow, seeds of grace may grow.” Without faith, without grace and forgiveness, violence and hatred win, and that’s simply not acceptable. Peace, Linda
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I agree… the purpose is that we should hate them.. and try to divide us into us and them.. we have to increase our efforts to help the refuges..
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And your florette works lovely.. yes in iambs it’s easy..
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Heartfelt indeed!
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I like the message of this florette, Victoria. Though evil does try to steal our dreams, we just let it succeed. We cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by fear. We simply can’t! We have to find ways to keep the love alive and also hope!
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Fantastic piece, V; of course I wrote about Paris as well; you rocked the form, & appealed for love & peace, as did I; smile.
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Touching and so welcome.
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