“It is life’s work to recognise the mystery of the obvious”
Jim Harrison- Songs of Unreason
….and as a hot sun beats but doesn’t burn
and angry oceans pummel stoic rocks
-so life rears its fist at our very beingsObserve that submission is not in play
recognise the symbolism for what it is
learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm..there’s deeper meaning in the simple things
©Vivian Zems
This marks the final poem in Jilly’s “28 Days of Unreason”; writing to poetry inspired by Jim Harrison.
It’s been like sitting in a Ph.D class with Masters of poetry and I’ve loved every minute of it!
Smell The Coffee 
June 28, 2018 at 2:31 pm
I really like this Vivian, and yes, there is deeper meaning in the simple things ☺❤ Thank you for reminding us of that!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:54 am
My pleasure! Thanks Walt!
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June 30, 2018 at 10:43 am
You’re very welcome 🙂
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June 28, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Brilliant and Excellent!!! ❤
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June 30, 2018 at 7:35 am
Thank you ❤️!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:35 am
I can’t find your final entry to the Days of Unreason challenge!
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June 30, 2018 at 12:07 pm
I deleted it because it was a bad write. ❤
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June 30, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Oh no! Jilly said she liked it. But I think I know what you mean. If you don’t like it…..it’s trashed!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:48 pm
Thank you for understanding! ❤
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June 30, 2018 at 8:25 pm
❤
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June 28, 2018 at 7:55 pm
I love this Vivian. Sometimes, we forget about the simple things.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:34 am
Thank you Linda!😊
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June 28, 2018 at 8:09 pm
The importance of the simple things… Love that never forget that.
There is a saying that you should never forget the small wounds and poor friends.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:34 am
A good and wise saying😊
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June 28, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Oh the simple things. Sometimes I think in our hurryscurry of life, we fortget about them. As we acquire more stuff. Love this.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:33 am
Thanks Toni!😊
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June 28, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Deep, Vivian! Deep! 🙂
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June 30, 2018 at 7:33 am
Thanks Frank😊
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June 30, 2018 at 5:13 pm
My pleasure, Vivian! 🙂
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June 28, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Nice wrap-up to Harrison. It totally fits the prompt! No sheepskin; just aching brain cells.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:32 am
Absolutely! Thanks Charley 😊
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June 30, 2018 at 4:04 pm
You are welcome!
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June 28, 2018 at 10:15 pm
I’ve enjoyed getting to know your poetry Vivian and thank you for all your feedback – you have a wonderful way of saying things
“so life rears its fist at our very beings”
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June 30, 2018 at 7:32 am
Thanks Laura- much appreciated😊
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June 28, 2018 at 11:09 pm
“there’s deeper meaning in the simple things.” I love this sentiment!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:54 am
Thanks Jo! 🙂
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June 29, 2018 at 12:03 am
I specially like this part: learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm
I think we take simple things for granted, until it becomes extraordinary ~
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June 30, 2018 at 7:54 am
We always do, indeed! Thanks Grace 🙂
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June 29, 2018 at 12:55 am
Ooo – closed fist or open palm!! That’s good!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:53 am
Thanks, Jilly!
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June 29, 2018 at 2:31 am
Deep!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:53 am
Thanks!
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June 29, 2018 at 2:36 am
“so life rears its fist at our very beings” – indeed it does. No “submission at play” here! Bravo.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:53 am
Thank you ! 🙂
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June 29, 2018 at 2:49 am
Truth! Making art look simple takes repetition, dedication, and courage. It is the work of the poet to bring that truth in easy to understand ways. This was very fine in illuminating that. Well done.
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June 29, 2018 at 8:15 am
Thank you 😊! I appreciate your insight 👍🏽
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June 29, 2018 at 3:47 am
You got that right! Someone once said, What’s happening is not what’s going on!!
The story of our lives.
Dwight
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June 30, 2018 at 7:31 am
A wise saying. Thanks Dwight!
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June 29, 2018 at 8:18 am
Love what you say about not submitting to symbolic gestures–we tend to give them too much power. Here’s a tiny example: I’m bummed about missing the Days of Unreason challenge… it’s definitely one of life’s closed fists for me, but I dare myself to pry it open and go over the prompts in July. 😊 Whether I do it or not, is another story…
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June 29, 2018 at 1:03 pm
Thank you for your insight…it’s always the simple things, isn’t it? I would urge you to try out the challenge, anyway 🙂
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June 29, 2018 at 2:03 pm
Gearing up for it! 😊
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June 30, 2018 at 7:24 am
😊
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June 29, 2018 at 1:24 pm
It’s always a blessing to find meaning in the smallest of things. I found this to be so true: “Observe that submission is not in play/recognise the symbolism for what it is”.
Well-penned.
-HA
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June 30, 2018 at 7:23 am
Thank you Anmol!😊
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June 29, 2018 at 1:26 pm
“learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm
..there’s deeper meaning in the simple things”
WONDROUS! 🙂
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June 30, 2018 at 7:23 am
Thank you 😊
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June 29, 2018 at 2:16 pm
Yes, there often is.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:24 am
😊
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June 29, 2018 at 8:18 pm
‘Closed fist and open palm’ – be prepared for changes. Love this, Vivian!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:30 am
Thanks Sara!
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June 30, 2018 at 1:29 am
Good advice: “learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm”
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June 30, 2018 at 7:28 am
Thank you 😊
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June 30, 2018 at 1:40 am
Fabulous. Choices, choices so poetically well put.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:28 am
Thanks Ali!
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June 30, 2018 at 2:16 am
The surface is deep indeed. (K)
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June 30, 2018 at 7:29 am
Indeed! 😊
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June 30, 2018 at 7:15 am
Wise words, Viv, especially:
‘learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm
..there’s deeper meaning in the simple things’.
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June 30, 2018 at 7:29 am
Thanks Kim!
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June 30, 2018 at 7:16 pm
What a great poem! I say it perfectly matched or went with the JIm harrison line. Glad I read it!
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June 30, 2018 at 8:26 pm
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂 (glad you liked it!)
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June 30, 2018 at 8:33 pm
No problem at all!
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July 2, 2018 at 1:40 am
“learn lessons from life’s closed fist or open palm” … This is sublime!
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July 2, 2018 at 2:50 pm
Thank you 🙂
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November 30, 2018 at 6:58 am
“It is life’s work to recognise the mystery of the obvious” What a line.. !! awesome pic at the start 🙂
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December 2, 2018 at 4:41 pm
Thank you!😊
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