A tree stares in disbelief at
an axe with an unsharpened edge
Unsure if its fate is to be beaten rather than
chopped to death
before giving birth to tables and chairs
A pavement recoils in disgust
that weeds and not roses sprout from its crevices
Indignant at the unfairness of it all
Even the pictures painted
by words scrawled on anguished walls
seem to have something to say
While I’m lost in thought
on a park bench
trying to make sense
of masked
lockdown/murdering/rioting days
© Vivian Zems
Smell The Coffee 
July 1, 2020 at 10:02 am
Wow!It’s wonderful.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:08 am
Thank you 🙂
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July 1, 2020 at 10:49 am
This is absolutely stunning, Vivian! The image of the pavement recoiling in disgust describes just how dire the situation around the world truly is! Especially like; “weeds and not roses sprout from its crevices, indignant at the unfairness of it all.” Thank you so much for writing to the prompt. You rocked it! ❤️❤️
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July 2, 2020 at 4:08 am
Thanks Sanaa!
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July 1, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Your poem is as surreal as a Dali painting, and I love it—especially the pavement’s indignation at hosting weeds instead of roses. Well done!
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July 2, 2020 at 4:07 am
I’m honoured…thank you 🙂
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July 1, 2020 at 12:59 pm
I also recoil at what might be sprouting in MY cracks, but I guess that’s a different story altogether; one I won’t share. I promise.
Meanwhile, I’m in awe of how well you filled up the page’s empty space. Great stuff, this. Thanks.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:07 am
You crack me up! (pun intended)…thanks Ron!
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July 1, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Sadly so many of us seem to be blind of how dangerous the covid crisis really is. Deep down we are scared and either hide or totally ignore the risk.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:06 am
I agree…absolutely
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July 1, 2020 at 3:02 pm
A nice poem depicting the viewpoint of roads , trees and pavements, wonder if we can be more sympathetic towards them.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:06 am
Thanks Vandana!
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July 1, 2020 at 4:46 pm
The Covid crisis has provided lots of time for idle and meandering thoughts! The idea of a tree birthing a table and chairs …. well, who’d have thought of that! A most entertaining poem.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:06 am
Thanks Beverly!
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July 1, 2020 at 5:10 pm
Your poem is pure awesomeness.
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July 2, 2020 at 4:05 am
Thanks Helen 🙂
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July 2, 2020 at 12:15 am
Thought-provoking, with attention-getting personification.
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July 2, 2020 at 11:17 am
Thank you!
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July 2, 2020 at 9:47 am
I love the way the focus shifts from the surreal point of view of the tree facing its fate by axe, only to give ‘birth to tables and chairs’, and the pavement recoiling in disgust at the weeds sprouting from its crevices, and zooms in to the very familiar Covid confusion. Nothing makes sense anymore.
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July 2, 2020 at 11:17 am
Thanks Kim…you’re spot on- nothing makes sense
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July 2, 2020 at 5:09 pm
I love that dull ax metaphor. There’s a lot of needless pain to go around today.
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July 8, 2020 at 8:59 am
Indeed! Thanks Rommy!
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July 2, 2020 at 9:28 pm
We live in dangerous times in so many ways. Stay safe my friend!
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July 8, 2020 at 8:57 am
Thank you! And you too!
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July 3, 2020 at 5:05 am
Things aren’t real pleasant in our days of late. I call those ‘protests,’, not riots. Occasionally some infiltration by trouble makers turn things into riots/ I like your picture too, some place in china? I think I’ve been there, looking out the back door of a sloop. It also reminds me of the road going up into the Rocky mountains headed west towards Estes Park.
Oh yes, our granddaughter is in Washington D.C, having graduated and she is now waiting for her would be employer to open office work. My daughter tracked her cell phone to the front of the White House the day the National Guard cleared their street with rubber bullets to make way for the president to walk through. We are very proud of her.
..
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July 8, 2020 at 8:57 am
She sounds special – good for her!
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July 7, 2020 at 2:03 am
Love the viewpoints in this, Vivian. Great poem!
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July 8, 2020 at 8:54 am
Thanks Sara!
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