Life in a Death Landscape | Poetry Writing Prompt

 

Photo by David Adams

 

This is a writing prompt picture today! Feel free to join! Please copy the picture, but be sure to share the photographer’s link – used by permission. Let’s push his art as well as ours.

Although these ladies are really busy with their own writing, I do want to tag two blogging friends on this one as I would enjoy seeing what they come up with. So, if you’re up to it, Ritu and Cassa, let’s see what you got! Here is my rendition:

 

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I can be so negative at times,
Pesimissim seeping through the pores
Coming from toxicity in my bones
Old sores and deep wounds.

The soil is covered in death,
Soggy and dank,
Landscape of brown –
Wilting and withering.

The scent of mildew and decay
As I wallow in hurts,
Frustrations,
Failures galore; dashed dreams.

“Son, step back.”
What? I thought I heard a whisper,
But I’m here alone.
Alone … alone …

“Son, look again.”
I’m I going crazy?!
Are these broken leaves,
Stripped of life, talking to me?

“Get out of the mud, come up
And look with new eyes!”
Oh, Father, it’s your voice I hear,
But how do I come up there?

“Worship me. Look upon me.
Declare my goodness; majesty!”
Father, forgive my foolishness,
Thank you for your mercy great!

There is none like you
And you are the one my soul craves!
“Ah, see, look down son!”
What, there is green!
There is fruitfulness and life!

“Yes son! What you think is decay,
Is just fertilizer for what I am growing now –
The dank and murky water, springs of life –
Stop wallowing and see the goodness I make
From the darkest of days!”

© Joshua Curtis, 2020