Monday, June 20, 2011

Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 70: Photographic Memory















the price 


if only the past 
were as idyllic 
as an artist's 
vision, and if only
now we had one: 


the price of 
forgetting 
is greater than
the value of 
remembering. 


Poem ©2011 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid
Posted by at

22 comments:

  1. JJ Roa RodriguezJune 20, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    wonderfully said Rick!

    JJRod'z

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  2. Glenn ButtkusJune 20, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    Unfortunately, how does one
    shake the images of the
    falling twin towers, Iraqi
    prisoners naked in dog leashes,
    Sadam with the rope around
    his neck, the tsunami in Japan,
    Gaddafi dressed up in old
    Michael Jackson uniforms,
    the homeless tent cities
    on church back lots, the
    great Bush fence in AZ ?
    Yet a peek at an Ansel Adams
    image, or a Georgia O'Keefe
    nude done by Stieglitz,
    refocuses our humanity;
    and then the poetics
    sprout like lichen
    from the dust.

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  3. Brian MillerJune 20, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    that second stanza is just stellar rick

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  4. Sioux RoslawskiJune 20, 2011 at 6:23 PM

    I agree with Brian. The last stanza is hauntingly beautiful.

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  5. ChristineJune 20, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    In agreement too to the ending of this, fantastic.

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  6. stevenJune 20, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    rick your writing left the earthly plane with that last stanza. steven

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  7. ReflectionsJune 20, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    Love the 2nd stanza. Powerfully written.

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  8. Kay L. DaviesJune 20, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    You got me with that second verse, alright.
    — K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

    ReplyDelete
  9. kelvin s.m.June 21, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    -->> True. ‘’..the price of forgetting is greater than the value of remembering..’’ you raised a quote in there though sad to remember i’ll still keep that in mind… thanks for the poem.

    Brightest blessings.

    ~Kelvin

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  10. Jim SwindleJune 21, 2011 at 4:05 AM

    Quite thought-provoking.

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  11. Vicki LaneJune 21, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    Wise words, beautifully arranged.

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  12. LynJune 21, 2011 at 6:03 AM

    Sometimes I think the price of forgetting is impossible to pay..this is a brilliant piece...

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  13. Arian TejanoJune 21, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    As Neruda said it: Forgetting is so long. I wondered if I can ever achieve that price. Thanks, Rick. This is a beautiful epigram.

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  14. Isabel DoyleJune 21, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    the price of forgetting - memorable lines!

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  15. MonikaJune 21, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    This is immensely deep in itself. So very true, so powerful, so intense.

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  16. HelenJune 21, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    No greater price than losing ones memories ...

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  17. Laurie KolpJune 21, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Very true... the ending packs quite a punch!

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  18. MargaretJune 21, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    Beautiful and very true.

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  19. Steve IsaakJune 22, 2011 at 2:27 AM

    Wise, excellent.

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  20. AnonymousJune 23, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Stunning writing

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  21. hyperCRYPTICalJune 24, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Very wise words - bravo!

    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
  22. AnonymousJune 27, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    insightful,
    well done.

    share 1 to 3 poems with poetry potluck week 41 today.

    ReplyDelete

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