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

22 comments:

  1. 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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  2. that second stanza is just stellar rick

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

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  4. In agreement too to the ending of this, fantastic.

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

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  6. Love the 2nd stanza. Powerfully written.

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

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

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  8. -->> 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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  9. Wise words, beautifully arranged.

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

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  11. 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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  12. the price of forgetting - memorable lines!

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

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  14. No greater price than losing ones memories ...

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

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  16. insightful,
    well done.

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

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