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Fearsome by Survival

 Sharing today with The Sunday Muse #189, where Shay is hosting. Come and read and share a piece!



On a web-white, wool-quiet morning
I found the girl our stories gave us
The one who survived

She wore the meadow, carded and sewn
Long since burned for field
Still, she knew me

Her stories named me fierce, feral
She might have feared 
The one who devours

Neither of us spoke, patient at morning
Breath, warmth, silence
Innocent of power

We know the stories kill us both
We know that we become
Fearsome by survival

Hello and welcome. It's 67 degrees outside this morning and a warm December weekend might seem like the kind of thing that would prevent me from following through on a plan to hibernate with a good book for the rest of the weekend...but it's the doomscrolling that's run down the charge on my phone that's preventing me from doing that. Also, I may have developed an intolerance to long stretches of quiet during the past year and a half. 

Anyway.

Looking forward to replacing the doomscrolling with reading poetry. :) Hope the week is kind and the words plentiful!

-- chrissa

Comments

  1. FireblossomDecember 4, 2021 at 7:34 AM

    It looks like we saw the same thing in this picture! I like the short 3-line stanzas here, and "she wore the meadow, carded and sewn."

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carrie Van HornDecember 4, 2021 at 9:35 AM

    This gorgeous poem is full with wonder and strength my friend. The image does speak survival to me as well. I love this poem Chrissa!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sherry Blue SkyDecember 4, 2021 at 9:43 AM

    This poem is wonderful, from first word to last. Really really good work! I love the web-white wool-quiet morning especially.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DoraDecember 4, 2021 at 11:26 AM

    The force of narrative power behind the quiet words just takes my breath away, Chrissa. All the versions of the tale of girl and wolf meld into one in this silent meeting between survivors. I am rapt with wonder.
    Pax,
    Dora

    ReplyDelete
  5. ✿December 4, 2021 at 12:38 PM

    This is incredible—one of the best poems I’ve read in a while.

    I especially love “Innocent of power.”

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gillena CoxDecember 5, 2021 at 6:41 AM

    A meld of the innocence and the wild in our beings
    Nice one Chrissa
    Thank you for dropping by my blog today

    Much💜love

    ReplyDelete
  7. qbitDecember 5, 2021 at 7:42 AM

    "She wore the meadow, carded and sewn" - wow, that weaves so much intricacy. Terrific ending.

    ReplyDelete
  8. hedgewitchDecember 5, 2021 at 8:17 AM

    I love every stanza of this, and I especially love that it is told from the viewpoint of the wolf. The tension under the well-crafted images builds to that last stanza, which has the stark impact of personal/universal truth. Really one of my favorites of yours, Chrissa; it has resonance for me, featuring as it does both a changeling and a power out of our imaginations.

    ReplyDelete
  9. HelenDecember 5, 2021 at 8:33 AM

    This is exquisite, fine writing! Happy Sunday, no silence allowed ….

    ReplyDelete
  10. TruedessaDecember 5, 2021 at 8:50 AM

    The second stanza is truly beautiful...there is a special art in wearing a meadow.

    ReplyDelete
  11. ms_liliDecember 5, 2021 at 1:38 PM

    I love that descriptive first line and the tone-setting of the next two.

    ReplyDelete
  12. JimDecember 5, 2021 at 9:31 PM

    Full of allusions and illusions? Beautiful writing, Chrissa.
    Warm today but cooler and cooler coming. Out of the corner
    of my eye I saw a 37 low for us this on a weekend night. Brrr ...
    ..

    ReplyDelete
  13. kaykualaDecember 6, 2021 at 7:53 AM

    We know that we become
    Fearsome by survival

    Love the close Chrissa! It' s warm, lull before the storm

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  14. robkistnerDecember 6, 2021 at 10:05 AM

    You wrote, and please know, I read. Though these days, I’m nearly blind of eye, and debilitatingly arthritic of fingers — I placed this prepared comment here as an ongoing thank you for sharing your words. I am grateful to be able to visit , and I will do so as long as I am able. I appreciate you opening your soul, Chrissa.

    ReplyDelete
  15. purplepeninportland.comDecember 6, 2021 at 5:50 PM

    "She wore the meadow, carded and sewn"

    Gorgeous words and imagery, Chrissa!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Susie ClevengerDecember 8, 2021 at 2:32 PM

    Oh this poem is exquisite writing....Love this line " She wore the meadow, carded and sewn"

    ReplyDelete

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