Printed in INK (Cinquain #2)
Another go at the cinquain. After reading The 17th century poem “The World” by George Herbert. Through a link given by a good friend in the comments of my last one.
When the year is old and the day Is young,
When the wake of spring, brings complacent men,
And the stars come out when the darkness swung
Family and friends, safely feeling zen,
He’s hiding struggles in his veins, again.
*
Faces, persons, printed in ink, it hung
Blowing in the wind, my feet became pen
As I walked your steps, there's no breath in my lung
I’m living in your head, where death has sung
Your voice drowned out, when it counted to ten.
*
Bodies close, gears have worn, they searched for young
Hope in hand, days have passed the lions den
The whispers come, but we don’t hear the clear
sound of misery in the chains of fear
Faces printed in ink, complacent men.
*
Tires and strong whiskey, your mother tongue.
Slow the goal, lose your head; but then again
So you thrive on speed and words go unsung
Rushing home to save a friend, count to ten
Inside your head, you’ll find the lion's den
A/N Another go at the cinquain. Inspired by the many posters I’ve seen of a missing person, on cars — almost every car I walked by — in the woods, walking right next to the search and rescue. Then the day after, the body was found 💔
Guidance from a good friend of mine, here’s his link. Calvin London. The link he sent me to help me out, is below. Thank you ever so much for stopping by, and for reading. Again, thank you Calvin 🙏🏽♥️
Cinquain #1
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
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Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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Comments (20)
Congratulations on Top Story. Beautifully written!
What a great Top Story. This is a very important lesson for all to learn somehow.
Congrats on Top Story, Love the Story and you nailed it. Very proud of you…
This was beautiful and tragic!! So well done Caitlin!! I love the way you really dove into the photo and really gave the missing person feelings! Congrats on Top Story!!
He’s hiding struggles in his veins, again. There was a really heaviness in this poem bellied by a sense of life going on... travelling in words and thoughts and ink and pen. The working through of built in obstacles and situations. Beautiful. Soulful. Etched.❤️
Congratulations selected to top story
Congratulations Caitlin for being on top stories
Gosh Caitlin, this was so profound and poignant, get so beautifully written. Loved it so much!
Wow - love it Caitlin. What a great poem! It has so many hidden innuendos. So glad the reference link helped. I did not realize that cinquan forms could be so complicated. I must try another one soon. And then you get Top Story. I'm so pleased for you and glad I could help. 👏👏😉
It has the depth of inner conflict, this is great! I really loved it 🙌 Congratulations on your top story ⭐✨
I don’t actually know why I read your authors note first, I think partly because I didn’t remember what a cinquain was, and wondered what you’d have to say about the format. But in any event I scrolled down to your AN before ever dipping into the poem, and woah. That’s a ton of emotional weight, but you handled it so effectively. Really great poetry, though especially given the context, it is almost unbearably sad. Really solid writing, I hope the expression through art helped you grapple with the intensity of seeing those posters and the bad news.
Nice
Stunning work CC! You have such a beautiful heart for people and it shows! May you continue to be blessed immensely my friend! 💕💖
Well written, congrats 👏
HELLO
I honestly have no critique, and my comment is silenced by the beauty and emotion in your poem.
Such power lines, love the imagery in your words. Amazing writing.
We don’t hear the clear sound of misery in the chains of fear is an absolutely wonderful line, Caitlin, in a poem brimming with wonderful lines.
You present the internal conflicts and human relationships in a unique way. It is a work rich in intensity (for example, "the lion's den"). Hope and solidarity are held onto for survival. Bravo for the way you express yourself.
It’s interesting how something so simple, like ink, can hold such a weight of meaning. I felt like the shortness of the cinquain really enhanced the poem’s reflection on how our words, though brief, can leave lasting impressions. Keep up the great work!