Beyond Eyes

by C Cattaway   Apr 30, 2006


Lying on concrete, the flower thrives.
New hope, every time strangers walk by.
It lived once. Once it grew. Once it stood tall.

Wilting.
Waiting.

Hope turns to despair.
Can nobody see?
Are they all so busy to notice?

A dogs nose.
A drop of ice-cream, from a child.
An old newspaper..
.. Darkness.

Voices, footsteps, laughter, crying.
Sunlight?

He walks the streets.
He sees poverty, and knows ignorance.
He has time to look.
He makes time to notice.
The flower looks frail.
The colours, faded.
He sees the beauty once there,
and fixes her to his buttonhole.
She breathes again.
Together, they see,
Once, they stood tall.

© C. Cattaway 2000

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Latest Comments

  • 16 years ago

    by Debbie

    My apologies, yet again, Miss C. I meant to say, "someone always seems to be just a casual observer..."

    =] Take care.

  • 16 years ago

    by Debbie

    "He walks the streets.
    He sees poverty, and knows ignorance."

    To my enchantment, someone always who seems to be just a casual observer and yet at the same time possess such great erudition to be able to perceive through societal (and personal) boundaries, if truth be told...

    "He makes time to notice... the beauty once there,"

    ^ Poring over this poem for fun, I discover how such lines are akin to a carving of shrewd intricacy. Not only does the fact that this person has power over time, in a world whose popular awareness is bounded by time--no pun intended--but it also makes him an honorable man because of noticing and taking in someone's dire needs...

    "and fixes her to his buttonhole.
    She breathes again.
    Together, they see,
    Once, they stood tall."

    ^ I cannot help heaving a sigh of joy and contentment. I love how this scene portrays a promising future, broadens Jesus' message of a just world, and further deepens the biblical foundations of justice: inborn goodness, stewardship, and community...

    Wrapping it all up, I truly delight in reading this poem. In truth, this is one of those poems that astounds me and shortly thereafter makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. No understatement. No kidding. Thank you for prompting me to reflect upon your poem and contemplate over this lifetime of mine for a while--even for just a while.

    Regards,
    Marian

  • 16 years ago

    by InvisibleHourglass

    I loved it.

  • 16 years ago

    by NyellMoonlight

    Very deep and truly greatly written. I like whole metaphor that you used. You created very vivid and captivating imagery through the poem. I like its form a lot.
    5/5 from me

  • 16 years ago

    by Espoirfailed

    I am so glad you recommended this poem to me.
    the best i have read of your work so far, absolutely adored it. so original and so different.

    i am not just saying this, I LOVE THIS POEM.

    my favourite bit was;

    He walks the streets.
    He sees poverty, and knows ignorance.

    the wording in it was powerful and shows you have an excellent manipulation of words. you are a fantastic writer and i order this poem. to me this is a real poem.

    wow!