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Tuesday 12 April 2011

Hope No More: poetry by pete marshall


Hope No More
by pete marshall

The stars fell out the sky tonight
to sink beneath the estuary waves
that licked the shorelines tarnished sand
and cause a swell within the bay.

Hope was blown through open doors
across the green beyond the street
to fall amongst the rubbish bins
where foxes fought for scraps to eat.

Cobwebs filled a sullen room
as dust would swirl outside the door
where words were mixed with scattered doubts
within the books strewn on the floor.

His life was lost in wishful dreams
across the pond, the waters green
the stagnant smell of rotting weeds
the loss of all that could have been.

***************

This is my poem for One Shot Wednesday, at One Stop Poetry. If you like poetry whether reading or writing why not check it out, opens every Tuesday at 5pm EST (10pm UK)

image courtesy creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/pindec/

53 comments:

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

Perhaps we're having the same sort of day, Pete. But you know what happens when we lose hope: despair loves it. I really like this poem-- it is honest, intense. xj

Anonymous said...

the intesety of your words is amazing...it seems to light, but the only word I can think to describe this piece...brilliant.

Claudia said...

oh pete - so much sadness in this..thanks for being authentic, thanks for being honest and thanks for sharing a piece of your heart with us...hugs from across the pond

Unknown said...

wow pete.. sad poem.
excellent write my friend

Anonymous said...

Powerful poem with great imagery. Human potential lost to despair.

Anonymous said...

I really dug this Pete, and you meter so well. This doesn't read that sad to me, more like one of those moments where we sit down and think about what's going on in life...

Anonymous said...

"the loss of all that could have been" ~ an echo of depths in this one line among the many that cut deep...amazing writing Pete, sadness, but that's probably perhaps where we obtain our greatest strengths....~April

Laura said...

so sad...but I've been in this place at times...and somehow, managed to climb back out.

Beautiful poem Pete.

Kodjo Deynoo said...

"...Hope was blown through open doors
across the green beyond the street
to fall amongst the rubbish bins
where foxes fought for scraps to eat...", I like this part.This is a brilliant and throbbing poem.

Anonymous said...

Powerful words Pete.
In the closing stanza alone the words 'lost, green, stagnant and loss.' define the intensity of this work. You really got down and dirty on this one...I just hope you're doing okay!

"His life was lost in wishful dreams
across the pond, the waters green
the stagnant smell of rotting weeds
the loss of all that could have been."

Anonymous said...

I recognize your green pond...oh so well...if there's anything one can do to help feelings of total despair it is through your honesty in writing a poem such as this...amazing communication and analogies...wonderful writer you are...

Unknown said...

how absolutely desperate.
sadness, well done.

Brian Miller said...

you capture a vivid sadness my friend...i still hold out hope...

Beachanny said...

Your usual masterful job, Pete. Greener waters..has a lot of meaning. Hope things get better soon and the lights stay one. Much love.

Monty said...

wonderful ballad work, and what a story to tell! always glad when I stop by here, friend pete

Monty / bummy

emmett wheatfall said...

Awesome writing Pete. I see and feel a good meter in the lines. I like how you change the focus from stanza to stanza, yet hold together the integrity of the poem. Love your work man!

Helena White said...

Profound...and beautiful..

♥ ஆ

Unknown said...

I can really feel the desperation and despondence of lost hopes. And the rhythm is almost musical to me in a sad song kind of way.

Soraya said...

It´s so sad... I can understand perfectly. I have been there and many times... Hope is like the old trees that though Winter left them without leaves... reborn with new and green leaves, in Spring.
Hope never dies at all.
I´m thankful for let me read it.

signed...bkm said...

"The loss of all that could of been" That is the defination of no hope...and books strewn on the floor...nice work Peter...bkm

Ann Grenier said...

I feel that your images could speak of personal loss of hope or describe a place like Japan where the loss and destruction have been devestating. Well, that's the nature of poetry isn't it. Enjoyed reading.

Eileen said...

Loss of hope. Perhaps the greatest of all losses. Profoundly sad and intensely beautiful.

Deborah Claire said...

This is very beautiful; lonely but lovely

acebiggaveli said...

great poetry

Hope said...

pulled at my heart! beautifully written, wonderfully expressed!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Each stanza carries some element of "tarnish"! This keeps the metaphorical theme of sadness/melancholy running through the poem! And the sequence of connecting images play the role of a heightening atmosphere! Delightful!

Elaine said...

This is such a beautiful write about my friend/foe Mr Meloncholy.
As a rhyming poet (although I didn't rhyme my one shot) I really appreciate rhyme done well. Perfect meter and I love the rhyme scheme.

joanna said...

despondency drawn with a delicate pen. lovely and lyrically sad.

Sonika Uppal said...

thats so....so bloody bang on..pardon my language...its sad but it doesnt let me feel sorry for you...like losing hope but a raw anger wanting to fling those books strewn across the floor at something..somebody...

beautifully beautifully expressed.

Olivia said...

A sad note but very powerful!
The image your words painted was so vivid and clear!

We all have walked along this shore.. isn't it?
This is one brilliant write :)

Many Hugs xoxox

ayala said...

Sad but simply beautiful!

Anonymous said...

"Hope was blown through open doors
across the green beyond the street
to fall amongst the rubbish bins
where foxes fought for scraps to eat."

Pete, this flows so nicely. Wonderful word picture...

Rachel Hoyt said...

Sad but amazing. I love the opening lines and your imagery makes me feel I rode the wave too.

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Stopping by from One Shot. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Superb imagery. You really bring out the emotion.

budh.aaah said...

Hope, you didnt loose the grip on that hope completely..the only thing that keeps one alive thru the darkest night at times.

Corbie said...

Raw and emotional. You packed a punch with this one Pete. Thank you for sharing.

Bubba said...

Let's go knock back a few pints and wring this out for you, Pete!

knot eye said...

sometimes we need to remember to forget

great write Pete...flows with our lives

Peace, hp

thanks for stopping by, mate

Christine Ramsay said...

Your feelings of lost hope are expressed so vividly in this poem. A fantastic piece.

James Rainsford said...

A memorable and intelligent write, which has so many loved lines that I'm finding it hard not to feel envious of your talent. It reads as a very authentic and perceptive poem.
Thank you. James.

Linda said...

Descriptive,thoughtful and sad. Life is short.

Anonymous said...

some great lines in this one, especially the second and third stanza... I always seem to think rhyme as "old & sweet", yours was pure mod grit... wonderful~

Big Sur Blogisphere said...

Self-indulgence is the existential molasses of subjectivity.

OneLove--Tiger Windwalker

Anonymous said...

heart-wrenching! but beautifully written. amazing!

Joanna said...

Pete, this actually hurts. It's also so true for so many. Poignant write!

Vinay Leo R. said...

to not hope anymore is sad. and ur words echo it so, Pete! the first verse itself gets out the emotions! wonderful. back to Oneshot hop after awhile, planning to read as much as I can esp since I've no hopes of writing daily this summer :)

My One Shot Wednesday

Anonymous said...

Somehow (why) the flow of your quatrains here reminds me of Poe-- great write & fun to read out loud.

D.C. Lutz said...

Very nice one shot indeed, Pete. Really enjoyed the perfect flow of this piece. The last two lines dug deep and hit the bittersweet spot we like to keep hidden. Thanks for not being afraid to hit us where it hurts
Thanks for this

Lucy Fur Leaps said...

Very atmospheric and loved the way it all tied up in the last verse

Charlie Parant said...

very well written as is most of the things I have read of yours

Charlie Parant said...

very well written as is most of the things I have read of yours

M D Jordan said...

Love this line "where words were mixed with scattered doubts". Great imagery in these lines. I can see it and feel it.