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The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

I Never Knew You


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I never knew your person

I only knew your face

How elegant that picture

Each image filled with grace

I used to pause in wonder

And sigh “How beautiful,”

And every time I would forget

That this faery girl was real.

I never even knew you

I only saw your face

How elegant those pictures

Each image filled with grace

My sister used to tell me

About your floor-length hair

And I would sigh in envy

And forget without a care.

I never knew your feelings

I only knew your face

How elegant that picture

Each image filled with grace.

And then a sudden tragedy

I sat at home alone

Until the one who’s strongest

Came home and sat right down.

The thing that scared me most that night

Was not the loss so true

But the havoc that it wreaked in us

Even me, not knowing you.

I watched my sister, always strong

As she dissolved into tears

And sobbing brokenheartedly,

That was my greatest fear.

I didn’t know how to fix it

This pain that cut so deep

I tore her heart open so wide

I could see nearly every beat.

And even though I never knew you

I knew the loss was felt

And tears leaked from my own soul

From sorrow, pain, and guilt.

Why could I not help her to mend?

Why could I only watch?

As my strongest sister melted

Her tears without a staunch.

I never even knew you

I only knew your face

But each image was so beautiful

Each picture filled with grace.

We don’t know how to stop these things

Or even how to mend

But deep inside we all know

We will see you again.

No longer will I not know you

No longer just your face

I will get to know your person

Because of endless grace.

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In case anyone is wondering, this is based off of last year. At my school there were a couple of rapid, close together suicides, and one of them was my older sister's good friend. It hurt a lot. I'm involved in a club called Voices, and we publish a Literary Magazine every year, and that year there was a tribute to the girl my sister knew. I wrote this after reading through those again.

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I agree, the emotion is strong, sincere, and shines through quite well. I also liked the repetition, it helped seat the emotion of the poem in my mind.

 

I do have one thing you might want to consider. When you get some time, look it through and consider how it might look with more than one stanza. Some breaks at the repetition lines might work well...and if you decide you like it better the way it is, then just ignore what I said. :lol: Either way, nice work.

Edited by Da_Yog
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Very well wirtten poem Kikuyu. You have captured the scene exceptionally well from the objective perspective. The repitition as other have stated works remarkably well to drive home over and over the respectful distanced adoration of the author in respect ofthe subject matter.

 

Regarding the subject matter, might I suggest buying the work of Kahlil Gibran - a short book called "The Prophet" which is written in a very easy to read format. One of the quotes that stands out regarding this particular piece is:

 

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

 

"The deeper sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain."

 

Apt truisms in my opinion from my experience.

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Ooooh. My parents gave me the Prophet to read when I was young. Wow, 1966? Great recommendation! And now I wanna read it again.

 

Anyway, I found myself reading this aloud the second time, with the repetition working like a choral refrain for me. This felt like a song. I'd love to hear someone like Aimee Mann sing it.

 

I'm with Da Yog - line breaks would visually make it easier for the eye to flow through. Specially for we ADHD readers who distract ourselves! :P

 

I love it when you post, you always give me something I can feel.

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