Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Secrecy



“There is not a crime, there is not a dodge, there is not a trick, 
there is not a swindle, there is not a vice 
which does not live by secrecy.” 



"Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; 
art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine."

Secrecy is sometimes considered
of life or death importance. 

“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” 

― Benjamin FranklinPoor Richard's Almanack


Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park,
Photo by Diane Arbus (1962)

“A picture is a secret about a secret, 
the more it tells you the less you know.” 
― Diane Arbus

I feel that telling my secrets makes me less vulnerable. 
What would make me vulnerable are the secrets I keep. 



Midweek Motif ~ Secrecy


According to Wikipedia:
Secrecy (also called . . .  furtiveness) is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret.
Doesn't that make "secrecy" sound clinical and devoid of poetry? I love mysteries and parables which hold more secrets than can be unraveled at any one time. And I enjoy the characters in literature who have secrets or grapple with them. What about you?

Your Challenge:  Write a new poem with a secrecy motif or narrative.

Le Secret

Related Poem Content Details

Since I am   
Somebody’s dream,   
I have a good life. 

Sometimes I go away in my sailboat on a cloud   
and take a quiet little trip. 

I have a secret 
which I have learned how to read inside myself; 
if I told it to you, 
it would make you laugh. 

My heart is naked 
and no one can put clothes on it,   
and nothing can be put on 
that will not immediately fall off. 
        . . . .
       Read the rest HERE.

Related Poem Content Details

for Tomás Mendoza-Harrell & Lauro Flores
I cut / / / / /

I multiply everyday images. I apply an aluminum point. 
To the landscape. 
To the sentence. 
To the photo. 
To the figure. 
To the word. 

And suddenly, with a slight tremor of eyes, vertebrae and fingers, I 
destroy everything that exists. 

Through the years, I’ve rebuilt the cells, uncovered the signs of the cold, 
immaculate, academic vestibules and of the dead lips and histories in the 
metropolitan streets. 

My surgery is criminal. 

No one has been able to identify the skeletons, the remains, the thousand 
scattered nerves of personages I’ve gathered in order to bring this figure 
back to life. The scars are numberless and invisible. 

Who would suspect a grafik artist? 
Who would suspect this gray table as a chamber of murders? 
. . . . 
Read the rest HERE.


*** 

Please share your new poem(s) using Mr. Linky below and visit others 
in the spirit of the community

(Next week Sumana's Midweek Motif will be Birds.)

44 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing the secret - and wonderful to see Diane Arbus - her photography is stunning

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    1. Yes, Diane Arbus opened a new dimension in my seeing--or rather, it had been there, but I hadn't trusted it before seeing her work.

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  2. Hello all.. a great prompt- am sure there'll be quite a poetry feast today! Have a lovely day!

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    1. Truly! I have only read 9 so far, but I am stirred, inspired and need to wait a while before a second course. What a feast!

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  3. Oh the Merton poem is an absolute gem. I will read more...in fact I am so inspired I will do an erasure poem of Le Secret. Thank for the introduction and a great prompt Susan.

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    1. I agree with you! This may be the first Merton poem I've read (of course, I've read his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain), and it's whetted my appetite for more. Pity that I can't read French, but the English translation is delicious.

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    2. Maybe those who can read the original French will let us know if there are additional insights. I'd love to see your erasure poem, Rall. Will you do it in French or English?

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  4. an inspiring prompt Susan, glad i'm able to scribble some lines...thank you...

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    1. I am glad you were inspired to scribble more than a few lines. Looking forward to next week's prompt as well.

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  5. Hey everyone,

    Hope you are having an amazing week so far :D sharing my poem "The Secret" Thank you Susan for the wonderful opportunity..!!

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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    1. Thank you, Sanaa. Have a wonderful day.

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    2. Sanaa, your link doesnt seem to be working.

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    3. But I received your comment Sherry :)
      You're most welcome Susan.
      xo

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  6. Ten in the morning Eastern Time--a new record for sloth! I'm coming around to visit you all ASAP. In my defense, let me tell you I fell yesterday, bumping on my buttocks down 2 steps--that's all. No breaks and no spine involvement, but a bruise on one side of my buttocks that is the size of a dessert plate and deep purple. Oooph. But isn't that odd? Still trying ice to keep the swelling down. But it's the first time I fell in a year. I'll be more careful.

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    1. Amazing! And now I want to write another secrecy poem ...

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    2. oh my god, take care please Susan..

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    3. Ack! I worry about your back, thank heavens it didnt get injured. Yes, please be careful. Oy.

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  7. A very productive prompt for me, Susan, but I opted for sharing the simplest of the three poems I wrote. The other two remain secret...
    Take care!

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    1. We must keep some secrets, some privacy, I think. But maybe a few special people have access to those other two?

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  8. An intriguing prompt..........it sparked a rant. I am trying to tame it down for public consumption, before posting. Smiles.

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  9. Another dark part of my past, which too many members of the trans-community share.

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    1. Keep speaking in a poet's way, so that the abuse and the love need be secrets no more. Thank you.

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  10. I loved the pieces you chose today Susan--let's see if my somewhat addled brain comes up with something today

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    1. Give it time. It doesn't need to be today.

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  11. This is such a good prompt. Thanks for having such good ideas Susan.

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  12. I loved the pieces you chose today Susan--let's see if my somewhat addled brain comes up with something today

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  13. Luv the music video, thanks for a very interesting prompt Susan
    Good Wednesday every one

    Much love...

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    1. Thanks, Gillena. The video is one of my favorites.

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  14. Interesting prompt - I had to explore the secrets of the heart.

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  15. hidden in a poem
    silently the lock is closed
    secrets tucked away

    Always another great prompt to let loose a word drawing.

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    1. Thank you Leslie ... sometimes I forget the fantasy part of drawing and take it as real.

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  16. I shared my secret too :)
    Thanks for letting me!!!

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  17. I shared a secret from my kitchen :) Am very late, I know. Thanks for allowing me to participate, Susan!

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  18. I will return to read...I'm sorry to post and run...I need to feed the family. ♥

    Thank you, for the inspiration.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for nurturing us, too.

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    2. That's such a nice thing to say, Susan...thank you! :)

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  19. A great prompt, Susan! Thank you:)

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    Replies
    1. You are very welcome! I'm glad you posted a poem.

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