Sorrow from the clearing goes.
Joy there lost today.
Rejection grips as sadness grows.
The woods of darkness stay.
I’ll follow sorrow, if I may.
It wanders mindfully.
“Don’t waste your time,” the wise may say,
“Those woods are dark. You’ll lose your way.”
Forgiveness strengthens me.
Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Lillian is hosting with the theme of opposites. Also linked to Debbie Roth’s Forgiving Fridays.
Photos: “Light Green Dark Green”, above, and “Upside Down Reflection of Right Side Up”, below.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 
Have always loved “reflection” photos….where the tree or mountain is seen in the water. Juxtapositioning of joy and sorrow work very well here, Frank. And as always, I always enjoy your use of rhyme. You do it so effortlessly. 🙂
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I am glad you liked them, Lillian. Thank you for the prompt!
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I do love where you took this… the contrast between the wood and the clearing works so well to the sorrow and joy…
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I am glad you liked that, Bjorn. I rewrote that poem many times. Thank you!
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‘the woods of darkness stay.’ I like that line.
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I’m glad. Thank you, Jane!
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🙂
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Love the contrast of emotions of joy and sorrow ~ And the ending line nicely wraps it with:
Forgiveness strengthens me.
That tree photo with shades of green is just cool and stunning !
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That photo was taken just after sunset. The light seemed strange in the field through the tree. Thank you, Grace!
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Joy and sorrow…wonderfully juxtaposed in this deceptively simple poem. Wonderful, Frank! 🙂
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I’m glad you liked this. Thank you, Frank!
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I love how forgiveness brings light to the dark woods of doubt and despair! Well done Frank!
Dwight
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It gives one courage to venture there. Thank you, Dwight!
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Ah Frank. You know that forgiveness always brings the light. Beautiful psalm
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The light gives strength. Thank you, Mark!
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It does strenghten, thank you for the inspiration Frank!
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So uniquely done poetry and the pictures are very beautiful!
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I am glad you liked them, Pragalbha! Thank you!
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You are welcome Frank.
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Hi Frank,
the way to dreams always leads through the dark forest and because of that few people have passed it.
Great poem
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Good point. We need to go though those dark forests. Thank you, Ben!
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I love the shift from four-line to five-line stanza, which marks the shift in tone from sorrow to resolution. Nicely done, Frank.
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It does! Good observation. I wasn’t sure why I made that second stanza longer. I didn’t know how to finish the poem. Thank you, Kim!
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A very unique response to the prompt, I like it very much.
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Thank you, Vandana!
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I love that second stanza–and the knowledge that sorrow cannot hurt a traveler when coupled with forgiveness.
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Forgiveness gives strength no matter what happens. Thank you!
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The last line embodies the power of the entire write. Forgiveness does indeed allow us wander through darkness.
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Yes. I think it does. Thank you, Vivian!
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😊
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FoResT SHades
LeaveS oN
HiGH
Be
SunShine
Roots Feed MoRN NoW..:)
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I like your description of sunshine feeding morning. Thank you, Fred!
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Thanks
Frank
It’s kinda
Bright 8
Days
A Week..;)
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So tender and beautiful! ❤
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Thank you! I am glad you liked it.
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Like Frank T. says, the joy and sorrow are juxtaposed, but they are also strangely intertwined, unified through the grace that comes from being able to both offer and accept forgiveness brings. I especially like how sorrow “wanders mindfully” – rendering another hidden recursive antithesis within itself. So lovely.
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I’m glad you liked the phrase “wanders mindfully”. Opposites make each other known. Thank you!
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kaykuala
I’ll follow sorrow, if I may.
Forgiveness strengthens me.
One may be sad but at least there is compassion to prop things up. A bad situation has no where to go but up!
Hank
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Compassion often helps. Good point about the direction that lies ahead. Thank you, Hank!
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I don’t know what it is, but I love how the poem feels in my mind. Deep, and simple!
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I am glad you found this deep and simple. Thank you, Jay!
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You are welcome!
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I enjoyed your joy and sorrow.
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Thank you, Annell!
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a very thoughtful poem.
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Frank, this is beautiful. Thank you for your contribution to #ForgivingFridays! Forgiveness is a bridge of grace between two seemingly opposite experiences, in my experience. I love how you put it “forgiveness strengthens me”, perhaps helping not to lose sight of the loving.
You are a wonderful writer, Frank, and the photos are exquisite. I’ll share this in tomorrow’s post.
Blessings!! Debbie
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Thank you, Debbie! I am glad you liked both the poem and photos.
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I really love the theme of this poem, Frank.
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Thank you, Robbie! It was one way to do the opposites prompt. I am glad you liked it.
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