Lesson in comfort

[Isagel]

I ask how to comfort.
I can´t take her pain away.

She says
be still
tread softly
like
when you were five years old
and for the first time
allowed to
carry your mothers precious china
from the cupboard
to the table.

Be still
say nothing
just give me
warm milk
with a spoon of honey
and stay awhile.

Hello! Thank you all for the poems you share in this forum. I´m so glad I found this site. This is my first poem in english ( not counting my small beginner -haiku) I´m grateful for any comment on my grammer or spelling. /Isagel

[alissa]

this is really moving. i like the first two lines....their so honestly genuine. nice work! and your grammer, etc. is perfect.

[Isagel]

Thank you very much. I´m glad you liked it, and that the language is OK. Writing in english still feels a little bit like trying to talk with cotton in my mouth...

[den]

Some very simple but deep seated images here Isagel... I enjoyed this. So you did great in English.

May I ask, do you pronounce your name with a hard `g' or soft? It almost sounds gaelic to me.

[Isagel]

Thank you. Now I´m happy! I like poetry about evryday things, but it´s hard to write about them without being sentimental or banal. Perhaps I´ll dare to post more of my poetry. I´ll just have to translate it.

It´s pronounced with a hard g. The name is from my favorite books - "Aniara" by Harry Martinson.

[Koa]

Thank you. Now I´m happy! I like poetry about evryday things, but it´s hard to write about them without being sentimental or banal.

I'd love to be able to write about everyday things but I'm always so abstract instead. I really like your poem for this reason, all these everyday things in a poetic package ;)

[den]

Well Koa, see, this part of this poem:

"Be still
say nothing
just give me
warm milk
with a spoon of honey
and stay awhile."

That part to me provides imagery that is very personal to me, it sparks off abstract musings and detailed memories, or brings to the surface future expectations. It can mean everything and nothing tangible. That's why I liked this, it's so simple, yet very effectively evocative for anyone.

[Koa]

And? I wasn't saying it's not abstract or personal, but that I admire the way everyday elements are there... I wouldn't be able to express that feeling using milk and a spoon of honey... :)

[Isagel]

:oops:

Blushing.
Happily.

You´re so kind. Both of you.

[Sindhu]

It's really good Isagel- and the way you express so much with the minimumof equipment as it were is reamarkable. And as for langauage!! If you didn't tell us, I don't think anyone would even imagine you were not a native English speaker.