Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
#Gogyohka: Tainted
“Scared is what you’re feeling. Brave is what you’re doing.”
― Emma Donoghue, Room
dark thoughts tainted with fear
as uncertainty abounds
cast upon this rocky shore
my mind a woven basket
where I am trapped, alone
©2020 Linda Lee Lyberg
Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Challenge #187 #Photoprompt
dVerse Poets Pub: OLN The pub opens at 3PM EST.
Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page
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Charmed Chaos 
Excellent, Linda!
BTW, did you know Emma Donoghue has a new book out? I want to read it. It’s set during the 1918 flu pandemic.
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Oh wow, no I didn’t. Will look into it.
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I think it just came out this week.
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Written as a metaphor, this is just a powerful write. Both the rocky shore and the woven basket can be metaphorical for so many things: health challenges, age of Covid, any kinds of serious troubles. I think the idea of a rocky shore portends sharp points, hard surfaces that hurt….difficulty finding safe harbor. So important to know, while it may be true we have to meet our circumstances alone in terms of how we react to them there are many who sail nearby – to use a similar metaphor – who can help light the shore to find that safe harbor in moments when the terror is at its height.
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What a lovely comment Lillian. Thank you.
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So true. Love this comment.
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Very powerful, Linda. The image of the basket is clever – it’s such a benign domestic article, but can also be a dangerous trap. Uncertainty is so uncomfortable. I feel for you.
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Thank you kindly Sarah.
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This is gorgeously rendered, Linda! 💝 The mind as a woven basket implies so many things .. but most importantly it reminds me that nothing can enter inside unless we allow it. 🙂 Here’s to dispelling uncertainty and fear! 🥰
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Thank you Sanaa.
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So palpable in this concise piece. It makes me want to reach out to the one that feels so alone. You are not alone.
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Thank you so much Mish.
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Your gogyohka is perfumed with the tainted essence of fear, Linda, and I like the metaphors of the rocky shore, a scary place to be, and the woven basket – basket weaving was an occupation used in many asylums in the bad old days of the 19th century.
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That’s an interesting fact Kim. Thank you!
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Linda, interesting that you see the basket on the edge of the water. You’re safe for now, my friend.
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Thank you Lisa.
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beautifully imagined, felt, realised and written Linda -great stuff…
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Thank you Scott.
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succinct and so powerful, don’t feel alone. A virtual hug! 🙂
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Thanks much.
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Fear coupled with loneliness, combined with civil unrest and dangerous weather, harnessed to a pandemic–damn rights we feel conflicted, stifled, helpless, and in danger.
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Yes, to be sure.
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This is gorgeously metaphorical. It fits our troubled times … and fits many personal times when we feel burdened and alone. Beautiful write.
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Thank you, truly.
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So beautifully penned, startling and haunting in imagery. The mind can be a terrible place to be trapped in. The isolation of thoughts contort reality to the perspective it changes from based on the cause.
An amazing piece, yet again. Well-written and well done with what it communicates.
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Thank you.
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A somber write, Linda. Let’s dwell only on those things that are good and lovely…as much as possible
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Yes, thank you Vivian.
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What a great image to illustrate your poetic images. Fear is a lonely companion. Hang in there. We are all here and we all care about your future!
Dwight
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At this point, any praise I have for this piece ( and I DO have plenty) has already been stated and re-stated. So, just let me echo that, hopefully amplify it. Phenomenal work!
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Thank you so much Ron.
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I love the way the poem explores the quote and the images, particularly of the basket which is quite striking by being different and very real.ANd relevant as we are all having to live with a range of fears that can come in waves of differing intensity.
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Thank you for your thoughtful words.
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The mind does resemble a woven basket. Great images. (K)
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Thank you.
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Wonderful. Your poem feels like it’s for me today.
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Powerful metaphors in this piece, Linda. I felt your words! And, you are never alone, my dear friend. ❤
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Thank you Colleen.
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Lovely and powerful!
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Thank you.
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This has such a haunted feeling, the abrupt ending, “where I am trapped, alone” like a door slamming shut. Nicely done! ~Jason
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Thank you!
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kaykuala
my mind a woven basket
where I am trapped, alone
One would be immobile and seemingly helpless in such a situation. Good metaphor, Linda
Hank
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Thank you.
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A very fiting poem for the times. Between the social turmoil and Covid, we are all feeling a bit isolated with our uncertainy.
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Yes Drew, and compound that with me finding out I have breast cancer, it’s been tough. 🙏🏻❤️
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Oh, my God. I missed that.
I am so sorry. I hope you caught it in the early stages.
Why does this happen o such a beautiful person. I will pray for you. xoxo
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Thank you so much. ❤️
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💖💖
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