It is hard to
live fully above ground.
The nail that sticks
up gets hammered down.
Protected in silent procrastination
like a seasonal hibernation,
sleeping through until cessation.
When things settle down
I'll return once more,
But until then, I'm
waiting for the thaw.
Shared with dVerse Quadrille #238 – hibernate.
The initial line is taken from Jae Rose’s poem ‘Coax’.
Thank you – I am really honoured and how wonderful to see how you have used the line in your poem and that it lives in another person – Jae
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Cheers for the line Jae 🙏
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A great Quadrille. I love the way you used the nail getting hammered down to show why we sometimes procrastinate and hibernate to protect ourselves.
Well done!
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Thanks Dwight 🙏
I still do it! I get really sleepy if my wife is in a foul mood! I daren’t tell her to have a nap – so I’ll have one instead and hope that things have improved when I wake up!
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:>) I love it!
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I like the metaphor of the nail, and it gives me assurance that staying out is what is good.
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We may snag on clothes but it’s better than accepting a pounding!
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hope when the poet emerges he gets to hold the hammer!
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I’ll take that hammer and turn it into pencils!
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Your imagery and metaphor is hypnotic. You are definitely a natural poet. Kudos on a Stellar poem!
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Thank you so much 🙏 I would disagree that it is natural though – take a look back to the poems that I wrote in the 80s! Haha!
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Wise thoughts!
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Thanks Rosemary 🙏
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Oh I like the nail metaphor, as I relate it to current times. Staying in or out is difficult.
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That’s true – so may as well stick out!
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I, too, like the nail metaphor. It makes me think about when to stick out and when to rest.
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True. We have to fit in sometimes to know when it’s best to stick out!
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I survived 24 winters in Minnesota ~ if I had waited for the thaw, half of my life would have lived in your underground! I really enjoyed this poem Shaun. Happy Holidays and thank you for leaving me a comment.
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Thanks Helen 🙏 No real holidays here in Thailand at this time of year but we get plenty of others to make up for it!
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Shaun, perfect title for your poem. Reading the comments enhances the meaning even more.
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Thanks Lisa 🙏
I believe that I have an early memory of learning that, just because I shut my eyes, doesn’t mean that I can’t still be seen!
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:)
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Very powerful – The metaphor about nail will stay with me.
Long time back during a safety training at a construction site, the trainer advised that running away from trouble is a wise decision.
But then I also remember the lines from Kenny Rogers – “Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man”
https://sumandebray.blogspot.com
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Thanks Sumana 🙏 We need to pick our battles carefully.
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I am waiting for the thaw now. Stayed inside today, and no school for the kids tomorrow.
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