This Poem was Submitted By: Debbie Spicer On Date: 2004-03-11 11:22:48 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!To Listen to Music While Reading this Poem, just Click Here!
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Compassion I beheld the tenderness of your eyes
Once you knew of my invidious past.
You’re incisive, reflective heart
Manifested completely for me to view.
Kindness rare yet treasured now
You weren’t even there to grasp the pain.
You refused to allow fear to keep you away
You embraced me as a treasured gift.
My eyes filled with tears of joy
Believing in me without question.
You accepted me as your friend
Essential in emending my self-esteem.
Emboldened to find grace without dispute
Believing compassion was all but gone.
No questions were asked of me by you
A gift of gratitude abides in my heart.
Clemency lives and breathes in you
I will stand in splendor and journey on.
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Copyright © March 2004 Debbie Spicer
Additional Notes:
For the past three years many of you have listened and responded with healing and helpful words and more caompassiont than I could have ever asked for I believe each of you who know me realize how healing this know how much this has meant to me and I will always thank you for being there, giving me hope, and helping me discover this is a process, which takes time. It has given me more compassion for others... thank you all
so much...
This Poem was Critiqued By: Erzahl Leo M. Espino On Date: 2004-04-07 08:35:44
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.62500
Hi Debbie,
You are very welcome Debbie! Yes, your life is no secret to members of TPL. I’m glad that poetry had been a tool for your therapy. I’m also glad that our responses had also been a big help to your healing. That’s what is good in life…”a give and take” relationship. We give and we take, you give and you take…and “compassion” is one great thing to share about. It’s contagiously beautiful!
“Kindness rare yet treasured now”
--- This line captured my heart too!
“You embraced me as a treasured gift.”
--- Unforgettable! Lyrically powerful!
“I will stand in splendor and journey on.”
--- Great ending!
--- Continue to seize and discover the beauty and mystery of life!
Thank you also Debbie for the lessons and experience of life. Your courage and strength have touched my life too (that is true!). I have a friend who asked for a haiku /senryu to described her. I have made one, and I want to dedicate this to you also. I hope you like it for it suits you too!
“Your tears are your strength
Filling the cup of your faith
Let life springs from well”
- I can see the new life and hope in your smiles! One day, I will post this in TPL and will put dedication to you in the “additional notes”. I hope you won’t mind.
See you around TPL Debbie just keep in touch every now and then! I hope your health is fine. Praying for your safety and health.
As always,
Erzahl :)
This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-03-27 19:51:12
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.56000
Dear Debbie,
This is so wonderful to read and to realize how much progress you have made in the last 3 years. You are so much more secure, and so much freer then I have ever known you to be.
This poem is a wonderful tribute to those on the link that have been so good to you, to me and to all others that have found compassion, companionship, encouragement and love from this site. TPL is very much a one of a kind site. Glad to hear from you again. Hope you have a wonderful time with JoMo. I'll be thinking of you!
Love,
Sherri
This Poem was Critiqued By: Andrea M. Taylor On Date: 2004-03-23 21:32:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Debbie,
I cannot be unbiased. I won't pretend to be.
I, personally, can only say that our most fortunate black and white poetic link in search of humans in the humanities brought me bright color and friendship. We come and go into this road of life alone, but our journey's companions make the difference in going in a direction or having one. My detour here has been blessed by meeting you as well.
You speak of wounds healing and accepting scars. How can one critique a valuable life lesson? We all benefit from a little Vitamin E for the soul. Sometimes words are just to be heard and not measured. This peace spoke volumes to me. God bles, my friend.
Andrea
This Poem was Critiqued By: Leo Wilder On Date: 2004-03-22 15:16:50
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
Debbie,
Though I haven't been here to know the entire history, I do know compassion and you have written well.
"I will stand in splendor and journey on."
If this is accomplished who could ask for much more.
Wish I was better at this critiquing business. I just know what I like and this I like.
Leo
This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2004-03-19 10:48:06
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.72727
Dear Debbie,
This is a truly lovely tribute to all here at TPL who have lent emotional support and love in
your trials these past few years. But I think it also says alot you as well, to be able to see the
forrest through the trees, if you know what I mean. I also think you may be crediting others
with some things you also own, but you might just be too selfless to see or admit it, and that's
not a bad quality in a human being. Unusual, but not bad. :) Like maybe these people that you are
writing your tribute to are a clear beautiful pond that reflects back to you the very image of
yourself.
I havent been around TPL that long, just since last august, but I do know what you mean about
the acceptence that can be found here. It is like no other internet site I know of. That doesn't surprize me though. Poets are a breed of people that think and feel deeply.
I hope I don't distract anything from your delightful poem by stating these things. I enjoyed
reading this piece and look forward to your future submissions.
Blessings and thanks for sharing,
Jennifer
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne Duval Morgan On Date: 2004-03-12 14:00:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.00000
Oh Debbie, the best friend, the tenderness in the eyes, the forgiveness of folly, wrong decisions made, and yet no judgement, just true compassion, never having had the opportunity of meeting, and I don't think there are many here you meet personsally, I do believe this is a moast heartfelt and truly compassionate tribute to the one individual who has see your through a multitude of emotions, and he has never never judged, just stood by offering his strength, and his love, based on the true foundation of what your marriage is based on, then I believe your children has demonstrated compassion and love with no judgement, and then finally Sydney her throws excited arms around your neck, and loves you with no judgement, and that's what truly counts, a compassionate, loving, caring and endurning family, now you take extended metaphor, and there have been many who identified, felt your pain, sensed your strength, that's your extended family. All that compassionate is easy to give, for you are one compassionate woman, with a strength that will see you trough, and finally allow the true measure of peace and tranquility. Wonderful tribute, written very, very well (as usual).
I sat earlier typing a respnse, to be thrown off the site, for some unknown reason. I had burned my candle at both ends at that point, but I know I could dig up enough energy to accomplish what I attempted earlier.
I've said this for months, as you crawled, then toddled, and eventually walked, that you had the God giben endurance, and strength to beat the demons of the past, and it has come to past, and so easily once again I tell you of the pride I feel in your accomplishment, for I am proud of you....Love always, Big Sis, Jo
This Poem was Critiqued By: Claire H. Currier On Date: 2004-03-12 12:12:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.16667
And journey on your life's highway my friend for you , above all, deserve to find happiness within your heart and your life....this is a wonderfully executed piece and the title is so befitting it.....your structure is good, your word flow allows for all of the emotions felt within to reach out to those who are reading and who understand what you are feeling....I for one wish you nothing but the best in life......I know you can do well since you have come a long way from the past that I found you in at first....The Lord is always by your side, never forget that my friend........and today is the first day of the rest of your life.......God Bless, Claire
This Poem was Critiqued By: Marcia McCaslin On Date: 2004-03-11 19:24:33
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.38889
Hi Debbie--I just critqued this--and yet it's still here on my new poems. I closed out and re-started
my computer--came back and it still shows as new on my list. Just ignore this--I'll get it
worked out and do a real critique. (Good to 'read' you again!) Marcia McCaslin
This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-03-11 15:02:04
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.72000
Nice beginning to this emotional poem. It "hauls" the reader right in.
Essential in emending my self-esteem. -[mending or amending?]
My eyes filled with tears of joy
Believing in me without question.
[You seemed to alter the tense with "Believing"? Could a substitute be found? Not a big deal though!]
In S3, you have "believing" again, but with you doing it instead of the person in S2, making it more fitting in my opinion.
Minor details, for I did enjoy the read and appreciate what you must have experienced to write such a piece. Best wishes, good health, peace. wl
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-03-11 14:43:20
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.12500
Hi Debbie,
I am so glad you are back!! This is such a loving and giving piece and it brings tears
to my eyes. A love so full of compassion and understanding is rare in these times.
Marriage has become so 'hum drum' that some say 'Oh well if it doesn't work out we will
get a divorce.'...and they do. I love your first line...'I beheld the tenderness of your
eyes' I find this statemnt very telling...you did not say 'in your eyes' indicating that
it could as easily go away but instead said 'the tenderness of your eyes' as if this
is a permanent condition...wonderful. I have to admit the use of 'invidious' in the
second line sent me scrambling for my dictionary...but it is used perfectly and enhances
the meaning. You tell us how this man opened up his heart with no questions asked and
embraced you even though he was well aware of your trauma. You do this with words like..
..tenderness, completly, kindness, treasured, embrace, tears of joy, acceptance, compassion,
gratitude are only some...but each word or phrase is like a lookingglass into your soul
giving the reader a clear image of this wonderful man and the love you have for each other.
The ending is perfect and just as loving and beautiful as the entire poem...'clemency
lives and breaths in you..I will stand in splendor and journey on' Yes you will and I don't
think that journey will be very bumpy from now on as you continue to heal. Thanks for
sharing this and write on!
Love Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: Jordan Brendez Bandojo On Date: 2004-03-11 12:05:11
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Debbie,
I'm glad to see your submission again. And oh, this one is a magnificent inspiring
message to the persons who once inspired you and will continue to inspire you as
you continue living. I know the painful experience before, I kept on reading the
updates in the forum usually given by JoMo. Your words are very true and straight
from the heart. In our life we shared moments/experiences from people and we
learned to be more thankful, merciful and compassionate to others. You have made
a life-sharing thought here.
You have lovely start:
"I beheld the tenderness of your eyes
Once you knew of my invidious past."
But recalling the past seems to bring sorrow as you had a painful experience.
But I know that you are recalling those days with great realization that you
are loved.
"You accepted me as your friend
Essential in emending my self-esteem." --- Friendship is what makes our life
enjoyable and meaningful. How thoughtful your words are!
As you nicely started the piece, you ended it with an acceptance to life to journey on.
"Clemency lives and breathes in you
I will stand in splendor and journey on"
It is inspiring to note! We hope we continue to live in the light of God's love.
Thank you for sharing, Debbie.
Write on!
Jordan
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