Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Binocular View

One Shot Wednesday

Sometimes it takes the prisoner to understand what freedom really is,
and maybe only the humble heart can recognize when pride is slipping in.
It takes a child to trust the wisdom of the old one's words,
and perhaps only a dying man can realize what a healthy life is worth.
Sometimes it take the one who has completely lost it all
to appreciate what it means to be first to cross the finish line,
and maybe only a penniless person can truly comprehend the value of a dime.
It takes the one down in the valley low to take awe at the mountain  high in the air,
and perhaps only the eyes looking from the farthest distance can get the closer view of what is truly there.



"A penny will hide the biggest star in the Universe if you hold it close enough to your eye."  ~Samuel Grafton


Also sharing with lovely Emily at Imperfect Prose
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37 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    brilliantly said....perfection.

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  2. signed...bkmFebruary 15, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    simply beautiful....bkm

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  3. Sherry Blue SkyFebruary 15, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Carrie, this is WONDERFUL!!!! So flowing and beautiful and with immense life-wisdom. This poem is a true gem.

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  4. LauraFebruary 15, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Carrie this is filled with soulful wisdom...as Sherry shares above...magnificent!

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  5. S. EtoleFebruary 15, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    hard lessons learned ...

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    Insightful piece, love the hypocrisy of the thought - the prisoner to know freedom, the humble to see pride, the dying to know life. It is a strange quality of life, don't you think? That we cannot see these things in ourselves, when we have them? Merely when we are looking in, or watching them slip away...All so true. Great write.

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  7. DulceFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    *only the eyes looking from the farthest distance can get the closer view of what is truly there.*
    So often does it happen, that's why the further we get, the clearer we get to see...
    Great one, lovely Carrie!
    hugs

    PS.Thanks for your visit
    :)

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  8. SusannahFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    True and beautiful! Wonderful writing Carrie. :-)

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  9. Nellie from Beyond My GardenFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    That is beautiful.
    nellie

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  10. MaryFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Carrie, a beautifuly written poem! I can empathize!

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  11. dustusFebruary 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    "It takes a child to trust the wisdom of the old one's words, / and perhaps only a dying man can realize what a healthy life is worth." So true. Your poem is full of well-expressed wisdom. Written wonderfully, Carrie.

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  12. flaubertFebruary 15, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Carrie, that is so beautiful and full
    of wisdom.

    Pamela

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  13. Brian MillerFebruary 15, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    yeah i think you got that right...i had to lose most everything to realise what i had...i am doing good thank you for asking...

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  14. CatyFebruary 15, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    terrific and very wise. Such beautiful words...

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  15. Thoughts Not LostFebruary 15, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    Wise and thoughtful, I enjoyed reading!

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  16. Mommy EmilyFebruary 15, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    i'm so glad you're going to share this at imperfect prose... i needed this message, today, carrie... the reminder that everything happens with reason... it's about gratitude... thank you friend. so grateful for you.

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  17. GlynnFebruary 15, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    It takes not having to appreciate what having is. The peom encompasses a range of "haves" and "losses" - and it does well. Beautiful, Carrie.

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  18. MontyFebruary 16, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    a well done lesson for some of us in perceptions. loved it and has such a wonderful flow in free verse :)

    Monty / bum

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  19. Carrie Van HornFebruary 16, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Thank you everyone for stopping by and taking the time to read it....i wrote this one many years ago when I was going through a divorce....my heart was full then of all the "haves" and "losses" life can provide.
    :-)

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  20. ClaudiaFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    yep - very wise words..reminds me of a song with lines like who never walked the valley can not really enjoy the view from the top of the hill..

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  21. BubbaFebruary 16, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    And who can appreciate the worth of God more than a sinner? Thoughtful words, Carrie!

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  22. libithinaFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    each and everyone a profound truism ~ from afar and distanced can we perhaps achieve clarity ~ brilliant ~ Lib ~ @libithina ~http://t.co/tXpkzwp

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  23. Steve IsaakFebruary 16, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Smart, good work.

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  24. SulthanaFebruary 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    This is simply beautifully written, I love contrasts!

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  25. LaureFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    we lift the cup to our needful lips understanding this is the way we lift it for another.

    my first visit here.

    thank you.

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  26. UnknownFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    I love the line about a penniless person comprehending the value of a dime. Enjoyed this :)

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  27. James Christopher SheppardFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    I really like the sentiment of this poem. It rings very true. Thank you for sharing. :)

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  28. MaggieFebruary 16, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    Gorgeous poetry, Carrie.

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  29. Southern GalFebruary 16, 2011 at 7:53 PM

    This one. Wow. Your words are full of wisdom.

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  30. Katherine KrigeFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:34 PM

    The hardest lessons are the ones we learn best, aren't they. A nice piece that sinks in and lingers.

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  31. The UnknowngnomeFebruary 16, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Well written and well worth reading again and again. A nice pendulum.

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  32. budh.aaahFebruary 16, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    Hmmm..deep and so true.

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  33. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Beautiful, concise. You have rolled wisdom into a blanket, folded it and made it warm and comforting to any who will listen. Very well written!

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  34. Shashidhar SharmaFebruary 17, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    Dear Carrie
    I could not agree with you more.. and in the end, the quote was perfect..

    ॐ नमः शिवाय
    Om Namah Shivaya
    http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/02/whispers-night-along-sea.html
    Twitter @VerseEveryDay

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  35. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    This was super. Looking at the picture you used for your blog, I thought you might want to see a short poem I found on my travels today
    http://verseforthecynical.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/narcissus/

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  36. LynFebruary 17, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    Each phrase wiser than the last..quite amazing!

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  37. Kati patrianoceuFebruary 18, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Wow, this is beautiful and perfect. I was going to pick out my favourite line but I like them all. So true!

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"Our best thoughts come from others." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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