Words Come Out But The Essence Stays Within



The precious brain keeps arranging thought
in clusters making sense of outside things
and while with words a hold is always sought
the overload is leaving mouths on wings.
But deep inside the traces still remain
of what the eyes and ears with shock received.
Messed up seems order as the sticky stain
is often conscientiously perceived.
Burdensome when seeking clearer views
the wiping off may be the main process
because each day the smudge itself renews
and in the mind all sparks of light get less.
Pity those who take the evil in
due to fictional elicited sin.
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Submitted by ludy_b on August 25, 2013

Modified by ludy_b on May 02, 2021

29 sec read
537

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCDEFEFGG
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 551
Words 99
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

Ludy Bührs

The topics she writes about are very diverse, so are the poetry styles she applies. As a Dutch translator and poet, having lived in Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh for 2.5 years, in 2008 she published "Op de ruïnes van een rijk" (On the Ruins of an Empire) ISBN 978-90-8834-483-1 with 60 poems based on her experiences there. In 2007 she received a Certificate of Accomplishment as one of The Best Poems and Poets of 2007 issued by poetry.com and the International Library of Poetry for her poem Choked Truth, her own translation of "Verstikte waarheid", one of the poems in the book. Born in 1956, she still works as an independent translator, translating from English into Dutch. more…

All Ludy Bührs poems | Ludy Bührs Books

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8 Comments
  • robertl.92681
    that's it exactly ,we walk around in vague disorder, struggling to make sense of our own interpretations
    LikeReply21 days ago
  • teril
    I am so impressed by your ability to express yourself. This poem flows deceptively smooth because its images should stop it dead in its tracks!
    LikeReply 11 year ago
  • BU3
    It never ceases to amaze me how some things are so deep down and so far away that it takes the power of poetry to summon them. to the light. Prose will never have this ability. EXCELLENT, ludy-b
    LikeReply 12 years ago
    • ludy_b
      Thanks Ted! Yes, poetry brings people together by leaving 'space' for interpretations
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Thanks Ludy, the only school I have ever graduated from was the school of hard knocks and it shows, as the saying goes you can't make a purse from a sow's ear ! Quit school at 16 and worked until 65. In retirement since and not enjoying it either ! My body is broke and everything else doesn't work ! Cheers 
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • ludy_b
      Cheers to you too!
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Being a very novice poet, I apologize for my remarks and hope to be more observant in the future !
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • ludy_b
      You've not offended me, Douglas. I'm just explaining.
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Ludy, just having a little levity, sometimes poets get too serious and we need to smile at the world and say, why not ?
    LikeReply2 years ago
    • ludy_b
      Sure, I do like to smile at the world too. This poem however was written to express how I felt about raped women being condemned.
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    Ludy it is your duty to do your best, nothing more or nothing less !
    To be a poetess you must confess you are hooked in all this mess !
    Et Tu Brute.
    LikeReply 12 years ago
    • ludy_b
      This poem is not about me, but I'm fine with your interpretation
      LikeReply2 years ago
  • Soulwriter
    Wow Ludy. Powerful - one of your best.
    LikeReply 12 years ago
    • ludy_b
      Thank you! It is my first ever English sonnet. I felt very motivated when writing this.
      LikeReply2 years ago
    • Soulwriter
      It truly comes through in your writing.
      LikeReply 12 years ago

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"Words Come Out But The Essence Stays Within" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/91633/words-come-out-but-the-essence-stays-within>.

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