Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Thank you for sharing this challenge with us. I enjoyed reading. Yes, hope what we all must have. I believe that hope comes from God. If we have faith, He can work miracles with us. Again, thank you.

 Comment Written 25-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

I believe the same... Hope and faith are intertwined for me, hence seeking a flight path for our soul! Thank you!

Karenina

Comment from estory

Excellent

In this poem you really captured something of the contrast between hope and despair. You had those strong images of the feathers of hope, and that ominous bird, death, perched over your head, waiting for its moment. It is a poem of making the most of the moments of life. It is a free verse poem with a very contemporary style about it. estory

 Comment Written 25-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

Thanks! It IS free style, isn't it? I shirk from trying to write this way normally--I feel safer with the guardrails of meter and rhyme. This form forces me out of my comfort zone and I'm glad for it! I appreciate your comments...
Karenina

Comment from Patty Palmer

Excellent

Ok! I've never seen this type of poem neither. It took me four times to read it to figure out what we are supposed to do. I too will need to give it a shot myself, someday Glad to see you back. Good luck with this poem!
Patty.

 Comment Written 25-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

Yay! I'm hoping a few will jump on the bandwagon and give this form a try! I had no clue what I was doing and it took several attempts and some private messages from a few stellar FS members to point out the correct order of my lines, etcetera. (Another thing I love about the site.) I'm sure you'll do great with The Golden Shovel! Let me know when/if you post it!--

Thanks! --Karenina

Comment from Boogienights

Excellent

Our souls do drift but there is a plan in place and a destination. God has plans for us all and we begin again after Death, in another life. All the time we drift, God watches us. Thanks so much for sharing.

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

Yes. I agree. That's why we need to keep one eye on the flight path.... (smile)

Thank you,
Karenina

Comment from Raul1

Excellent

This is very interesting. I like how you set the poem with free verse. I did enjoy reading it. Excellent work! No mistakes found. Good job. Thank you for sharing!

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.

Karenina

Comment from mermaids

Excellent

This is quite a unique poetic form here and I am fond of Emily Dickinson's poems. "The flight path for our soul" is a wonderful line that gives the reader a feel of flying and enjoying life. Excellent use of words that touch the reader.

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

If I touched you, I am happy...

I love Emily's Poems too!

Thank you,

Karenina

Comment from DeboraDyess

Excellent

WOW!
I've never seen this poetic form before. I cannot even begin to imagine! YOu did a great job with it, though. And I believe you may have inspired me. I'm going to give it a try when I have a few extra... hours. lol
Thank you for sharing and educating!
Blessings,
Deb

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 25-Aug-2021

I had never seen it either! Please do write one! Let me know when you post it! It was challenging but once into it I really enjoyed the process! Many Thanks,
Karenina

Comment from Mark D. R.

Excellent

Karen,

This is inspired writing. We all need to live in the moment, regardless of our current struggles with our personal situations, the environment, and dealing judiciously with the Covid crisis.

The fight path for our soul is exquisite phrasing.

Mark

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 24-Aug-2021

Thank you Mark. We live in times of fragile melting hope and an awareness of the transitory nature of life--it's broadcast to us 24/7 lest we forget! Stir in personal crises and the rest... Best we can do is prepare for the final flight!

Karenina

Comment from jake cosmos aller

Excellent

love this sweet and profound meditation on life and death. I like the last line the best. My only suggestion would be to spell out a bit more the role that the bird plays in this poem. I am inspired to try my hand at a golden shovel poem and will post it a few days.

 Comment Written 24-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 24-Aug-2021

Hi Jake. Thanks for reading and for your suggestion. It's so difficult to expound more on the role the bird plays while sticking with the strict rules of the Golden Shovel to only have the number of exact end words that the line or lines in the poem one picks to utilize! I've enjoyed everyone's personal take on what the bird metaphor means to them, as well. AH, such is poetry!
Thank you, Karenina

Comment from Gloria ....

Exceptional

So wonderful to read another of your fine poems. I like that--The Golden Shovel. It is much like digging up gold. And what a superb job you have done of Miss Emily's poem that so many among us know and love.

Your carefully selected words speak to a fine truth, that death right alongside hope perches there the whole time, and warmth is the thing we need to thaw it out.

A superb write, and at the risk of repeating myself, post more please. :))

Gloria

 Comment Written 23-Aug-2021

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reply by the author on 24-Aug-2021

Thank you Gloria. I so enjoyed attempting this new (for me) form. Of course I chose lines from Emily! Soon as this next surgery is done I ought to be on my way to recovery and the ability to use my hands. I hope to post more then.

Karenina