January 22, 2021 · 2:04 pm
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We Might – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: http://www.azeg,org an earth fissure in Arizona.

“The only journey is the one within.” Rainer Maria Rilke

We Might

We might have carved a fissure in our world
so fine that it seemed inconsequential 
in the dreams we held of plains and smoothness,
outside of time yet to be gathered.

So fine that it seemed inconsequential,
understood only in the loneliness of crowds,
outside of time yet to be gathered
with small gestures of compassion.

Understood only in the loneliness of crowds
where the silence is complete in the noise
with small gestures of compassion,
exploring every felt prospect of hope.

Where the silence is complete in the noise,
in the dreams we held of plains and smoothness,
exploring every felt prospect of hope,
we might have carved a fissure in our world.

©Paul Vincent Cannon

45 Comments

Filed under Free Verse, life, mindfulness, Pantoum, poem, quote

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45 responses to “We Might – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon”

  1. V.J. Knutson
    January 22, 2021 at 2:09 pm

    Loneliness in crowds, silence in noise – a portrait of life’s inconsistencies.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply
  2. rothpoetry
    January 22, 2021 at 3:10 pm

    I love this poem and the idea of creating fissures in the world. Seems those fine fissures grow into large rifts and faults. Hopefully our society can fill some of those fissures with compassion and love!
    You did a great job with the form!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. rugby843
    January 22, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    We certainly ly have carved a fissure in our part of the world that may never be repaired.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. newepicauthor
    January 22, 2021 at 5:00 pm

    Unconsolidated sediments resulting from tensional stresses associated with land subsidence.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  5. sandyjwhite
    January 22, 2021 at 5:29 pm

    Fissures have grown into canyons here. But I am hopeful we are on a road to healing.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Cindy Georgakas
    January 22, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    Such a great poem Paul to remind us the beauty of our earths gifts and the compassion need to change our world. love this “Where the silence is complete in the noise,

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. Michele Lee
    January 22, 2021 at 11:51 pm

    Unsettled ground that threatens to swallow us up while we are sleeping.

    Your line, “Understood only in the loneliness of crowds” reminds me how easy it is to get lost in a crowd and of a quote in The Great Gatsby, said by character, Jordan Baker. Referring to Gatsby’s parties, she said, ” He gives large parties, and I like large parties – they’re so intimate. Small parties, there isn’t any privacy.”

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  8. Liz Gauffreau
    January 23, 2021 at 4:04 am

    “We might have carved a fissure in our world” is such an intriguing line. Unlike fissures in nature, “carved” suggests that we created the fissure deliberately, but then “might” indicates that we’re just not sure.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. Rupali
    January 23, 2021 at 12:42 pm

    This is wonderful “small gestures of compassion”. There is always hope if we take care of our part.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. Holly Troy
    January 25, 2021 at 5:52 pm

    i love the leaps a pantoum pushes you to make. so lovely!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Amy
    January 25, 2021 at 7:00 pm

    loneliness, silence, hope… Love this poem, Paul.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. OIKOS™-Editorial
    January 28, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    I totally agree to the summarizing of VJ. Thank you for sharing these thoughts, Paul!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Charis Counselling
    March 26, 2021 at 1:19 am

    Great poem

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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