The Wound Is Old – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Photo: a fallen trunk of a Jarrah tree, taken at Jarrah Loop Walks, between Bridgetown and Nannup.

“Masculine and feminine roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed.” Judith Butler

The Wound Is Old

The wound is old, though not 
completely grown over,
showing its dark promise
through the soft, feathered edge,
trying to rejuvenate its center,
the turn from shame and the 
imposition of guilt, which down
the long grain of time has
squandered the meeting of 
masculine and feminine, a 
denial of possibility, the loss of
a trust barely formed in myths of 
carefully constructed obscurantism,
those fictions of favour cemented
in the decline of life.


Copyright 2021 ©Paul Vincent Cannon
All Rights Reserved ®

29 Comments

Filed under awareness, Forest, Free Verse, identity, life, poem, quote

29 responses to “The Wound Is Old – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

  1. It really looks like the moss is trying to patch the hole in the tree. Wow you found a perfect interpretation in this poem. Masculine and feminine traits are supposed to be united but have been separated, it would take a long time for the wound to heal…

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Both image and poem are very thought-provoking. The struggle for personal identity and connection with others seems an ongoing challenge.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Trust is an important word. Butler is a favourite of Daughter #2. She is a consultant on gender issues. personally, I believe in “neither nor.” Neither Nature alone nor Culture alone. It is a bit of both. Yes, many roles (but not all) are social constructs. As in all, Yin and Yang form a mix…
    take care.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Profound words, Paul.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. great capture and message Paul 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  6. blindzanygirl

    Ah, masculine and feminine. I like this Paul

    Liked by 1 person

  7. A striking photo and a thought-provoking poem, Paul! Someone’s sexual orientation and gender identification don’t concern me. My relationships with the vast majority of people will never be of a sexual nature. I do have concern for how people who deviate from norms are often persecuted. No rational reason for that! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Pingback: The Wound Is Old – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon – Nelsapy

  9. lync56

    Amazing poem

    >

    Liked by 1 person

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