I Will Survive You

Summary

Marla Bishop reflects on overcoming adversity through resilience and transformation, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and IdeaStream #94.

Abstract

In a poignant piece titled "I Will Survive You," Marla Bishop uses vivid imagery and complex vocabulary to convey her strength and recovery from a challenging period, metaphorically described as a "night of a thousand knives." She credits her resilience to an indomitable spirit, which acts as an embrocation erasing all lassitude, allowing her to emerge jubilantly into an endless offing, clear of every penumbra. Her poem is a testament to personal growth and the ability to thrive despite difficulties, inspired by the words of Xavier Van Holde and IdeaStream #94. Additionally, Bishop encourages readers to engage with poetry by providing a list of ten evocative words and challenging them to incorporate these terms into their own poetic expressions.

Opinions

The author conveys a sense of triumph over hardship, suggesting that past struggles can serve as a foundation for future conquests.
There is an underlying message of empowerment, emphasizing the author's ability to maintain her latitude and not be unbalanced by negative influences.
The poem reflects a belief in the transformative power of the human spirit, which can turn past scars into a palimpsest of strength and wisdom.
Bishop expresses gratitude towards Xavier Van Holde and the inspiration provided by IdeaStream #94, acknowledging the role of community and collaboration in personal growth.
The inclusion of a writing challenge indicates the author's opinion that creative expression is a valuable tool for processing and overcoming life's challenges.

I have survived worse

I guess you believed

your incipient cynosure,

an inure in a tightly-woven gossamer

would unbalance my latitude,

creating a palimpsest

from which to conquer

But indomitable is my embrocation

erasing all lassitude,

I emerge jubilantly

to an endless offing

clear of every penumbra

This poem was inspired by my night of a thousand knives, and IdeaStream #94. Thanks as always to Xavier Van Holde for the words.

You too can write poetry

Use these ten words in a poem!

Cynosure -a person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration.

Embrocation -a liquid for rubbing on the body to relieve pain from sprains and strains

Gossamer -a fine, filmy substance consisting of cobwebs spun by small spiders, seen especially in autumn

Incipient -beginning to happen or develop. or (of a person) developing into a specified type or role.

Inure -accustom (someone) to something, especially something unpleasant.

Lassitude -a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.

Offing -the more distant part of the sea in view.

Latitude -the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, or of the equator of a celestial object, usually expressed in degrees and minutes. Or, scope for freedom of action or thought.

Palimpsest -a manuscript or piece of writing material on which later writing has been superimposed on effaced earlier writing. Or, something reused or altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form.

Penumbra -the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object. Or, a peripheral or indeterminate area or group.

Marla Bishop is a writer and relationship coach specialising in helping others live lives they totally love. She lives in London UK with her husband and youngest two children. You can read more of her writings here: Lilith

I Will Survive You

I have survived worse

You too can write poetry

Ideastream №94

All is quiet with the world.