The Halfway Mark

8 Aug

The backside of halfway is scarey as hell.
Germinating and first growth have an energy all their own —
the life force rises, seeking light.
The budding flower stage is beauty unfolding,
the reward for all the hard work, delivering the fruits of labor.
But the next stage–the fading petals, shriveling–
I freeze at the thought.
Is there beauty in shrinking, going to seed?
Why cant we just hover perpetually at that full bloom stage?
Why do I have to know how my story ends?

This is written in response to today’s Sunday Scribblings prompt. You can see what other participants had to say about “halfway” here.

18 Responses to “The Halfway Mark”

  1. Nessa August 8, 2010 at 12:21 pm #

    There is lots of hard work on the other half.

    Reply
    • anthonynorth August 8, 2010 at 1:22 pm #

      Loved the ending to this.

      Reply
      • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:19 pm #

        Thanks Anthony, hoping it’ll be a long time before I learn the ending of that other story.

    • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:13 pm #

      @Nessa I suspect it’s harder work than the first half.

      Reply
  2. Me a writer? August 8, 2010 at 1:26 pm #

    The tension of was becoming now – the watershed caught well. Thanks for dropping by. My Sunday Scribble

    Reply
  3. G-Man August 8, 2010 at 1:35 pm #

    Nara Malone….?

    Loved your post!

    …Blowin in the wind.

    Reply
    • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:17 pm #

      Hey G-Man! Glad you dropped in. I’m trying to be organized enough this week to have a 55 together by Friday.

      Reply
  4. BJ Roan August 8, 2010 at 1:45 pm #

    I vote for hovering at that full bloom stage, at least for longer than most. Well written response to the prompt.

    Reply
    • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:18 pm #

      I’m all for the hovering too. Midpoint in the plot is my favorite spot.

      Reply
  5. Leo August 8, 2010 at 2:14 pm #

    beautiful wordplay, lovely ending to a quite beautiful poem!

    Reply
    • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:20 pm #

      Thanks, Leo. I’m headed for your blog to see what you have up.

      Reply
  6. Understanding Alice August 8, 2010 at 2:26 pm #

    funny how we all seem to value the first half over then second.

    Reply
    • naramalone August 8, 2010 at 4:22 pm #

      It’s hard to embrace your own ending, but I’m hoping when I get there I discover it’s a whole lot better than I thought it would be.

      Reply
  7. RiikaInfinityy August 9, 2010 at 11:34 pm #

    Amazing work! I love your words and hope the ending will be a beautiful one:D

    Reply
  8. Old Grizz August 10, 2010 at 9:46 am #

    I do not see fault in the fading rose. I see a flower tht has graced the world with beauty but is now going to replenish the earth. To hover forever at the midpoint of life would be a tragedy and a travesty for life itself.

    Reply
  9. Marsha August 10, 2010 at 4:53 pm #

    Love this writing. I’m looking for the time to write on this this week. halfway through the work week!! the big time suck.

    Reply
  10. moondustwriter August 13, 2010 at 8:47 pm #

    I’ll hang with the full bloom stage

    Nice Nara

    Reply

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