Posted on by Sonia Dogra

The Circuit of Life

Hello Readers

Welcome to the August posting of Write Edit Publish, where writing is a fun exchange of stories, ideas and everything writing! For this month, the prompt is the film CHOCOLAT based on the book by Joanne Harris, and if you would like to join us with your contribution and read the others, visit the WEP website here.

With this entry, I’m returning to my first love, poetry. This poem is inspired by Blythe Baird’s ‘Theories About the Universe’, that I read in a recent newsletter. My poem traces a personal experience. I look forward to hearing your views about it.

THE CIRCUIT OF LIFE

I’m five. The smell of chocolate glides

through our home, riding high on the

cool, winter breeze. A fluttering tickle

fills my nose.

Carried by daddy’s love on the first of

the new year, a huge box with shiny foils –

deep brown, brunette, caramel and praline.

You tell me once a day is just fine;

but I’m too young to know the vastness

of too much, or the slenderness of too little.

And that the shimmery box must last

the long spread of winter. I wrap my arms

around the treat, puppy eyes ask for more than they need.

I do not understand. Your constant iterations of no

sprinkle a pinch of hurt on my tiny heart.

Forty years and more, we’re each on the other side.

I own your kitchen now. You merrily slide to

the periphery; our roles once brief enter a new temporary.

I hold away from you the box of chocolates on the first of another

new year. Because I know you mustn’t have too many.

This time, you do not understand.

I’m trying to see how life comes full circle.

(FCA – 183 words.)

Thank you, dear readers, for spending time with my poem. I look forward to reading your entries.

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47 Replies to “The Circuit of Life”

  2. Beautiful poem,Sonia and so true. I now see it with my girls. The tables have turned and they tell me not to have chocolates just like I told them in the past. Circle of life, indeed.

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  4. Such a beautiful poem, Sonia, full of gentle family wisdom with all the cosy homely feels ❤ I love these lines especially:

    "but I’m too young to know the vastness

    of too much, or the slenderness of too little."

    "…You merrily slide to

    the periphery; our roles once brief enter a new temporary."

    Plus I love both the book and the film Chocolat! It's one of the few films that successfully captures the true essence of the book. I did a book review of it in one of my Bibliophilia posts (in case you ever fancied reading it!) 🙂

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  5. I seem to have missed this one in the deluge of “other” writings. How beautifully put! I may never eat a choc without thinking of this one! “Life is a box of chocs and you never know what you are going to get” seems true !

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  6. The parental role reversal – beautifully crafted, poignant poem as bittersweet as chocolate itself. Just loved it, Sonia. So much said in such a short word count. Well done!

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  10. Wow. At first I thought you are writing about your children but loved the twist at the end. What a beautiful thought! I can feel this too when I work as a caregiver to my mom. Your posts leave me ponder upon always. And inspire me to write something.

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  13. A wonderful poem, inspiring contemplation. Yes, sometimes, if we are lucky, life does come a full circle. I think the heroine of your poem is the lucky one. Her father is still with her, still ticking, even if he must limit his chocolate intake.

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  15. Hi Sonia – I know my mother nostalgically noted I shouldn’t be looking after her … but she’d done so much for us as children, so now was my time to give her peace and solace at the end of her life. She couldn’t eat – was fed with a feeding tube (which gave her longer with us, which is what she wanted) so sadly we couldn’t discuss food … it was one of her loves. Your poem rings so true – thank you for the memory of my Mama – cheers Hilary

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  20. Fantastic poem. So true of the switch that happens with long lives. Very well written. Love how you worked in the prompt.

    “We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.” – Kent Nerburn quote

    J Lenni Dorner (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction &Reference Author, OperationAwesome6 Debut Author Interviewer, and Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge

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