Self-Portrait with Bruise
Some damages announce, others conceal.
How else may we continue
despite our best
inattentions? And which treasure
do we truly hold
closer, the blood orange
or the blade
that parts its segments? At
thirty I would have chosen
one. At forty, the other. Now,
options spread like branches among the cedars.
Ruptured vessels reveal our lapses.
***
This first appeared in Shadowtrain.
O at the Edges 
Wow!
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Thank you, Chris.
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When I first read this, influenced by the picture above, I read the first line as ending with “congeal” instead of “conceal”, lol. Well done, as always.
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Ha! I like that. Thank you.
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Reblogged this on things I've read or intend to.
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Thank you for reblogging.
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You have now changed the way I’ll start looking at Oranges. Such a beautiful post 🙂
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Thank you, Neena.
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Powerful as ever… !
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Thanks, Krys!
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Options… What to do, what to do. I know! Add that orange slice to my Belgian wit bier!
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Why didn’t I think of that?
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Thanks for visiting my blog. I’ve become used to speedreading on the internet because there is so much to read out there. Thanks for giving me the occasion to slow down and savour your poems.
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Thank you for slowing down!
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I’m feeling this one, Bob, reflecting on how I have too often valued the blade over the orange. Lovely (your poem; not so much my contemplation).
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Well, I have a special relationship with my chef’s knife…
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The melody of the final line melts in the mouth.
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Thank you, Daniel. The things we bruise…
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too easily though at times.
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And all too often.
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I always like those secret little surprises in your poems!
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They often surprise me, too.
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Ah, indeed – the phases we go through determine what we value. Seems I’m only slowly beginning to recognise the Orange as an Orange… and wonderful writing you do, as always.
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Thank you, RR.
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I love your enigmatic writing style, which, on the other hand, always has an answer to the puzzle between the lines! I didn’t take long to decide which item I’d choose in this one! 😉 … can so relate! A big well done, like always!
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I seem to have many more questions than answers!
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Questioning is wisdom 🙂
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I really enjoyed this!
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Thank you, PJ!
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Reblogged this on Amygdala Waltz and commented:
Robert Okaji is an excellent poet. Nearly every day I am inspired by the work he posts on his WordPress.
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Thanks very much for reblogging. Much appreciated!
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