21 Comments
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The Grumpy Nihilist's avatar

This one hit differently for me. I was in Zaporizhia five years after Chernobyl, and some who lived through it were relocated there. My cashier, Svetlana, had been a doctor treating the fallout victims. So when you write about taking in what was never meant to nourish and calling it a life, I can see the truth of that — not just as metaphor, but in the faces I remember. You’ve captured that quiet endurance perfectly.

Canary Vale's avatar

Oh wow! That's scary. 😞

The Grumpy Nihilist's avatar

It really stayed with me because I know some of that reality firsthand. Your poem captures that endurance and quiet survival with such clarity — it’s haunting and true.

Vennie Kocsis's avatar

Amazing piece and amazing development of it into music. Absolutely brilliant. 🫰🫰🫰🫰

Canary Vale's avatar

Thank you! I must admit, I love the way the song paired with my lyrics on this one. It is one of my favorite songs. This piece has a special place in my heart... so any time it is received well, it means so much. Thank you for the support!

Vennie Kocsis's avatar

I absolutely understand because I have turned poems to songs too, and being able to hear work in multi level media from literature to music to spoken word is a profound feeling. 🍃🫶🍃

Omar Zaid's avatar

Gifted ....,,.. truly gifted

Canary Vale's avatar

Ahhh! Thank you! It’s really cool just to even be read, but seeing people comment and restacked is super encouraging. For so long I believed my words didn’t matter. It is definitely affirmation.

Omar Zaid's avatar

We should resurrect today of the Beatnick ... which was a cultural memory of the hearth , what people watch it and listen to others who recited or sung, we told stories... maybe your generation can take that up again with some sort of online community... there's a need

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

There’s something quite haunting yet beautiful in this, Canary.

It reminds me that resilience isn’t always radiant — sometimes it’s just the pulse that refuses to stop, the small movement that keeps being.

The way you blur the line between fungus and self — an act of continuation not for glory, but for honesty — works so well.

Your line “She exists. She transforms. She bears.” is the perfect summation of endurance stripped of performance.

A stunning piece of embodied empathy.

(PS. For some reason the audio wouldn't play but not sure if that's just me or not, so if it works for you then I'm sure it's just me!)

Canary Vale's avatar

Thank you Mark! I wanted to honor survival in an honest way I am so happy thats how this is being received! Also, thank you for letting me know the song isn’t playing. I tried it myself in the app, it didn’t work for me either. However, its working in the browser. I think theres a glitch in the mobile app right now, which is a shame because the song turned out really cool, one of my favorites so far! Try it in your browser if you can, if you do let me know what you think!

Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Thanks! Tried browser originally but wasn't working there but got it fine in app but could hear it - nice song :)

Canary Vale's avatar

Weird it was opposite for me!

HEW(Hue) of Poetry's avatar

Enduring beyond what reasonably and rationally should be endured...that's this life summed up perfectly..

Ink & Pixel Publishers's avatar

Thank you for the mention. You wrote a powerful piece about a powerful and mind boggling phenomenon. Interesting this gift from nature is black.

Canary Vale's avatar

Thank you for the inspiration 💛

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

Powerful

Canary Vale's avatar

Thank you! This one has a good message, I hope people stick with it to the end!

Dorie Snow/雪多丽's avatar

It has a great message! I hope others read it to the end. It’s worth every moment!