when you taste sap
from such a tree
as this, rooted in myth
sap whiter than the milk
your mother made
& sweet
there will be no banishment–
it does not fruit that promise
the serpent tempted with
when you bleed
you will bleed flowers,
& though you will learn things
you will not die, you will live
you will live forever
mute and blooming
***inspired by The Fountain, the last scene of which I had to look up for Jeremy; another poem in film.
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Now that’s thought-provoking. I’m still puzzling over it.
Here–inspired by a movie I adore. Watch the last 2 minutes or so and you’ll see what prompted these lines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CTECzJTK7c
Lovely, Susan. Reading this reminded me of distant verses singing of Homeric heroes and divine promises. Although in such tones as this, I cannot help but feel that equally divine caprice cannot be far behind.
Oh, yes, George. The joke is on us, ultimately, as always…
Your poetry is so unique – I love it!
Thank you, Julie–you are a sweetheart as always! This is definitely an odd one… You could have just as easily said–“Susan, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING OVER THERE??? & can I have some too?”
Love you!
You have an extraordinary ability to put words togethor or apart – I just love the way you play with language!
Julie–you are wonderful, and I am grateful for and humbled by your words. I love this compulsion I have to say things the way I see them, and am so glad you like the result.
like LIKE this response dear woman of wonderful words
Oh, gosh… Thanking you too. All red now, of course 😉
I am fascinated by this poem which operates at three levels for me – biblical-spiritual, physical-sensual and mythological-epistemological, though the freudian me is drawn to the reading on the middle ground! can the mute bloom? and one who bleeds flowers, things of beauty, does he he/she suffer pain in the act of bleeding beauty? white sap, red blood, flowers, bllom and mute….still trying to get a handle on this beaitiful but troubling poem!
Ah, you are so perceptive, Noel. The poem was inspired by the last scene in an amazingly beautiful (but troubling) film! In the film, there is definitely suffering associated with the blooming, and the bleeding of flowers. If you have not seen “The Fountain, ” I highly recommend it.
Muteness and blooming are sometimes very loud and then again why need words when one is so busy blooming? Those two words hit me so hard, do keep on blooming 🙂
Joe–thanks! I shall try.
I’m baffled and since I will not be able to watch the film, I can only appreciate this powerfully composed words.
Thanks, Celestine. Take from it what you will 😉
EXCELLENT! I bloody love this poem. This is one of my favorite pieces by you ALREADY. I love the floral imagery and the notion of immortality and the nature of it and of knowledge. Excellent! Consider it tweeted.
Soraya–thank you! Wow…if you get the chance to watch the movie, do so–it is really, really intense.
Exquisite and quietly triumphant!
oh, thank you so much!
Love it!
Thanks, Ayala!
Love this… so evocative. and these lines: “there will be no banishment–
it does not fruit that promise”… wonderful!
Kelly, thank you!
sap, milk, flower blood.. incredible.
Oh, Jane, thank you.
Wonderful imagery!
Thanks, Madeline!
when you bleed
you will bleed flowers,
& though you will learn things
you will not die, you will live…smiles…what a promise…there is some cool magic in your verse susan….
Oh, gosh, thanks, Brian. You’ve got me blushing now 😉
Some beautiful lines in this poem, Susan. There could be much worse than to bleed flowers! And to live forever as an extension of that……
🙂 thanks, Mary. Yes, there are worse things.
I like because it invited me back for several reads. Each time a new POV. I enjoyed much but can’t put my finger on it. I felt like I was a part of something special. I will read again. I do know something are not meant to be understood, but I so love the feel of these words you shared. Thank you.
Oh, Henry, thanks so much. Have you ever seen the movie “The Fountain?” The poem is kind of based on the last scene in the movie, which I did link above–it might aid in interpretation–or you can just enjoy the pictures it paints in your mind’s eye–up to you 😉
sap whiter than the milk
your mother made
& sweet… the nod to the tree of life..bleeding flowers..the birthing something good from pain….beautiful susan..
Claudia–thank you! You are the one person that got the tree of life from this–I am going to have to send you flowers! Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
This is scriptures in poetry! You’re a dear soul of light! Deb
Deb, thank you! I am humbled…
these strange willful humans
on dying are a gift to nature
for a diaspora of new life
i think that is a kind of grace
Oh, it definitely is a kind of grace–beautiful lines here, Lucy.
Susan, this is such a gorgeous tight piece filled with magic and beauty. My favorite, “when you bleed
you will bleed flowers,
& though you will learn things”, a reminder of continuous exploration and eternal existence. So glad I stopped in today. 🙂
Archana–thank you so much for the comment, which has me blushing. I am glad you stopped by too!
I am not familiar with the film but after reading the poem and comments, I am intrigued. Wonderful work.
thank you, Beth–you should most definitely check it out!
My film! “The Fountain” is profound, born of the desire to find any way that would keep the love alive. And If I ever got a tattoo, it would be the tree of life on the back of the left shoulder.
“there will be no banishment–
it does not fruit that promise
the serpent tempted with
when you bleed
you will bleed flowers . . .”
Let me have that sap in my veins and in those of my loves so that, for however long it lasts, life is magnificent with story and flowers! Thank you so much for this poem!!!!!!
Oh, Susan, thank you! Glad you are as enamored with this film as I am!
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