"I will love my crooked neighbor with my crooked heart" W.H. Auden
If
the sky were any bigger it would kill me clean.
like an iceberg into the melting sea.
The sun colors the sky best before it
breaks dawn
each wisp of cloud a red kite on a string.
It enhances the tree clinging to its
last wind-torn leaf
like a mother to her child through the fence of the king.
It’s bigger than a barn from afar, that
tree
and I don’t know its name or how old it is,
limbs full of empty nests unraveling in
the wind.
Too lazy to have walked through a field of grass
to stand under a tree, the vast sweep of
its arms,
and pay homage to that which is braver than me.
Too cowed to lob arrows at he who'd be king,
my capacity to feel small is undiminished by lies.
The sun travels its arc across a
blood-splattered sky
and I finish the day in a multitude of small ways.
like an iceberg into the melting sea.
each wisp of cloud a red kite on a string.
like a mother to her child through the fence of the king.
and I don’t know its name or how old it is,
Too lazy to have walked through a field of grass
and pay homage to that which is braver than me.
my capacity to feel small is undiminished by lies.
and I finish the day in a multitude of small ways.
In concert with the theme March of Time from the poets at What's Going On and with OLN (open link night) at dVerse, the pub where poets hang out. A good way to finish out the week, methinks!!.
25 comments:
A beautiful poem full o profound observations. I especially loved these two couplets:
"to stand under a tree, the vast sweep of its arms,
and pay homage to that which is braver than me."
"The sun travels its arc across a blood-splattered sky
and I finish the day in a multitude of small ways."
There are so many way to be humbled by what is around us... I am always surprised with people who think they can rise above, I think the greatest people are those who see how small they are.
"If the sky were any bigger it would kill me clean.
like an iceberg into the melting sea.
The sun colors the sky best before it breaks dawn
each wisp of cloud a red kite on a string."
Stunning words--it's like you were with me on some of my morning walks. 💙
well done, from the killer opening line through to the quiet close ~
This is incredibly raw and poignant! ❤️
Melanchic feel to this. Favorite lines are:
"limbs full of empty nests unraveling in the wind." and your last line.
Love the visuals created by the choice of words.
From red kites in the sky to "a blood-splattered sky" is quite a journey. And feeling small in front of lies is quite a change from awe of nature. A profound piece! I would stick with the nature that makes poet and words fly like kites!
I love how every image captures the passage of time; from dawn's hue to the last autumn leaf to empty nests. " I finish the day in a multitude of small ways" The feel of gratitude touches deeply here. A beautiful poem. Nice to see you at What's Going On.
Thanks Sunra!
I agree, Brudberg, those who should be humbled never are.
As I wish I could be!! Thanks.
Thanks you so much, G. for commenting.
Sanaa, thank you very much.
Thank you Tony, from one who deals in visuals!!
Thanks Jade. I was in that kind of a mood with this.
Susan, thanks. Sometimes the meshing of moods doesn't work so well. That's a weakness of mine - too many ideas jabbering for room.
Sumana, thanks! It was a pleasure to join you after a long absence.
Powerful observations about the passage of time, from the fullness of light to emptiness of a nest. Beautiful writing
Susie, thank you so much!
Especially love the opening line... totally feel it!
It's humbling to pitch ourselves against the landscape and feel how small we are. Yet our thoughts, span the sky, the tree, the "king" and his lies! -- A paradox you explore so beautifully through the vivid imagery.
Magical imagery! Your poem really flows beautifully and feels profound!
Beautiful, Yvonne! Some very pithy observations.
Dora thank you so much for commenting.
Mary, Thank you!
Paean thanks! "Pithy"? I like that!
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