The moon slips through my window;
her scalp shimmering with age
as she tells me what to gather:
splinters from the gate
leading into a garden
of dark pines and withered flowers,
feathers from the lark
who once sang there & alarmed
restful lovers.
flint from chipped stones
tumbling down a wall
a man has breached to hunt the forest
and grass from the field
where a fox awakens ( not herself)
but curled within the hip —
length hair of a woman.
What shade I ask
and look toward my red
cedar chest — inhaling the heirloom
scent of its wood.
The crone nods, hooded
by the corner’s darkness,
and then mentions how to prepare
the bedding. Carefully, she says,
collect the scraps
and place them in a bag
cut from raw cotton,
tuck it under the mattress
and let sleep kindle a dream.
One sequence flaring
into another.
The next day, she promises,
I will rise with a story. In love
with its plot and characters.
My throat dry
from whispering their names
and deeds.
that is a story. it captured me.
ely
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Wendy,
I love the atmosphere of this. It is so deftly built and it gets into the reader.
Every image creates a reaction. Breath caught and eyes peeled, I absorbed
the majick. “let sleep kindle a dream.” Poetry in full bloom! I love it. I love
all of it, especially “a fox (not herself) curled within her hip”.
You make magic with your pen!
Sarah
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Hi Ely
So nice of you to drop by and read my poem! I deeply appreciate it and glad you enjoyed the “story” essence of it.
Hi Sarah
Lately, I have been reading some essays on how stories shape us, how they are harvested, and what sparks the imagination, everything from myth to personal experience. I personally thought of the theme being gathered like tinder and then set on flame by the spark of one’s imagination. And the tinder is taken from different scenes or places we have physically visited or we encounter in our memories/thoughts/ideas. A stone, a feather, a blade of grass, a splinter of wood all taken from some species or aspect of place that encountered some element of weather or human interaction holds a story or part of one within its texture. When those things are gathered and pieced together , depending on how the gatherer or individual views the pattern, a new story or poem begins. With me, the simplest detail, at random, can strike and idea for a poem. It can be the way a leaf catches the sunlight or water ripples over a lake fabled with some legend or famous name. I just never know what will happen but when these things have been tucked into the crevices of my memory, sleep often brings out the fullness of their influence. This poem is meant to convey this process but I have chosen to present it in a magical way. In my mind, the idea of creating art is magical and certain influences, besides those of human associations/interactions, act as an aid or catalyst to help us arrive there. Namely, the moon, shadows, the sun, storms, plants, wind and so many other forces that surround us on a daily basis. They become guardians of possibility and are waiting for us to listen, observe and react. In this case, it is the moon seen as the wise and mysterious crone who gives instructions on how to gather and kindle the elements of a story. what kind is left up to the imagination of the reader. Again, Sarah, thank you so , so much for always taking the time to read and contemplate my poetry. It really does help to stay confident in my ability to write and also to stay inspired.
My best to you both,
take care
Wendy
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Wendy, I enjoyed this immensely… the sense of mystery, the ritual detail, fascinating.
Regards,
Maryse
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Hi Maryse
So glad you enjoyed this one. I appreciate so very much; and it’s good to hear that element of mystery and ritual is discernible within the text and voice of this poem. I was aiming tor that in the writing!
Again, thank you,
my best
Wendy
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