Poetry Thread #2

Thanks Dawn.....Great beginning :) Love the energy in your writing and artwork.

Here's one to get the thread started...

This is not about the 1987 movie WINGS OF DESIRE... but i kept thinking of the movie as i wrote this...


'Dressing for the Job'

i interned with the angles for awhile
who drank and smoked to much
and fought among themselves
but a little known fact i found
angels are good dressers
and very stylish too

thought the job would be easy
i really wanted to succeed
they took me underwing
and i studied very hard

lesson one:
angels work very hard
lesson two:
angels party very hard
lesson three:
angels are good dressers
and very very stylish

i was told to be indifferent
a way to protect oneself
"because it's a tough being an angel"
they said
"listening to everyone
whining and complaining,
and all their personal crap"

and so it was
i lasted but a week
before flipping out
the angels gathered around me
to patiently listened to my shit
they poured me a glass of Jack
then took me shopping
for new clothes
because as i said before
angels are good dressers
and amazingly very very stylish

Ed Meredith

Thanks so much, Maria:) I love poetry and am tickled to find myself hosting this thread. Thanks to you for starting the first one!

i came to this world
exposed
the way i was intended
wrapped in nature's innocence
for all to see
without critique
or condemnation

free to feel the wind
brushing across my skin
breathing life upon my being
the way i was intended
unleashed
unashamed
and naked

Ed Meredith

Ed! Love your poems:) 'Dressing for the Job' is delightful, and your second posted poem is so soulfully peace inducing...ah, yes, feeling utterly at ease in my skin suit.
Reminds me of what Maria said in the previous poetry thread, 'I don't have a soul...I am a soul. I have a body'.

Dawn, Thank You for picking up the Thread.
Ed, What great ice breakers:))
Here is an echo to your 'Dressing for the Job'


I hung out
A bit
With those
Stylish Angels.
Listening
To their Wit
And their Woes.


They showed me around
Their Haunted Hotel.
I heard some rumors
It was No-Tell
Kind of place.
A Confessional.

I sat at the bar
And slammed back a few.
The Words on the
Bathroom wall
Told a Tale
Or Two or
Three.

Those Stylish Angels
With Silk
Smoking jackets
And spats.
Do those dudes
Really know
Where it's at?
Or is it
Only a Game...

Wanted to post this amazingly compelling work by Ana Maria Edulescu to accompany these marvelous poems about angels!

Yes

You embody invitation.
You guiltless lazy day.
Rare bird.
Guileless diamond.

I'm bargaining with Enchantment
I'm coursing down into the Great Stillness.
I want to see more of you.

I admire your form.
I can hardly bear the pleasures of your chosen skin.
Entrancing and echoing shell will this moment never cease!

In my drowsy morning light
how do I resist
showering you with affection?

We are All Sun.
Dissolve in the navel embrace.
The Only Moment.

Commune.

Teasing breeze...
langorous limbs...
nasal geese...
lake...
kissing
its
cup.

Boundless.
Om Sun
Universal Hum.

i tell you secrets.
i remember.
You as some easy surrender.
As the path of least resistance.
Some lapping molecular convergence
That which is

so quiet.
It's so quiet here.
i wish......Wish...

i make waves...

ripple,
supple nuzzle,
dancing ummm...
feels nice.

You are kind.
You smell good.


~Dawn Eareckson

Such a wonderful feed for soul your poems are ...... Thank you for starting this thread, Dawn, and for posting my painting here.

Karen, what a excellent echo… spot on…

Dawn, every time i read 'Yes" i found a new rhythm… once lyrical and next very Def/Slam and a few others… it's a treat.



Zealots at the Art Fair

art on the street
like sex and drugs
can be dangerous
to self appointed critics
who want to see it gone
out of sight
no voice
non existant

unlike the silent hooker
seeking the silent John
art is vocal
loud
seeking intellectual
intercourse
exchanging ideas

art can be raw
vulgar
and accusing
to those offended critics
who want it gone
out of sight from public view
and public discourse
their lives

they came with torches
of righteousness
billowing black smoke
to obscure the truth
of what was being done

in a fearful frenzy
the virtuous mob
burned the offensive works
with their cleansing flames

wild eyed with accomplishment
emboldened by their success
the zealots grabbed the struggling artist
and threw him onto the pyre
the fire
the flames of conformity

Ed Meredith

The air blows, the wind slows, as time goes by the clock clicks five past nine. The sun is up in the sky blinding everything in sight, put some shades on and walk away from the burning sun light. The wind blows and the wind slows as time goes by and the sun blinds. The birds make a nest, the eggs hatched, the birds fly to the sky and slowly fall back down, blinded from the sun and the air blows
and the wind slows.

21 is moment of your life where you are put on the front lines. Everything you do in life nothing but a battle and this age 21 is the testament of your life for a life time. it’s the time were you have let go of your parents and never look back because you got one more chance to do right. 21 are the times were you ask yourself 21 questions about yourself and what you’re going to do with your life.

Ed,
just don't talk about religion or politics ................RJ

Tis a fine line RJ, and we have a clubhouse for that... LOL

And I just keep chasing my tail around the unattainable

RJ...

it's a time
of restriction
and restraint
of speech interrupted
at the birth of meaning
and mirth

not unexpected
we were warned
and those that push
the edges
stopped in their tracks
and spoke no more...
this discussion is closed.

Ed Meredith

Thank you so full heartedly, Ana, I love that you feel nourished by my poems :)
*******
Karen, Ed is right, an excellent echo!
*******
Ed, some of my poetry was written for performance art. Thanks so much for commenting. 'Zealots at the Art Fair' is scathingly brilliant.
*******

There once was a man from Nantucket,
his wiskers grew long, & he'd plucket.
He said with a grin
as he rubbed his chin,
If my toe were a thumb, i'd suck it.

Return of a King
(Senryu to Tiger Woods)

Not in priestly robe
But in red shirt,fist pumping
O'er crowd all roaring

Taming the fairways
Avoiding hazards all day
In woods or iron

Sans the long absence
For all this swings and numbers
The king has returned

-Saigon
March25

congratulations for this new thread and its host

Puzzles, I really like the rhythm, hypnotic use of repetition, and full cycle capture in your piece, 'The air blows...'.
*******

Thank you, SAIGON. Tiger is certainly an artist of the fairways...your tribute is so enthusiastic and lovely.
*******







Up next is a poem that was inspired by a photograph. Written by a dear friend and muse of mine, Rita Zoey Chin, it is accompanied by a portrait that I painted of her about 10 years ago.










Torso No. 3 (Curved Spine)

photograph by Gwen Akin and Allan Ludwig, Mütter Museum

It could be a fish, fleshless
but swerving through some sea
with bones for fins, or feathers—
a bird, white, shooting up
from its nest toward the wet
sky, the sickle moon,
the long night curving into
morning, the way my own bones
curve, the line of my spine
straight as the lid of an eye,
your eyes as I bend to show
you the slight push against one
side and you tell me about how
the vertebrae could be shingles
on a roof, but in my case
it's a crooked roof, and as
your fingers climb, I imagine
the perch of something small
there, ready to glide into blue.


~ Rita Zoey Chin

I loved my thread and the poetry that gushed there, but its also great to see some of the quietened poets come bursting onto the screen!


Risk.

I folded it quickly in the
palm of my hand
like some secret love letter
passed across the old carved desks
with inkwells and lids.
heart beating crazily
knowing in the next glass moment
A fragile soul could shatter into smitherenes...
I could lose everything.


Maria Disley 26/3/13

Thoughts....too heavy
for a head
can't sway between the ears
like a hammock...in summer..
Muddy mind...
trodden....tractor grooved
heaves the heart
but smooth
light similies
on the otherhand blow soft
breaths on dandelion clocks
and have us watch
nature's cyclic escape
and with it
our
ache...

Maria Disley 26/3/13

Longing made a fist
A gnaw deep in the chest
moments non returnable
surface...........
unreachable
even when it was possible...
What is this dream
this haunt of youth
this catch in my throat
this sting in my eye
is it, just I...?

Maria Disley 26/3/13

Maria, your 2 poems above remind me of my old work;

Lady in the hammock*

dream, dream my maiden
sinking well in thy heaven
dream, dream in slumber
into the eve dark amber



*one of the digital works I did .In memory of my vibrant youth the poem was made to immortalized that scene.

When the sun falls I take the tip of my finger and connect the stars together. If the night sky is really black then why does mankind shine through it? If the sky was really black we would not have a moon to guide our soul when we wonder off in our dreams. The night sky is nothing like a mirror it only reflects what we put in it.

Keeping Things Whole



In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body’s been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.


~ Mark Strand ~

I have a whole load of crap to sort out here (shopping, cooking, washing, some kind of art stuff, updates etc) and i expect this thread to be in tact with all member functioning when i get back. next year. possibly ALOT earlier lol ;-)

in the mean time, amigos... ..


Every thread has its own personality and its highs and lows, this is a great thread of emotion and its on an exhuberant high... as it wil no doubt swerve a few times as in all jourenys through different terrains.... derailments may occur, im sure there are monsoons, earthquakes, buffalo on the track, the odd rampaging hippo and even a few flamingos flying up high.... . i see them ... thy are a worthy jungle for any poet to traverse...



questions question questions

anwers question answers

its a journey that will never end... long may it continue...

in summer sun
we fell in love

in summer sun
we fell, in love

@ Jason, If I have oversauced you in compliments recently...I apologise...but you are so funny..I can't stop laughing! Its so visual

A guy
Strolled by
And saw a bit
Of cat spat.
He laughed
And stroked
The kittens
Til they
Purred....

The Forest She Was Trying To Say

Tonight I feel compassion for everyone, those who are pitied, along with those who are kissed. ~ Marina Tsvetayeva ~



The angel wings of the hemlock
aren't for flying. They are the fragrant arms
of a stately spirit held in the shape
of an unlived moment when the world,
in all its woe and splendor, disappeared.
To visit the sunless core
of the forest is to say to the heart,
which is always a remnant, "Love as if
you will be answered," and in that fiction
to force love wide
as the invisible net of bird flight
between the boughs. Here tenderness
has squeezed light to infusion.
Why is love so vengeful and absent
because one diamond kiss
fell out of his mouth with sear
intent against my throat?
Did he mean never to be thought of apart
from love? Angel, those wings
aren't for flying but in defiance
of all that harsh traffic
on the soulless plain. This
is the forest, or at least a small
forever-kneeling wood. And we are adorned
and adored here because we wear the gall
of an impossible love.
Angel, don't look at me like one
cast out and piteous. This is eden
and the gods are elsewhere. Angel,
we will be thrown out. We will fall
down and be that other wild.


~ Tess Gallagher ~

Dear Karen, Wow, you finally referenced me by my name, cool! You also opened a big door, many thanks. I will tell you all exactly what hurt my feelings awhile ago. I need to compose the words to deliver the right message, I'll be back.

And Karen, if I forget to tell you later, many thanks for this opportunity.

.

@Maria
I hereby dissolve your honorary position of co-anchor. Thank you kindly for your contributions to date. I hope that you will continue to participate in the thread.


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I would be interested in your opinion of poems on Dawn's thread. (To Saigon)
Posted by: Maria Disley on 04/03/2013 - 7:49 PM

Dawn's thread is kinda new channel and a refreshing approach pulling new viewers and talent I believe..its a stroke of genius that you are co-anchoring the thread too! (To Maria)
Posted by: SAIGON De Manila on 04/03/2013 - 9:30 PM

It was a few months ago when I stumbled across Maria’s poetry thread. I had just launched my book on the iTunes iBookstore so my interest was peeked, to say the least.

I began reading the poetic entries, and right away felt dismantled by the beauty of the compositions, yet confused by some of the messages. I simply didn’t speak the language.

I sent an on site email to Maria and invited her to look over my work in private, and she (you Maria) was kind enough to respond accordingly, but your words fell flat when you ignored your own generous gesture.

I continued to read through the thread, and finally decided to join in. I recall asking questions of Maria and Karen due to their wonderful work. But my inquisitive nature didn’t yield a positive response.

Maria, you say no frilly comments are useful, but you run away faced with a direct dialogue. What’s left? Karen, back then I told you something I loved about your work, and you turned away from me. So what’s up with that?

Poetry is beautiful. But it’s not going to replace communication. How do we all bond, share and grow faced with this enormous gap.

I’ll leave the poetic brilliance to each of you, perhaps I can stick around and keep the thread approachable for others who haven’t yet learned the language.

Dear Dawn, You’re a great host and I’m not here to mess up your “Chi” I do need a place to let off steam, if that’s OK.

@Kelly, I appreciated your comment in the former page and responded with an answer to your question about the meaning. I don't feel as if I ignored your direct query. I'm not that way. I am shy, except in Poems. This type of communication is too girly and emotional for me! This is exactly why I have always preferred to play with the boys!

You are always welcome to speak your mind and your heart here, Kelley.

@Kelley, I have never run away from anything or anyone. But I realise you don't know me well enough to know this. You have both taken this too personally..i was thinking about the thread as a whole. but I don't have to now as I have been defrocked LOL. Its probably true that I do suck with people...well rarely and only with some. But you see this is all so petty to me. It was a comment said with well meaning..it came across badly..obviously..well to two people. Also, I often ask other poets for their opinions, i'm free to do that, anytime I want, I didn't say anything condeming..I asked his opinion, I respect his opinion and foresight and was intrigued to know if he liked it, and he said what I thought he would, and as I said, it was refreshing. Not just your poetry Dawn but karen's also was breathtaking, i felt happy to leave the other thread thinking she would take over, but just as glad that you did. I am quite happy to begin another thread...it won't be as exhuberant as this one and maybe not even as enjoyable but I'm not looking for competition or popularity, i just like to share poetry...seeya

Dear Karen, (hehe) when you get to know me, I'm anything but girly, you have no idea.......

Dear Dawn, Thank you dear leader, I'll always be respectful, and if I piss you off just say so!

Dear Maria, I read your words and respect what you've shared.

Dear Robert, I hope you will come back after your big unveiling. You're a cool kind of guy...

Dear Mark, We need some humor quick!!!

I have to agree with Maria, one of the safety nets of jack was that jack didn't make many comments... honest critique can be very inspiring but we do run the risk just like in any thread of becoming the mutual admiration society..Artists must develop a tough skin, poets should too..

The thread has several needs, need of the self, need of the poets, need of the reader.
I believe Maria was trying to point out the balance was tipping.

Her words have been misconstrued....again!

If you listen, you will hear your savior, but only if you are not too sure of your self.

Double post problem

Dear Penny, Maria's words have been misconstrued because she doesn't speak directly. It's a poetry thread, but we're still in a state of communication, right??

Atom & Adam & Eve


the majority of atoms
repel one another.
the sensation of their
electric fields steering
clear of each other
is what we call touch

physicists say that
we don’t actually
commonly
touch each other
or anything else

of course,
there are exceptions
to this rule
case in point:
sodium and chlorine
atoms, when in close
proximity l e a p toward
each other ever
ever ever ever
emboldened
in their dash
toward an explosive
annihilating embrace
ridding themselves
of separated living
they become brand
new transformed
life forms

I don’t understand
why the force-field
generated by every
single atom is considered
to be something other
than the atom

do we exclude the atmosphere
from our description of earth?

they say most atoms find
each other repellent
but for a truant
and truly renegade
few who hurry into the fire.




~ Dawn Eareckson

Kelley, it is not always the fault of the communicator. I was feeling the same way, so I understood her...

Since Kelley requested it, this one goes out to Kelley. Here is an unpublished Dear John letter I wrote a while back, but perhaps it was held in reserve for a more suitable time. Maybe the time is now.

Dear John (Deere)

I remember the day I first met you
I remember it was love at first sight
I remember I couldn't wait to get near you
I remember I wanted you day 'n night.

We've been through so much together
We've seen many good times o' plenty
We've been through hard times a'plenty
We've seen it all; yet we've hung on.

Now it's time to retire you
Now put you up in the barn

I'll always remember you
Til Death do us part,

You'll always be..

My one,
My only,

Dear John.

~ mark wickham

Dear Penny, I hear you. Maria and I have this thing....I get annoyed with her and she just ignores me, but I'm a digger and dedicated to getting to the root of things.

I'm afraid my husband has taught me too well (hehe). 23 years ago when we became a couple and gave birth to our first argument I promptly retreated to our bedroom, and locked the door feeling rather proud of myself. That was until I heard the "oh so loud hammering" from the hallway. You see, he decided if I was going to run away from our conversation I deserved to be nailed into the bedroom forever, so before I was tombed away indefinitely, I emerged and did the most painful thing I could ever imagine which was to work out our problems directly issue by issue.

Such liberation I promise you!!!!!!!

Dear Mark, Loved it, can't bear to dissect it. I saved it for my files!

From Maria's thread by Jack Kemp

There were words that I left on her pillow
When the weather was so unforgiving
Ice clinging to window pains
Mice nesting in our drawers
How I miss her sweet slumber
With shadows north
I mourn her southern face
Hiding behind that ancient door.

this thread is like a bad drug... it brings out the best and worst in me
i dont know whether to hug or slap ya'll... i'm starting to feel angry and like...


The Twelve Stepper

seven deadly sins
you know the ones
they get your ass
a one way ticket to hell

I've beaten pride
and envy
fought a few rounds
with sloth and greed

no sweat with
gluttony and lust
had lots of practice
with those two

but wrath
is really pissing me off
been fighting
that mother for years
maybe i should find
an anger management workshop
or just go ahead and kick someones ass


Ed Meredith

My gratitude and my apologies to all. I accept that I am not ideally suited as anchor, for this particular group of people. You all seemed to flourish together before, with the exception of Kelley. And now that she has spoken her truth about what offended her in the previous thread, my hope is that she feels, and is, better integrated now.

I have been wondering what I would do, regarding the Thread, when I leave soon for my mountain home, which has no internet access. I will be there until the first heavy snow fall in autumn. I may get broadband, but even so, I think it will be best for all, if I bow out now.

This has been a most joyous experience! And I thank you one and all : )

Wishing you all of the very best,

Dawn