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Thursday 10 June 2010

Uncoiling


.

File:Rose yellow dew.jpg




no incendiary
paradise

of illuminated
immensity

one heart
cold

night
weeping to itself

tears
drops of dew

a great distance to
morning





Uncoiling (dew on yellow rose): photo by Andrew Ratto, 2004

13 comments:

Curtis Roberts said...

And this is exactly what last night was like and how I woke up feeling this morning.

TC said...

Man the lifeboats, in that case.

I think we're in this together, Curtis.

human being said...

gosh! and just a few minutes ago i wrote on your post 'matins':


and the distance between these two
is a hand pushing the door
open



it's a matter of perspective...
eagles and crows have different eyesights...

:)


great poem! so tender...
i had this feeling that i wanted to reach out and touch those dewdrops...

gamefaced said...

love this.

STEPHEN RATCLIFFE said...

Women and children first, or is it every man for himself? -- "But look, the morn in russet mantle clad walks or the dew of yon high eastward hill. . . ."

TC said...

Lifeboat ethics seem to be improving by the minute around here.

~otto~ said...

I love it when it feels like there is a great distance to morning and the night is weeping. Of course I never had those words for it but now I do. Thanks.

aditya said...

Wonderful poem Tom. I liked it thoroughly. Especially the night weeping it self to tears. The structure as always worth the uncoiling.

TC said...

Who was it said a kind comment from a terrific writer is worth more than platinum or gold? Whoever it was wasn't just blowing it out through her/his vuvuzela.

aditya said...

Hahaha. I was just going to come here and complain about them vuvuzelas. I absolutely detest the sound they make. Its like a swarm of bees coming all over you. And even the fact that they cannot sting does nothing to make you feel better.

I agree about the comments' worth part, Tom. They make you feel what neither gold nor platinum could ever do. At times, they tuck me in, to a peaceful sleep at nights.

Am happy, they have survived the traders, the goldsmiths, the worth-assessors.

Am also happy, you have for long nurtured them.

Zephirine said...

This is a very beautiful poem, and reminds me somewhat of this, by Fleur Adcock:

There are worse things than having behaved foolishly in public
There are worse things than these miniature betrayals
committed or endured or suspected; there are worse things
than not being able to sleep for thinking about them.
It is 5 a.m. All the worse things come stalking in
and stand icily about the bed looking worse and worse and worse.

Zephirine said...

Though, at the risk of being extremely corny (and sometimes corn is good for one), I might direct the weary reader here.

not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light

TC said...

Zeph,

Well, Fleur rings true on this.

But next time I have the 5 a.m. horrors (that is, next time it's five a.m.), I will try to remember the bracing support offered by Arthur Hugh.

They say there are some people who are able to sleep soundly, no matter what.

Say not the struggle naught availeth,
The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not, nor faileth,
And as things have been they remain.

If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal’d,
Your comrades chase e’en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.

For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.

And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright!