Tuesday, August 16, 2022

earthly home

 

all around me, earth

filling me with its soft breath

& hardening my skin of rocks 

the salt is my lifeline

the sky is my sea-green world


though i am just an oyster

within me, is home

to a pea crab

within me, is white mountain

of pain

within me, is food & brine

to lavish & cleanse

within me, is forest

of solitude 



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub- Tuesday Poetics - the four elements, hosted by Sarah Connor.  I have chosen the element of earth (the other choices are fire, air and water).  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.


23 comments:

  1. This is so beautful, Grace. I really like the list elements in the final stanza - such a well-chosen range of images. I feel you've brought all the elements into your earth poem, somehow.

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  2. Beautiful! Sigh. You've brought the sea and air into your earth--but of course, they are all connected.

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  3. I love this ... ingesting the earth through an oyster's valve. A stellar bite of Earth. My only suggestion would be to put the oyster in the title, why make the reader work to get to the pleasure of the association ....

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  4. Ah, each of us a world within ourselves. I love the image of the mountain and lake. it looks like Washington state to me. Is it?

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    1. If you are describing my header photo, its from our beautiful province of Alberta, Banff area. Thanks.

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  5. So beautiful, Grace, the way you brought all the elements together!

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  6. Clever POV, and wonderful message. If God, and one part of the universe is within us, then certainly Earth joins the party.

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  7. "within me, is home/ to a pea crab/ within me, is white mountain/ of pain" caught my breath. Your poetry hauntingly poignant as ever

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  8. Lovely poem.

    Arcadia Maria

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  9. this feels like an evolution of so many experiences, really enjoyed! 👏👏

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  10. I loved the perspective of the oyster experiencing the earth. Wonderful symbolism too.

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  11. I like the oyster metaphor. Great poem Grace.

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  12. So much more to find and experience when we look within. Love the blending of the elements. A gorgeous write.

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  13. This is awesome. It was quite a novel experience to identify with an oyster. Your writing really drew me in.

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  14. I love how you captured the different textures of earth in the contrasting sounds of the words, Grace, for example ‘earth/breath’ and ‘skin of rocks/salt’, and shifted focus up to the sky and back to the sea.

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  15. I love this, Grace. It strikes me as being one of your best. Beautiful images.

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  16. Your poem is very beautiful and full of grace ❤️

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