Etobicoke Creek
Grace @Everyday Amazing
A sharp descent
finds a broken bark, upturned to the sun,
bridge yoked over cold running water
Above the frayed trees,
a black crow shrieks the silent sky,
while an orange-hued bird sits majestic with a crown
An empty soda can & soggy paper
reminds us of junk & city smog, just around
the corner like a restless bubble--
But the brown cramped leaves are warming
crystal ice melts, like receding hairline
over narrow walkway, puddled soft by rough weeds--
We are silent as rocks & shriveled blooms
a small stone ripples in the tide
we leave, shaped like spring buds--
Posted for: OpenLinkNight of D'verse Poets Pub - We had a spring-like weather last Sunday, a break from a depressing winter of grey clouds and rain.
That you are able to make the climb down is a good sign that receding hairlines are good and leaving shaped just a touch as new growth is even better that recessions always lead to new...
ReplyDeleteGrace this is absolutely glorious! The analogies and images, wonderful and unique-- Love This :-)
ReplyDeleteI love the imagery in this poem...made me feel the impending spring :)
ReplyDelete...how warming it was to somehow had a glimpse of the almost break of spring... the cold is getting longer yet we can always hope for that opening of the new season...i especially like your last stanza with that silent as rocks simile... a very sensitive write Grace... smiles...
ReplyDeletesmiles....even out in the beauty of nature...mans touch in the trash....we leave our mark for sure....spring will come...change will happen...and some will notice...smiles...lovely imagery grace...
ReplyDeletewow for the last stanza... beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the imagery in this poem, Grace. :) Love this line.. crystal ice melts, like receding hairline. :)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah the city smog and trash really does clash, but something can be found, all around.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, this just brought me right there. The images come alive in all the bitter-sweet-ness along such a path as this! Excellent!
ReplyDeletesilent as rocks & shriveled blooms ...a beautiful capture of nature and spring..sigh...can't wait...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Grace... love the ending.
ReplyDeleteYour words are always so beautiful Grace ... that last stanza was magic ... superb !!!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is wonderfully phrased, Grace. I can almost SEE the water rippling when I read your poem. Spring is definitely right around the corner here too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images in words, Grace. A fine poem. my favorite part
ReplyDelete"But the brown cramped leaves are warming
crystal ice melts, like receding hairline
over narrow walkway, puddled soft by rough weeds--
We are silent as rocks & shriveled blooms
a small stone ripples in the tide
we leave, shaped like spring buds-- "
Beautiful.
Beautiful. You fashion hope out of even receding hairlines, that just feels amazing. Happy countdown to spring.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful Grace...I love leaving as spring buds. So much promise even when the world is still frozen.
ReplyDeleteI love this, I am so there with you, ready for Spring.
ReplyDeleteLoved it all, but these lines were my favorite
"crystal ice melts, like receding hairline
over narrow walkway, puddled soft by rough weeds-- "
just wonderful
Lovely take here. I'm ready for spring. We had a lot of snow melt over the weekend, and I'm always a little shocked to see how much garbage is underneath it...so I kind of smiled inwardly at the "empty soda can and soggy paper"...
ReplyDeleteThere is a beautiful flow to this poem. Peace, Linda
ReplyDeleteOh spring how I long for you.
ReplyDelete"a black crow shrieks the silent sky,"
Love that. I can hear it now breaking the silence, seeing the pop can (sorry Canadian), the soggy paper... spring is near, your poem put me there, only if for a moment. Thanks
Beautiful! I love this composition.
ReplyDeleteCrystal ice melts - beautiful words as always and such a wonderful vivid picture.
ReplyDeleteOh I feel the early spring in this. Maybe not always beautiful but still filled with yearning. And that receding hairline caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful imagery. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteLovely imagery.
ReplyDeleteGrace, that last stanza is simply gorgeous. The whole piece sings beautifully. This is your poem about place, isn't it?
ReplyDeletePamela
Yes, Pamela it is ~ Thank you ~
Deleteare warming
ReplyDeletecrystal ice melts,
like receding hairline
over narrow walkway
How cleverly expressed Grace! I can almost see the movements of the melting snow. Great take!
Hank
do love those frayed trees... thanks for the walk
ReplyDeleteThere is a realness to this that I just adore. A perfect picture of reality.
ReplyDeleteThere are the first real signs of spring in this poem, Grace, captured in your usual beautiful style.
ReplyDeleteGrace,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy the imagery that you incorporate in your work. I am able to visualize it..nice!
I love the branch bridging to civilization and back again into the wisdom of stillness.
ReplyDeleteSuch an ahh...moment, I can feel that freshness in this piece, I do long for a fresh crisp morning...autumn has started and still humid...thank goodness for your poetry! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this loveliness!
ReplyDeletespring buds and rippling creeks with orange-hued birds....indeed lovely to watch the changes of the season.
ReplyDeleteGreat discription to a much needed change. Winter is so tiring me. Excellent words choices and line work,
ReplyDeleteYou brought me right there, waiting for flow, the run off as winter yields its grip
ReplyDeletePerfect descriptive poem, Grace, that allows me to visit that creek with you.
ReplyDeleteLive is such a quandary of opposites isn't it? You show that all too well. Even on a city street, there will be rows of well apportioned homes on one side and on the other poverty. I like this write.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful... your words and the photo. I loved the last stanza... made me feel renewal in the air.
ReplyDeleteoutstanding verse Grace, love the reflection and imagery in this. thanks
ReplyDeleteOh Grace, one of the best last three lines I've read in a long time - you hit my heart big time with this. Quite inspiring... Thank you so much
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful poem, truly captures the imagination.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for a break in the harsh winter weather! You captured it beautifully! As always, thank you. Enjoy your week.
ReplyDelete'we leave, shaped like spring buds--'
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely! Your words capture the earths rebirth wonderfully.
Anna :o]
This is really lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love this. Very well done! The images are vivid.
ReplyDeleteAs springs makes way, you capture the moment winter makes its exit, Grace.
ReplyDeleteGraceful and respectful of nature.
as slowly as one enters, the other exits...in a most dignified manner perhaps, silent as it awaits its turn next year... loved the built up!
ReplyDelete"place where the alders grow" -- cool name for your creek.
ReplyDeleteAnd a great snap shot -- not afraid to capture the tracks of human foolishness and vanity.
Love the poem and love the picture!!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful images in your poem. It makes you have to smile :-)
ReplyDeleteI love receding hairlines of ice and all of the new bud shapes that arise from its melting. Fine unique imagery.
ReplyDeleteSorry it took me so long to get around to visiting you Grace. Glad I did. I felt chilled by the water you write about. And I love the ending.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I think that you may have stated the spring fever that is coursing through the d(uni)Verse. I love the strong images.
ReplyDeletestarted
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