we walk towards
thrum of ancient trees
untouched by city's hard
hands, thick shrubs drape
over barks & stumps-
leaves shimmer in rustling light-
bikers & runners scatter
stones & while lovers sway
as purple wildflowers
do in summer heat - hungry
for a raindrop - fingers weave
slow ripple, slower heartbeat
we should be bird-watching
& scanning for wayward deer
but we watch the river
yawn instead, then recline
on its back, catching sun
with its mouth, like a fish
Posted for OpenLinkNight of D'verse Poets Pub - Thanks for the visit ~
Kindly check out our poems at The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry ~
Edited by Frank Watson, he has included some of my poems ~ Here is one, originally written for Form for All: Ghazal Sonnet form ~
Better than I am
thrum of ancient trees
untouched by city's hard
hands, thick shrubs drape
over barks & stumps-
leaves shimmer in rustling light-
bikers & runners scatter
stones & while lovers sway
as purple wildflowers
do in summer heat - hungry
for a raindrop - fingers weave
slow ripple, slower heartbeat
we should be bird-watching
& scanning for wayward deer
but we watch the river
yawn instead, then recline
on its back, catching sun
with its mouth, like a fish
Posted for OpenLinkNight of D'verse Poets Pub - Thanks for the visit ~
Kindly check out our poems at The dVerse Anthology: Voices of Contemporary World Poetry ~
Edited by Frank Watson, he has included some of my poems ~ Here is one, originally written for Form for All: Ghazal Sonnet form ~
Better than I am
This is beautiful, Grace. I think it is very peaceful to watch the river...so much can be seen in the ripples, and one can imagine where they are journeying to.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary ~ What was amazing was that it was right in the heart of the city ~
Delete"heat - hungry
ReplyDeletefor a raindrop"
Oh, I love that!
Thank you MZ~
Deletea lovely walk in the woods. i really like thrum of ancient trees... purple wild flowers hungry for a raindrop... catching the sun with its mouth like a fish...
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you Ed, thanks ~
Deletereclining on the river's back, catching sun with its mouth like a fish....love that image... makes me wanna let her carry me to the ends of the earth...sigh... a beautiful capture grace
ReplyDeleteThanks Claudia ~
DeleteVery nice write Grace.>KB
ReplyDeletePerfectly captured, that lazy, glorious, hazy summer day!
ReplyDeletebeautiful, the river catching sun in its mouth, the lovers swaying like flowers :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ray ~
DeleteOh I love your ending Grace! It's perfect and now I want to yawn (but not because of your poem itself of course) I love the peacefulness in this.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lazy Sunday afternoon walk, ha ~ Thanks Gretchen ~
DeleteYes, completely agree that this poem finds the halcyon moments we feel, sense, and share while resting on a riverbank. Love the form. Is it a visual thing, or is there a syllable count; the word count changes, but but visually it is consistent. One small thing though, I believe the plural of deer is deer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Glenn ~ As to the form, I noticed this placement when I read poems specially in Poetry Foundation ~ Just thought I would experiment with the format ~
DeleteGot it on deer ~ will edit in a bit ~ Smiles ~
What a wonderful mood you weave here-- so full of detail and attention and yet so undistracted and relaxed. Thanks so much for the feeling ~peace, Jason
ReplyDeletethe final stanza gives me goosebumps, Grace :) ~ M
ReplyDeleteWhy so ? The river is actually full of fish ~ Good to see you M ~
DeleteBecause it's a stunning trope, that's why! :)
DeleteI think inspiration comes when we aren't looking for it so yawning and relaxing by the river sounds perfect!
ReplyDeleteI really love this... so many great lines and images, and that fabulous ending! I just ordered my copies of the anthology, can't wait to hold it in my hands!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and graceful, loved this. Comparing lovers to flowers was inspired.
ReplyDeleteyour poetry is always refreshing and moving Grace, loved the mood within~
ReplyDeleteLove your words Grace - the thrum of ancient trees, lovers swaying - damn it - all your words!
ReplyDeleteThe close is perfect!
Anna :o]
I adore those last two couplets!
ReplyDeleteYou've painted quite the picture with this one, Grace. I loved the line about the river yawning because I've honestly never heard a river described that way. Very original imagery.
ReplyDeleteI love the ebb and flow of this one. So peaceful.
ReplyDeleteI can feel the eddying currents, the ebb and flow, the ripples and the sunlight.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful construction, assonance and imagery.
http://somewhereamelody.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/late-afternoon-in-autumn.html
As the years go by, I seem to be more and more inclined toward the river, rather than the sea. Your words pulled me in.
ReplyDeletesmiles...i like the lovers swaying like the flowers hungry for raindrops....ah after spending all day in an HR seminar, what i would not give to be reclining by that river...smiles...
ReplyDeleteLove the peaceful flow of this. A beautiful meditative piece!
ReplyDeleteloved the contrast "thick scrubs drape" nice visuals
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...watching a river or floating on one fascinates me. I wonder about all the secrets it carries to the sea
ReplyDeleteVery lyrical poetic realisation and achievement, Grace - loved your ending and especially:
ReplyDelete'while lovers sway
as purple wildflowers
do in summer heat - hungry
for a raindrop'
Outstanding! With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com
Wonderfull! It read to me like a very gentle song, like a songof a bird captured into tones.
ReplyDeleteSome one say fish? lol nice texture to it indeed and congrats too at your feed
ReplyDeleteLove this and great ending.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love every lick of this! Each passage made me both want to linger and yet go on to the next.
ReplyDeletelooks like Argyle beach - make me miss home. Great poem and nice sonnet in the Anthology as well
ReplyDeleteI love this, I can see and feel everything through your eyes--the speckled sunlight through the leaves, the stones scattering as people walk along the river, reaching for its coolness-a reprieve from the heat of the day. Beautiful writing.
ReplyDeleteGrace, the last two couplets are divine. I enjoyed the whole poem.
ReplyDeletePamela
Captured nicely, what a walk in the city! one has to be 'open' to see/feel/taste it...:)
ReplyDeleteWonderful movements of water with ripples, something great to savor. Being aware can be rewarding. Beautiful write Grace!
ReplyDeleteHank
Oh sounds like a perfect day, just to lie back and take it all in...just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful and serene walk indeed :)
ReplyDeleteI could actually imagine on a canvas
ReplyDeleteyour poetry today. What a visual beauty.
This makes one taste summer as well as the romance you weave into it. Lovely write Grace.
ReplyDeleteThat's just the perfect thing to do on a beautiful summer day. :-) Your images are lovely.
ReplyDeleteLove this! congrats on the anthology too!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your poems included in the anthology. Wonderful!
ReplyDelete' we should be bird-watching & scanning for wayward deer '--- ah, i am all up for these Grace... ye know i love nature at its grandest essence and reading this is a gem to me.... refreshing! ...loving the new header photo.... i can be lost for a while to it.... smiles...
ReplyDeleteI saw this scene as I read and love its business with bikes and all, as well as the choice of stillness, lying on and becoming the ocean in the sun. Mmmm.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful afternoon well spent and wonderfully told in poetic imaginary.
ReplyDeletethis is quite lovely and peaceful. I can see how one might get lost in the river's yawn.
ReplyDeletejust lovely Grace!
ReplyDelete