Thursday, March 23, 2017

Spawning the river


I.
When I am thirsty
I travel to drink in
This river of words –
Sun is ink, stones are parchment
I grow fins and kelp
Writing fishy tales    

II.
When I am in despair
I jog down to the river
Tasting sadness, chewing its edges
Swallowing bone and liver,
I wash it down with the blessings of trees
And leave, on river’s belly,
Single red feather


III.


When my tongue is dry
With crackers and oats
I go to the river to wash
Wildflowers are soap
Mushroom and moss are towels
Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies

Posted for D'verse poets Pub - OpenLinkNight - Join us when the pub opens at 3pm EST.  Thanks for your comments. 

43 comments:

  1. Grow from a little sprout as you cure your drought

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  2. I love the different facet of the river... the river is always there for you, and change for you... Especially love the drinking of words in the first coda.

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  3. I love that the river is the source of solace and peace for you. Easy flow to your words!

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  4. A lovely river portrait, Grace. I really love the lines:
    'Sun is ink, stones are parchment
    I grow fins and kelp
    Writing fishy tales'.

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  5. Tasting sadness, chewing its edges... wonderful descriptions.

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  6. Those seem like good reasons to go to the river: to quench one's thirst, recover hope and become clean. I like the idea of "writing fishy tales".

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  7. Oh such lovely imagery here Grace!❤️Especially love; "Tasting sadness, chewing its edges. Swallowing bone and liver, I wash it down with the blessings of trees and leave, on river’s belly, single red feather." Beautifully executed.❤️

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  8. There's true beauty, your words, Grace, which offers hope and healing, in these challenging times. In giving us, grace, when we need it, the most.

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  9. Oh Grace! You have made my day. Love every one of these :) ...and I am indeed pink with lilies :) Have a LOVELY weekend, my friend.

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  10. Your codas are cool, your poetics keen, your wordsmithing finely honed. If only more of us sought /the blessing of trees/, as you sport your /red feather/in your French braid, and show off your tight midriff /pink with lilies/.

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  11. A beautiful connection with the river through these words, I especially love 'I travel to drink in
    This river of words – Sun is ink, stones are parchment'

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  12. To be 'pink with lilies' is about all anyone needs.

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  13. I love every single line of this - and the nurturing, mutually loving relationship with the river.

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  14. I loved the last line of the first stanza - Writing fishy tales - it made me smile.
    Thanks Grace - Matthew

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  15. So many wonderful lines here, I love how sun is ink. The river can shift to your every need, but is continually the source of inspiration and nourishment.

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  16. The most surrealist poem I've ever read in a long while.

    Grace these lines blow my mind:


    When I am thirsty
    I travel to drink in
    This river of words –
    Sun is ink, stones are parchment
    I grow fins and kelp
    Writing fishy tales


    Your put together in threads the most beautiful imagery and I smiled while reading this. Excellent. :)

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  17. Loved reading about all things the river is to you Grace. Quenching thirst, inspiring, feeding and nurturing. Especially loved - "Tasting sadness, chewing its edges."

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  18. Those who are thirsty, those who despair - seek solace from this river. Truly lovely.

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  19. Your imagery is so breathtaking in this poem, Grace. Really beautiful.

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  20. the river for poets. :)

    'I go to the river to wash
    Wildflowers are soap'

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  21. Wonderful imagery drift. Marvelous flow of imagination.

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  22. Love how each of the problems you lost its cured by a visit to the river

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  23. "Pink with lilies" ... soon, friend Grace, soon ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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  24. Wildflowers are soap
    Mushroom and moss are towels
    Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies

    geeeez. this is beyond beautiful! <3

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  25. Wow, Grace, this was so serene in its reading. I felt like I was taken into the poem.

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  26. The ending is gorgeous:

    "Wildflowers are soap
    Mushroom and moss are towels
    Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies"

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  27. I love how you've interplayed the textures and emotions-- this is worth several readings!~peace, Jason

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  28. I go to the river to wash
    Wildflowers are soap
    Mushroom and moss are towels
    Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies

    How the river is seen as helpful and supported by the ferns and flowers around it in its bidding. Truly said Grace!

    Hank

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  29. Beautiful lines! I especially like this "Sun is ink, stones are parchment"

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  30. That single red feather is a prayer of pure power.

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  31. fun variety!
    May I play for a second?
    I chose the lines I liked from each verse and combined them.
    I got rid of poem-correctness of capitalizing each line.
    And added in punctuation to help the read. And got this:


    When I am thirsty
    I travel to drink in
    this river of words.
    Swallowing bone and liver,
    I wash it down with the blessings of trees.
    Mushroom and moss are towels.
    Grit falls away, I am pink with lilies!

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  32. Oh! I have missed that river and your poems Grace. Hope you are well. I have been away from Dverse far too long.

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  33. This brings to mind the W.H. Auden quote: "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water."

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  34. I really like this. Especially II and your closing on III.

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  35. I like the sound of the poems and of the images they conjure.

    Happy week to you. :-)

    ~Imelda

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  36. I love this, Grace, such vivid, natural imagery... Thank you!

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  37. Interesting and very creative.

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