Poets are not afraid to drown. -Janet Frame
All our gods have turned to stone.
We are edified, petrified
by the letters of a law
chiseled onto tablets,
absolute, unyielding
Thou shalt not…
instead
speak deep
sing low
there is grace here
submerge
in my
lips
Image by Jason deCaries Taylor
This was written for The Mag where Tess Kincaid provides a weekly visual writing prompt. Congratulations to Tess on the 100th Magpie prompt! Also submitted to Poets United Poetry Pantry.
Image by Jason deCaries Taylor
This was written for The Mag where Tess Kincaid provides a weekly visual writing prompt. Congratulations to Tess on the 100th Magpie prompt! Also submitted to Poets United Poetry Pantry.
nice....we played it very similar this week...in our closes...and i like how you open it on the gods in stone, law and only on what we can not do...well played mary...
ReplyDeleteBrian - Thanks Brian. I was just reading yours, and love it!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! "speak deep, sing low" Love it.
ReplyDeleteNicely done. Is that photo from "The Silent Evolution," the underwater work of sculptor Jason deCaries Taylor? It is haunting.
ReplyDeleteThingy - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLisa - Yes it is! And thanks.
submerged in his lips...nice...and there's grace indeed..i went in a similar direction..and love the quote..
ReplyDeleteClaudia - Thank you. I think the quote was actually posted on 'Life at Willow Manor' blog at one time.
ReplyDeleteWell done Mary! You and Brian really made this prompt your own.
ReplyDeleteI love the first stanza. It reminds me of a passage from Emerson that I once pondered - http://cosmicfart.blogspot.com/2007/06/ralph-wado-emerson-wrote-our-age-is.html
ReplyDeleteMary, nicely penned. I love the ending :)
ReplyDeleteI like the brave words of the poet ~ Nice one ~
ReplyDeleteYours is a beautiful tale. I love the opening lines.I couldn't resist this image, so much to read into it.
ReplyDeleteMike - Hey thanks! Glad you stopped in.
ReplyDeleteDCW - Thank you. I read your entry and like it very much.
Catfish - Thanks!
Ayala - Thank you very much.
Grace - Thanks, they just seemed to fit.
Yvonne - Thanks, the image really resonated with me, and I have read a lot of wonderful poems this week!
A profoundly touching poem - and yes, the first line is what grabbed me also
ReplyDeleteI love the title...Poets are not afraid to drown...speak deep, sing low A marvelous piece!
ReplyDeleteWonderful piece!!! I loved your marvelous contrast of Law and Gospel, profoundly true. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteA rewarding read.
ReplyDeleteThe Janet Frame quote is one of my all-time favorites...
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a scene in a movie where there was a fluid so rich in oxygen that it worked and the problem was being willing to breathe it in. That last forced gasp, the body so sure it was going to die but then the character breathing anyway... surviving against instinct.
ReplyDeleteSE - Thank you, glad that resonated with you.
ReplyDeleteSusie - It is a wonderful quote, thank you.
Misfit - Yes, sort of like JC vs. Pharisees. Thanks.
Trellissimo - Thank you!
Tess - I believe I first saw that quote at Willow Manor. Thanks for reading, and for the great prompt.
Christopher - Sounds like an interesting movie. That picture provided by Tess Kincaid is really amazing.
This is incredibly cool!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I love the stoney-law theme - very fitting. This was a pleasure to read and the first Mag for me this year. Nice to be back........!
ReplyDeleteMary!!! You are a phenomenal writer! I LOVE this piece! The depth of emotion here and the melodic crossroads in my head of the many directions I wanted to take this and did, I read it more than twice and played on it as I love to do! You are just brilliant and I love when a poet can leave the reader to ponder. So wish I could do that. I could learn from you :) Keep penning, poet!!! :) Hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteMama Z - Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHelena - Thanks and welcome back!
Kellie - Wow, thank you so much Kellie. I feel like we can learn from each other, you have some great ink out there girl! I'm really glad this one 'spoke' to you :o)
Brava!
ReplyDeleteThe truth comes user-friendly in your poetry. I love it.
ReplyDeleteTumblewords - Grazie!
ReplyDeleteDave - Thank you so much.
Very nice writing!
ReplyDeletespeak deep
ReplyDeletesing low
there is grace here
Certainly in your poem...
Carrot and Jinksy - Thank you both!
ReplyDeletelike the contrasts between the stone and the kiss
ReplyDeletegreat quote by Janet Frame too.
Lucycyili - Thank you and welcome to the Bachs!
ReplyDeleteThis one is just as valid I think
ReplyDelete