Deep

   Sculptures at the Bottom of the Ocean by Jason deCaires Taylor 

     image from johnboildstep.wordpress.com

Poets are not afraid to drown. -Janet Frame

From little on we are

rocked in cradles

on waves,

pulled back and forth

by sun and moon.

As we go deeper

we do not fear.

though we are ruined

we do not fear.

through countless days and nights

poets are not afraid to drown.

I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”  -Anais Nin

Over in the  Imaginary Garden we were asked to to combine words and art. using a work of art and a quote to inspire our writing.

Reflected in the Water

     From lifewithelise.blogspot.com

I have always loved water;

grew up on the border

where land and river meet.

I delighted  

in water sounds,

in its feel, cool and smooth,

in things living

in the shallows and depths,

and the off-chance

of spotting a water sprite.

I’m not a strong swimmer

 anymore,

living inland

and growing old.

But I still love the river

and I am not afraid of drowning,

so why do I just keep treading water?

 This is for dVerse where we were asked for some kind of self-portrait.  Check it out, the examples given really helped shaped what I came up with.  Also for PAD and NaPoWriMo Day 18.

Water Music

    I want music

    like water

    fluid, smooth

    and deep enough

    to drown in.

     Image from Wiki free images: Bach Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor

For April, National Poetry Month, Day 13.  

Siren Song

 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. 

Quotation re: poets

Poets are not afraid to drown. -Janet Frame

I don't know quite what this means, or why I am so drawn to it. Any ideas?