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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2008-09-02 05:01 PM


I wrote this when I had just turned 18.

EVENING HARMONY
November 1963

Vibrating crickets pierce the softening dusk,
Trees dark’ their waving boughs
And stand like sentinels ‘gainst cooling sky,
The lazy music of sleepy birds
Hangs in the branches of their roosting trees,
And on the water, white flowers of egrets
Bloom on the naked remnants of a broken branch,
The deep blue blanket softly mothers her weary child
And gently draws her to her quiet breast.

- Owl

[This message has been edited by OwlSA (09-03-2008 11:44 AM).]

© Copyright 2008 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
TheAnonDavid
Member
since 2008-08-28
Posts 237
UK
1 posted 2008-09-02 05:59 PM


There is a strength and a maturity in this for one so young. It is fascinating to turn up work done so many years ago and to remember the time when it was written.
Thank you for reliving your youth with us.

Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
2 posted 2008-09-02 09:09 PM


APPLAUSE! This was from your quill at age 18? It shows how much talent you've always had for vivid imagery. More, please.
BTW, Di, I'll be gone for a week or so, visiting Sara. We won't be staying at White Horse Vale though, but visiting art galleries, museums and bookstores in Portland and Seattle, and a couple of days at my beloved Pacific ocean!
I hope to re-awaken my seashore, sand dunes  and driftwood muse.  

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
3 posted 2008-09-03 06:17 AM


Thank you so much, David, for your very kind words.  My mother, who was a poetry-loving schoolteacher, didn't think it was much good, so I believed her then.  Yes, it was fun reliving it.  I remember exactly where I was when the poem was born and what gave rise to its birth.

Thanks so much Kacy.  You and David have put a smile on my face.  Enjoy your time with Sara.  Even though you aren't going to be staying at White Horse Vale, please ask her to hug every horse she works with (and doesn't work with) from Auntie Di from sunny South Africa and from Flicka in Heaven.  I must admit, that though the horses would be a far higher first, what you will be doing certainly would rate a high second choice for me - especially the
art galleries, the museums and the bookstores (OK, especially everything!).  Enjoy the ocean.  I am sure that your seashore, sand dunes and driftwood muse is jumping up and down with excitement at the prospect of the trip - and we, particularly I, will be looking forward tremendously to the poetry you bring back with you.  Thanks for explaining the hole there will be in PIP in the mean time.  We will miss you, but I am glad that you will be having such a wonderful time and with Sara on top of that.  Drive carefully, keep safe and have a wonderful time.

- Owl

Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
4 posted 2008-09-03 08:07 AM


Thanks, Diana for the well wishes. Your mom may have had a different concept of what poetry is than we do. I enjoyed the freshness of the images.
Watch for an email soon, with more info on the equestrian vs non-equestrian adventures.

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
5 posted 2008-09-03 08:37 AM


My Dear Diana, I can see that the 'writing was on the wall', so to speak, at the tender age of eighteen! You were born to write!

Over the years, your rosebud talent has blossomed into a glorious poet's rose!

I enjoy all your pennings! ~ Be they written at any age!

Love you!
Linda xo


Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
6 posted 2008-09-03 09:22 AM


It is an extraordinary work from that wonderfully talented girl Diana of 18!
I think your Mother did realize your great talent and potential, but wanted to stimulate you to reach even higher peaks.

Diana dear friend take a bow.

Love and hugs.
Margherita

"Love is the One who masters all things;
I am mastered totally by Love."
(Rumi)

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
7 posted 2008-09-03 11:24 AM


Kacy, I think you are being very kind about my mother.  If anything, I think she was jealous, but it took me years to see that.  
I am looking forward to the non-equestrian info, but very, very especially the equestrian info.  

Thank you Linda for your very kind words.  I feel very honoured.  You are a sweetie!  

Thank you, Margherita.  It would be nice if you were right about my mother, but somehow, I don't think you are.  

Hugs to all three of you

- Owl

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
8 posted 2008-09-03 11:33 AM


Hi Owl, I wish I would have your 18 talent now....This is astonishing and You are lucky to have always been a poet and share delightful poems....I stopped writing from 1983 to 2003 because during these years I search something else, I searched to construct myself which is not an so easy thing....Thank you again for your beautiful poem....

regards

yann

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2008-09-03 11:43 AM


Thank you so much for your very kind words, Yann.  I am stunned by everyone's reaction to this poem.  I nearly didn't post it.  Somehow I believed my mother.  I would imagine that you are talking about developing your outer self, in this case, your career, from 1983 to 2003 because I am sure that your inner self was always the wonderful person you are now.  

- Owl

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
10 posted 2008-09-04 02:45 AM


I guess you were always a poet. Diana. I find that true poets are born not made.
                               Ida

nourzihane
Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 254
Algeria
11 posted 2008-09-04 04:41 AM


http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/5748/61647903fh1.gif
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
12 posted 2008-09-04 11:39 PM


Thank you, Ida.  You honour me with your kind words.

Thank you Nourzihane for your beautiful image with its sparkling words!

- Owl

poddarku
Senior Member
since 2008-01-15
Posts 589
india
13 posted 2008-09-06 12:21 PM


It is vivid. It is like being in heaven. It is wow!"lazy music of sleepy birds
Hangs in the branches of their roosting trees,
And on the water, white flowers of egrets"
- Your picture is that of the island inside my dream where I seek peace of mind.

clever talks delay friendship!

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
14 posted 2008-09-06 04:06 AM


Thank you very much Kushal for your kind words of appreciation.  I am very happy that it brought you such a feeling of peace.

My memory of the scene is still very vivid (and that was written 44 and three quarter years ago!).  My mother was driving us back from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, and we passed St Helier Tea Gardens to the left of the highway, in the last moments of sunset.  There is a lake there and there was a large broken branch with lots of small branches stemming from it sticking up out of the water and the egrets were sitting on the branch.  In the fading light, they almost did look like white flowers.  

I am so glad that you have a dream island where you seek piece of mind.  That is a wonderful concept and a wonderful idea.  I hope that all who read your response will consider that for themselves.

- Owl

Artic Wind
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 8080
Realm of Supernatural
15 posted 2008-09-07 11:19 AM


Wonderful Write, I enjoyed this one deeply!


ARCTIC WIND

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
16 posted 2008-09-07 11:44 AM


Thank you Arctic Wind.  I am so glad you enjoyed it so much.  

- Owl

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