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Open Poetry #47
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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2011-01-12 04:19 PM



THE BRIDGE
August 1999

Guiding my eye
along the opposite riverbank
is a march of naked, grey trees
with their frozen, ballerina arms
curved above their heads
in the cold, winter mist.
That bridge
with its stone walls
far away in the watercolour distance
has stolen my soul.
I will know the bridge.
I will walk on to it.
I will lean over its rough, stone walls,
contemplate the silent, winter melancholy
and breathe the shiver-clean, biting air.
I will walk over the bridge,
slowly,
and with every crunching step
I will savour its presence.
I will cross on to the other side
and look back,
at this bridge,
my bridge,
the bridge in the painting,
the painting that will not let me go.

Owl

© Copyright 2011 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
1 posted 2011-01-12 05:46 PM




"shiver-clean, biting air."

melancholy and beautifully
painted Diana.

JerryPat
Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991
Louisiana/America
2 posted 2011-01-12 06:37 PM


I understand this possession of your obsession. You gave part of it to me and I feel a kinship with this bridge of yours. The day you make that walk and look back from the other side I believe I will have a shiver-clean feeling throughout me. Great work.

Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
3 posted 2011-01-12 06:48 PM


I agree with Jerry, I'll have the same feeling go through me.
Beautiful capture here Diana I could drop into the scene like I was really there.
Almost fell over the edge when I leaned over the side.

Eric

Love does not look after it's own interests.

mikeandrew
Member
since 2010-11-18
Posts 198

4 posted 2011-01-12 07:04 PM


great work i enjoyed your poem
faithmairee
Senior Member
since 2011-01-05
Posts 1441
Poe Haven, USA
5 posted 2011-01-12 07:08 PM


this is very beautifully written and i enjoyed it so much...great diction and imagery!

There must be a poem in here somewhere.

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant
since 2006-11-07
Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !
6 posted 2011-01-12 09:22 PM


grand-fine 'slice of life' and Winteresque imagery and impressionism!!

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
7 posted 2011-01-12 09:45 PM


Haunting and lovely, Diana. I can't say enough about these latest posts of yours.
                                  Ida

steavenr
Member Elite
since 2003-11-17
Posts 4058

8 posted 2011-01-13 12:39 PM


you have painted a lovely picture here...and these words were simply captivating:

"I will savour its presence.
I will cross on to the other side"

...I found them...compelling

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2011-01-13 03:55 PM


Thank you, Kate.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, Jerry.  I am very touched by your response.  I am so glad you experienced that bridge.  I saw the painting so very long ago, as you will see by the date I wrote it, but it is so very clear in my mind still.  I love paintings that I can climb into.  It was painted by the mother of a friend of mine (also a poet) and I saw it in her house, but she left Durban for Johannesburg many years ago.  

Thank you, Eric.  I am so glad you didn’t fall over the edge!  Smiles.

Thank you, Mike.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Thank you, Faith, for your kind words.

Thank you, Bruce, but you are the master of winteresque imagery and impressionism.

Thank you, Ida, for your touching words.

Thank you, Steaven, for your pleasure in my poem.

Owl

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