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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 2011-09-29 02:39 PM


YOU, TARZAN - ME, JANE
29 September 2011

What we share in the sun
and the rain
and the wind
and in the secret of the night,
is fragile.
It is not infinite
and it is not immortal.
It is the birth of a stream.
It is the legs of a shongololo.
It is a butterfly sunning itself on a leaf.

And so we need to celebrate it in tiny flowers,
whisper it in poetry as pure as spring water,
sing it in the voices of summer birds,
finger it with kitten breath,
protect it with the pounce of a lion
on the South African veld,
handle it like a tiny precious work of glass art,
seeing, in the barrel of its soul,
the reflections of the sun’s glory
and the cadence of the moon’s soft glow
and wrap it in our arms around each other.


(Note: "veld" is pronounced "felt" and a shongololo - pronounced shorng-gaw-law-law is a millipede.)

Owl

[This message has been edited by OwlSA (09-30-2011 07:36 AM).]

© Copyright 2011 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
1slick_lady
Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace
1 posted 2011-09-29 10:45 PM


just beautiful !!!
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2011-09-30 02:01 AM


Thank you, Helen.

Owl

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
3 posted 2011-09-30 07:03 AM


Your title brought smiles, dear Diana, as I imagined the gorgeous couple dancing through the forest on the lianas, having fun.

Your words, though subtle in their representation, are equally gorgeous, even within the consciousness of the impermanence of what they evoke.

Most beautiful.

Love,
Margherita


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2011-09-30 07:30 AM


Thank you for your lovely, thoughtful words and fun image, Margherita.  It is the understanding of both of us of what is in the first stanza and the ability to do what is mentioned in the second stanza that keeps it magical and lasting.

Owl

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
5 posted 2011-09-30 10:53 AM


handle it like a tiny precious work of glass art,
seeing, in the barrel of its soul,
the reflections of the sun’s glory
and the cadence of the moon’s soft glow

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Exquisite poetry, Lady OWL~
Just so lovely, you~

Krawdad
Member Elite
since 2001-01-03
Posts 2597

6 posted 2011-09-30 11:03 AM


Thanks for a bit more of your SA world - wish I could see it - will have to be satisfied through your eyes.
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
7 posted 2011-09-30 02:46 PM


Thank you, Blues.  Smiling.

Thank you, Krawdad.  I adore my country and love painting it for others.  I suppose I am prejudiced and all countries are wonderful, but I enjoy loving South Africa the way I do, anyway.  I have quite a bit of my poetry to South Africa hidden away in the archives.

Owl

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2011-09-30 11:37 PM


And so we need to celebrate it in tiny flowers,
whisper it in poetry as pure as spring water,
sing it in the voices of summer birds,
finger it with kitten breath,
protect it with the pounce of a lion

What beautiful caretaking of something precious!!

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2011-10-01 03:03 AM


Thank you, Ruth, for your kind words.

Owl

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
10 posted 2011-10-06 07:53 PM


Nice...James
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
11 posted 2011-10-06 11:56 PM


Thank you, James.

Owl

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