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Open Poetry #48
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ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania

0 posted 2012-02-29 11:43 AM


             

The sky wheeze changed from west prevailing
Bringing warm breath it had gathered
Up from south...a springlike teasing
Of a frozen earth still gripped,
By the blue hands cold of winter.

Hickory choirs sing abnormal
Through twigs bent north,
The tune is different.
The gray-dressed line of naked singers
Held fast against the driving force
Of Odin's first-invaders.

But on a brisk wind, came fell sailing

Ships of Norsemen, pikes at ready
Sharpened spears  to pierce the wooden
Skins of sleeping unawares...
Their Limbs, their arms
Their finger-branches.

But the trees, but swayed
Their buds asleep, slumbering
On a wrong perceived as normal  
Winter day they stayed
Their ground, and only dreamed
Of green-gowns they would wear in summer

Imagine:

A Viking army bringing battle
Fighting-flighting arrows
Tipped with porcelain,
That stuck and coated,
Thick and silver-
Blood that clung to branches
Building-
Bending
Popping,
Breaking;  

The conquered could not move
From rooted homes
Made by their maker,
No safe place from viking danger
Not a cave, or moated castle.

So by sharp of mammen axes,
Arms came crashing-
Shattering like casted iron
Struck by hammers,
When they hit
The anvil ground.

And as the Nordic
Storm went passing
In the wind, a song of Odin
Words were heard
The lines of ancient,
Crazed berserker songs.


[This message has been edited by ice (03-01-2012 02:08 PM).]

© Copyright 2012 ford hume - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2012-02-29 12:07 PM


"Crazed berserker songs." heehee You got that right and the got the title of this blast from the north right also. The minute examination of the frozen tundra and the stay hopeful buds waiting for spring to have sprung, is absolutely great reading and this could go on and become an ode . . .

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

splashMeadow
Junior Member
since 2011-06-09
Posts 20
UK
2 posted 2012-02-29 01:46 PM


Magnificantly visual and mythical. Love the ending... the way the battle imagery has been brought to life from the sound of the wind blowing through the icy trees and winter scenery. I love poems that take me to places I have never seen before... and make me feel i'm there too.

p.s. hope you received the email with the link to the 'garden' blog?

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2012-02-29 09:44 PM


If ever I have wanted to sing the song
of ice storms and its hoarfrost,
it would have been this one...

but I didn't
and you did
and I am envious

as ever.


Nicole
Senior Member
since 1999-06-23
Posts 1835
Florida
4 posted 2012-03-01 06:43 AM


Here:

Hickory choirs sing abnormal,
Through twigs bent north,
The tune is different.
A gray-dressed line of naked singers
Held fast against the driving force
Of Odin's first-invaders,

and here:

But the trees, but swayed...
Their buds asleep, slumbering
On a wrong perceived as normal  
Winter day  they  stayed
Their ground and only dreamed,
Of green-gowns they would wear in summer

I am captivated by the imagery throughout, but those are my two favorite stanzas.  I love the personification of the different characters in your poem; the storm, the unwitting trees and blossoms... it makes me feel like it's a cross between a football game and a ballet.  I don't know if I should clap and yell wildly, or sit quiet awe.

lol maybe a bit of both, then.     

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631
West Coast
5 posted 2012-03-01 09:25 AM


Ice...you stir the whim of jagged blade here in this viking heart...muycoolo amigo.


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
6 posted 2012-03-01 11:08 AM


Ford, this blows me away.  I read it yesterday, but was too speechless to reply.  It has so many of your talents all wrapped into one – some of which are your spell-binding story-telling, your fine-tuned observation, your simultaneous hardy strength and beautiful sensitivity, your magical ability to choose “le mot juste” and your ability to weave all elements of you talents into a snowflake-perfect work of art, which is nevertheless as honest and sincere and delicate yet strong as a tiny brave little snowdrop emerging from the snow.  Wow and lots more wows!

Owl

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
7 posted 2012-03-01 07:31 PM


Thanks Jerry
Maybe it could be an ode to Odin......:-)
I love the old berserker tunes.
*
Splash
I have been able to visualize the mythical since I was a small child.
Thank you for the reply.
Ummm, I'll check for that e-mail..don't remember it..I'll get back to you.
*
Sunny
Oh Sunny, I love hoarfrost..once I was in the woods and could hear it tinkle against the trees..
But please don't envy me in any way, Im just a country boy that looks closely at what is around me.
Thank you for the reply.
*
Nicole
"it makes me feel like it's a cross between a football game and a ballet"
Oh, I like that...you see the poem, perhaps as a yin/yang symbol-football/ballet...:-)
Thanks for the reply.
*
Dark
"you stir the whim of jagged blade here"
I think there is a little viking spirit in all of us, Dark.
Thanks for the reply
*
Diana
What a warm, and wonderful reply...
In the Norse myths I see you as Gna, because of your love of horses,
and ability to deliver messages swiftly in the form of poems.
Thanks for the reply.

"It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack of what is found there"
(William Carlos Williams)

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
8 posted 2012-03-01 09:36 PM


That was not just a poem, that was an event.

Lori

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
9 posted 2012-03-02 12:58 PM


Ford, what a beautiful reply.  I am so honoured and happy to be called anything because of my love of horses, and love the additional being able to deliver messages swiftly in the form of poems!  What a wonderful mélange!  I don't know of Gna, but will look him/her up.  Thank you so much for this.

Owl

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
10 posted 2012-03-02 01:11 PM


I have just looked up Gná!  That would make Flicka my darling horse in Heaven now, Hófvarpnir and WOW!  There have been many, many, many wonderful things said about my precious horse, by many who knew him and by many who didn't, but nobody has ever said this about him!  Thank you!   Oh, my Flicka Hófvarpnir, tossing his heels in glee and I are flying high now through the skies and the smile on my face is in danger of going all the way around my head!  Thank you again!

Owl

ebonygirl
Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000
California U.S.A
11 posted 2012-03-03 10:58 AM


When reading your poem, I felt as though I was right in the middle of all the events; an epic novel is your poem, Ice!
Fantastic! Ms. E

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
12 posted 2012-03-04 06:07 AM


Ms. Lori
I think you are right, this was an event, a real one...
I just added a few notes of metaphor music to sweeten it up a little...lol
Thanks for reading.
*
Ms. Gna
What I wrote in the reply to your reply was what the poems mood suggested.
The life of a poems theme can be visualized, and expanded with the proper
imagination...The world is none other than the Norse, Greek, Celtic, Roman etc. myths
say it is, or was, to someone who tries to bring them to life with a pen.
Thanks again.
*
Ms. E
Thank you for reading , and the reply.
These types of events are repeated daily, everywhere, fueled by some unseen power.
I can't tell for sure what energy is involved with the playing out of these events.
But they inspire me, by their mystery...and so I blame them on the Gods....:-)

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
13 posted 2012-03-06 01:24 PM


Found a poem for you...




bel1e
Senior Member
since 2006-07-24
Posts 1631

14 posted 2012-03-08 02:31 PM


You transported me right into the heart of that, iceman~*~*~  

niiice~

              

JL
Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128
Texas, USA
15 posted 2012-03-08 08:51 PM


Nice one Mr ice!!


JL


Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Maranatha!

katahdin
Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196
ME. In the Shadow of the Mt.
16 posted 2012-03-08 08:55 PM


A powerful write! Enjoyed!
Kat >^..^<

ice
Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404
Pennsylvania
17 posted 2012-03-09 08:37 AM


Bel1e
Jl
Kat

Thank you for reading, and the replies..
Very much appreciated.......:-)


"Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance."
Carl Sandburg

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