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Open Poetry #25
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Ratleader
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0 posted 2003-03-04 07:17 PM



Trilobite

Scrabble across sun-blasted shale,
beneath the lizard breath of thermals
hovering hot along the hillside:
Kneel here. Or here...
Here.

Or here, beneath this sere, sun scalded cliff,
to choose among the rocks, or turn a random stone
out of this randomness of stones.
Choose here. Or here...
Here.

Or here, a slender vein of shale, mud stasis
under granite over gneiss, so dark, uncanny soft
that city hands could break, thrust into time,
pull treasure here. Or here…
Here.

This dry square stone, chip-edged, pulled upward
with a mica shimmer through the waves of
earth-remembered seas-- and yet too smooth:
Nothing died here.
Or here.

A blank and anaerobic page, that opens
to no carbon trace of life lined out,
no graceful frozen curve to mark
a distant passing in the tide of time;
but in this stone are layers, layers in the layers,
layers even city hands could open here.
Or here...
Here.

© Copyright 2003 Ed Ratledge - All Rights Reserved
Martie
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1 posted 2003-03-04 07:24 PM


Ed...we take for granted the layers that have built and fallen around us, here and here, the crumble of time and the rock is not.  This was intense and thoughtful.  I admire what you do.
BluesSerenade
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since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
2 posted 2003-03-04 09:58 PM


The stone grinds against the grain and turns the pebbles into sand, hence, the layers upon layers, upon layers.

Here, here~

you go!

garysgirl
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3 posted 2003-03-04 10:27 PM


Ed, this is a very interesting poem. I love the way you write.

"Love makes the world go around"
~with love and hugs from Ethel__GG~  
                  

passing shadows
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displaced
4 posted 2003-03-05 03:12 AM


very thought-provoking
Sunshine
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Listening to every heart
5 posted 2003-03-05 06:59 AM




Now I see Martie's inspiration...

well done, Sir...

inkedgoddess
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since 2002-11-19
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Ohio
6 posted 2003-03-05 06:59 AM


deep within the layers of words, the poem is real good
Cpat Hair
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7 posted 2003-03-05 11:56 AM


very nice.... love the imagery..and the idea... the layer built into the poem..allow the reader to take it were they want and apply it to their life as they see it...

good stuff Ed... very good

gemjop
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since 2002-11-18
Posts 2587
Pencilveinia, USA
8 posted 2003-03-05 12:08 PM


had ma mouth open when reading this...wow..like this a lot. in 2 my library i think.
Dark Angel
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since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095

9 posted 2003-03-08 07:34 PM


A blank and anaerobic page, that opens
to no carbon trace of life lined out,
no graceful frozen curve to mark
a distant passing in the tide of time;
but in this stone are layers, layers in the layers,
layers even city hands could open here.
Or here...
Here.


I find myself looking out for your work
ratleader. I love what you do when you do this.

I understand why Martie was inspired by this poem.

adding this to my library.

Maree

TaureauRouge
Junior Member
since 2002-06-01
Posts 26
A mass of land between two oceans
10 posted 2003-03-08 07:50 PM


Human perspectives can be the many layers but ultimately, there is that single fossil, truth, which is evident in all layers.  That's my take at least.  Excellent job

"I should have been a pair of ragged claws/ Scuttling over the floors of silent seas"-T.S. Eliot

Bill Charles
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since 2000-07-11
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highways, & byways, for now
11 posted 2003-03-08 09:31 PM


Ratleader - many thoughts here of what I read...

BC

Connel
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12 posted 2003-03-08 09:33 PM


... The face is self explainatory

Anyone can write, But only poets can capture the heart.

Ringo
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Saluting with misty eyes
13 posted 2003-03-08 10:00 PM


I read this at first just because you had written it... I read it a second time because I wanted to be sure I understood it... I read it the third time just to simply enjoy it agin.
Great write.

Ratleader
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14 posted 2003-03-08 10:53 PM


Ah, I'm glad some folks have noticed this one -- it's all too often that the ones I like best fall straight through to the bottom of the pile..... Does my heart good to hear that somebody likes one that I think of as one of my best.

And I did find a trilobite fossil that day -- not a very good one, but darned well good enough for city hands to pick up....

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

Mistletoe Angel
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15 posted 2003-03-09 04:38 PM




(sigh) I think we indeed take that solid layer for granted, dearest friend, we just keep escavating until we find we've duggen ourselves into a deep hole and can't get out, where the foundation is simply there and no shovels are needed to unravel it! (big hugggssssss) This is a very intriguing write, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Ed, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

wranx
Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn
16 posted 2003-03-09 05:23 PM


I've been looking for the trilobite in my own writing....I see layers containing eons, without substance.

And each, pretty shallow.

Where IS that thing(s) that needs to be said?!

Sorry to vomit all over your post Ed, just got me thinking.....

Ed

[This message has been edited by wranx (03-09-2003 05:25 PM).]

Ratleader
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17 posted 2003-03-09 06:16 PM


Wat, wat you mean, wranx? Yours is some of the best and most consistent stuff that hits this site....

Take it away, and we'd have to put road cones around the hole to prevent a disaster!

~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>   ~~(¸¸¸¸ºº>  ~~(¸¸ ¸¸ºº>    ~~~(¸¸ER¸¸ºº>
______________Ratleader______________

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