Pathetic Fallacy In D Minor

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RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

0 posted 2002-09-30 03:39 PM

"He hath awakened from the dream of life"
-Shelley

I descend to that wood, the slope of
its darkening path orphan graveled and
meandering. Mildew moss shroud fallen

oak. Others stricken lean, branches
reaching back up to fend off the final
blows of light. Past sluggish squirrels,

umber chipmunk skirting shadows,
unseen crepitant birds. Through a vale
cut by a river whose banks bear graffiti,

whose ripplings caress not turtles but
green plastic bottles. Unleashed dogs
lead owners, stiffened smiles acknowledge

proximates who lunk in diverse directions.
One thirty inch snake angles my path. He
startled, pauses. I inspect two yellow

streaks which run his length. He flees.
Rising from this valley which drew cool
sweat from reluctant pores I enter

a garden of light.

Well tended, unblemished lawns carpet
rolling hills whose vibrant trees teem
with robins, bluejay and a woodpecker

whose muted timpani provides a circus
drumroll accompanying the antics of the
squirrelish acrobatics. On the verdant

hillocks rest forevers guarantee that
ones space remain inviolate from the
din of life, from the coarse inspections,

the raised eyebrow, the wagging tongue,
the jaundiced ear, the cursed clock.
Amid the angels and obelisks, tiny Greek

and Roman temples, ancient columned
architecture, on the stepping stones
of marble, granite, slate and bronze

we find the chisled unbound oaths of Love.
MOTHER, FATHER, HUSBAND, SON are stamped
on jet black, gray or rose, on slant on bevel.

There between the runes of six point stars,
masonic emblems, raised, embedded crosses
and the inward facing stainglassed mausoleums

lie our truth;

"In His will is our peace"
-Dante

"Happy people have no history" - French Proverb

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

1 posted 2002-09-30 03:47 PM

I love the way this meandered from Shelley to Dante, from an awakening to a cessation.
I especially liked this:
"Rising from this valley which drew cool
sweat from reluctant pores I enter

a garden of light"

TriXter
Member

since 2002-03-20

Posts 112
The One

2 posted 2002-09-30 03:49 PM

emjoyed

The man of few words...

Moonlight Romeo

Senior Member

since 2001-09-10

Posts 982
The heart of you

3 posted 2002-09-30 04:02 PM

A walk through the soul is always in 7/8 time.

Thank you.

What light through yon window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

4 posted 2002-09-30 05:35 PM

Mr. Wells, Your talent for bringing pictures to life with the written word amazes me...now this I enjoyed so very much.
~Hugs~

~ Time has cast a spell on you
So you won't ever forget me ~

RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

5 posted 2002-09-30 06:45 PM

Thank you all for noticing. I feel an explanation of the title may be in order. John Ruskin coined the poetic phrase "Pathetic Fallacy" on 1856. It describes the tendency of poets and painters to credit nature with the feelings of human beings.Its cause "an excited state of the feelings, making us, for the time, more or less irrational." It is the "error...which the mind admits when affected strongly by emotions," a "falseness in our impressions of external things."
I made ominus an ordinary walk through the park (wood) and desirable the time spent in the adjacent cemetery. Even the last line (prior to the quote) "lie in truth" has a dark/light balance.

[This message has been edited by RSWells (09-30-2002 06:46 PM).]

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

6 posted 2002-09-30 10:22 PM

Richard

I enjoyed reading this the first time, then read your explanation and read it again with even more enjoyment. The contrast of light and dark, the two gardens...and the imagery tossled and well kept. Well done!

Sandpiper
Senior Member

since 2002-06-15

Posts 738
land of flora and fauna

7 posted 2002-10-01 06:02 AM

The reader "sees" all that you see, but, even more, the reader "feels" all that you feel. And that, makes all the difference.

Samantha G Kennedy
Member

since 2002-07-27

Posts 131
Kent England

8 posted 2002-10-04 02:10 AM

I could spy those grave stones and almost touch each description...what a fantastic release of expression!

"Rising from this valley which drew cool
sweat from reluctant pores I enter

a garden of light"

this quoted; left wonderful images, within

Sammie

^i^

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