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Open Poetry #24
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Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space

0 posted 2003-01-06 11:43 PM



Grains of idle thought
form dunes on which I tread
Here I found you as you found me
searching for suitable rock
to lay the cornerstone
But I am weary and mirages
still haunt these weary eyes
I beg the ibis lead me
to purer waters that I may
wet these cracked lips
and wash this world from skin
To the toil again
and pray that the feather
and heart balance on scale
for I have been devoured
long enough


(original)
A desert of ideals where
grains of idle thought
form dunes on which I tread
upon alone
Here I found you as you found me
sifting through the sands
for suitable rock to lay the cornerstone
But I am weary and mirages
still haunt these weary eyes
I beg the ibis lead me
to purer waters that I may
wet these cracked lips
and wash this world from skin
To the toil again
and pray that the feather
and heart do balance on scale
for I have been devoured
long enough

[This message has been edited by Aenimal (01-07-2003 03:52 PM).]

© Copyright 2003 raphael giuffrida - All Rights Reserved
Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

1 posted 2003-01-07 05:12 AM


You know what? I'd consider cutting out the first four lines of this poem. Why? Because the rest of the poem conveys the idea that you're putting across. The first four lines are pure 'telling' metaphor. Desert of ideals, grains of idle thought. Which then create the dunes you're walking on. So you've told the reader, matter of factly, that you're walking on metaphoric sands.

Whereas, the rest of the poem conveys that, rather than tells it. There's an important difference.

Here I found you as you found me
sifting through the sands
for suitable rock to lay the cornerstone
But I am weary and mirages
still haunt these weary eyes
I beg the ibis lead me
to purer waters that I may
wet these cracked lips
and wash this world from skin
To the toil again
and pray that the feather
and heart do balance on scale
for I have been devoured
long enough

'Sifting through the sands' is a bit cliched...

'I beg the ibis lead me' - love that line.

'and heart do balance on scale' - I'd kill the 'do'. Very old fashioned technique called inversion that has no place in this form of poem in my oh so humble opinion lol.

'long enough' as the end lines? Bit wishy washy. No impact there. Just a flat kind of end...

I like your writing btw, which is why you get me every now and then popping in and bossing you around...~grin~

K

[This message has been edited by Severn (01-08-2003 01:35 AM).]

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

2 posted 2003-01-07 05:41 AM


Very well done Raph, I enjoyed the metaphors very much.  This was my favorite part of the entire piece
"Here I found you as you found me
sifting through the sands
for suitable rock to lay the cornerstone
But I am weary and mirages
still haunt these weary eyes"

Especially enjoyed that line.  

regards2you
Member Elite
since 2002-10-01
Posts 3940
California
3 posted 2003-01-07 05:44 AM




I enjoyed this a great deal. The critique was interesting, too.
But I liked the usage of the word dune.

Thanks for sharing your talent.

Warm regards, Pat

..without surrender, be on good terms with all persons..
        "Desiderata"

Kethry
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082
Victoria Australia
4 posted 2003-01-07 05:50 AM


Aenimal,
I really like the last line that shows to me the image of the shape change of the dune when scoured by the restless wind.
Kethry

Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind.  Unknown



Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
5 posted 2003-01-07 08:55 AM


You've dune it again Raph. waving to you from my dunes, still sifting through last year's pile.
Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
6 posted 2003-01-07 09:02 AM


Aenimal
Why do you think the desert is so vast? LOL
enjoyed.

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
7 posted 2003-01-07 03:50 PM


Severn thanks for the critique and I agree with it for the most part.

Personally I like the metaphor, to just leave it as walking on sands may convey the isolation but not of the meaning of the isolation, in this case idle thought. So I'll meet you half way and am erasing the First line as it seems redundant now.
Sifting through is cliched but i got stuck on a line, how about "searching for suitable rock'
Agree with the erasing the 'do', felt awkward but I left it in I forgot to reread and make the changes i wanted.
If you understand the poem you understand that if the heart does not balance then I am set to be devoured. The point of the last line is that I've been devoured long enough and am set to change things now then suffer an eternity of them.
Appreciate your opinion and have made the changes above and left the original for those who'll wonder what the hell we're talking about. Thanks for the input!!

[This message has been edited by Aenimal (01-07-2003 03:59 PM).]

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
8 posted 2003-01-07 03:57 PM


Thank you very much Gentle Spirit I appreciate the compliment  

Pat thank you for sharing yours! And thank you for reading and responding

Thanks Kethry I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks for stopping by

Kacy as long as it's only a SAND pile and not something else lol

Seymour how true LOL Thanks for the read

[This message has been edited by Aenimal (01-07-2003 03:59 PM).]

inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-19
Posts 7392
Ohio
9 posted 2003-01-07 10:35 PM


i always find myself at the beach, even if for a few........
liked this revelation, finding some relgion perhaps?

garysgirl
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237
Florida, USA
10 posted 2003-01-07 10:48 PM


Raph,
actually, as I'm quite sure all of you can tell from my writes,
I know nothing about technicalities of writing poetry.
I do love poetry though, and I do love yours.

BTW, I like the courteous and playful way that Severn
critiques poems. And I've noticed that he doesn't critique everyone's
(phew!!). So, I think you should feel priviliged that
he likes your writing enough to critique you. He seems
to know what he's talking about, actually.  

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

Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

11 posted 2003-01-08 01:35 AM


(Whisper to garysgirl...check out my profile - you'll find I'm a girl ~blush~ Everyone thinks Severn sounds so masculine waaaaaaah... - oh and you better watch out or I might come critique your poems...smile)

Aenimal - glad you found suggestions helpful, no doubt you'll get more of them ~smile~

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
12 posted 2003-01-08 01:35 AM


Inked religion no, pathways yes

Thank you Ethel thats sweet of you to say, and yes i agree I like Severn's critique i think the changes make it better.

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
13 posted 2003-01-08 01:36 AM


Severn does sound masculine you had me fooled,lol
thank you again for the advice!

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
14 posted 2003-01-08 02:51 AM


I"m not much of a critic, just say what i feel about writing when I read it, and I liked both versions...
Aenimal
Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350
the ass-end of space
15 posted 2003-01-09 02:31 AM


Thanks Dixie I appreciate it
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