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Open Poetry #36
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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2005-12-08 10:26 AM


I usually post the following two poems together.

YESTERYEAR

Rusty Memories
4 April 2001

Dark lagoon,
ship-starred sea,
summer moon,
night-cooled breeze,
a Vienna waltz
that the orchestra plays,
rainbow lights,
folds of gossamer
whispering blues,
swirling, twirling
on dancing feet
light as froth,
all attuned…

“Come, on.  I need to get groceries.”

Silent halls with leaves blown in
through broken panes
call to me,
knowing I dance
to the pain
of their rusty memories

Mystic Garden Tower
4 April 2001

Creeper-graced
of midnight green,
Rapunzel stairway
to a locked door.
Silence reigns
and seeps deep
into my soul.
Even the birds
have abandoned
their haunts...
Not an owl
will call.
They know, they know
but we don’t know
what they know they know.

- Owl

© Copyright 2005 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
littlewing
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655
New York
1 posted 2005-12-08 03:15 PM


You just made me see a stairwell that leads to a doorway leading to many doorways on cobbled paths with leaves strewn, dead leaves, rusted and a balcony with a woman up there - her singing floating along and inside that room she is alight . . .

amazing.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2005-12-09 10:33 AM


Actually, littlewing, you are so very close with that.  When I was 10 years old, my mother and I went on holiday to a boarding house on the beach next to a lagoon (Uvongo, if Honeybunch reads this - and still Uvongo if she doesn't!).  Across the lagoon, was a very grand hotel called La Crête.  There was a very steep pathway from the lagoon up to it, and my imagination painted beautiful mysterious pictures of great elegance.

When I was in my late 40's and dating a very pragmatic boyfriend, he and I came upon the hotel by chance.  It was abandoned and had a few broken window panes and we wandered around in the grounds and climbed in through the broken windows and I saw it in 0y imagination in what must have been its former glory and found it so very sad that all that was lost.  The tower was there too and we climbed up the steps to a locked door.  The only part you added was the maiden singing in the burning tower (a lovely touch, I must say).  The boyfriend dragged me away to go and buy his silly groceries.

Thanks for reading and enjoying it.

- Owl

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
3 posted 2005-12-09 10:33 PM


Diana~
How beautifully you pen a moment in time~

I enjoyed your 'explanation' also~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*No matter what I search for ...
let me know when it is LOVE that I find*~ <))><

Email -       noles1@totcon.com       

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2005-12-09 11:44 PM


Thanks Marge.  It was a very special experience.

- Owl

gemjop
Member Elite
since 2002-11-18
Posts 2587
Pencilveinia, USA
5 posted 2005-12-10 05:33 AM


Really enjoyed rusty memories in particular, the reality, because in moments like that, of sheer beauty that it could be fantasy, it is so often broken by a (often rather annoying) call from reality, eg a bored partner, a parent, family, a car thats trying to get past you..haha when you are so still and silent in the midst of really seeing something.)

I admire the way you allowed the real, some would leave it out for following convention, like the whole unspoilt magical fantasy. But this is beautiful, a REAL moment in time.

Sorry for going on, just wanted you to know i appreciated it, made me think of moments like that. and i'm keeping it.

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
6 posted 2005-12-10 06:12 AM


Hi, Diana - I've not been around too much but after reading this I'm going to make my way through your poetry.  Yes, I can see it all - the bygone days you describe so eloquently.  Uvongo - yes, I know the town but haven't visited for many years.  Perhaps it hasn't changed much in all that time.  Glad you're here.   Helen
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
7 posted 2005-12-11 01:28 AM


Gemjop, I am blown away by your response.  I think your poetry is magical and exquisite - like the perfect notes of a birdcall - and I read every one of yours that I find.  For such a poet to respond to one of mine like this, is a great honour.  Thank you.

Honeybunch!  Fellow South African!  I am so glad you found my poem, but especially my Uvongo response.  To be writing about a place that somebody has visited, is so great!  Thank you for reading and for your response.

- Owl

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