»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #48
»
"Who is this, what is here?" (a rewrite from long ago)
| Open Poetry #48 |
|
"Who is this, what is here?" (a rewrite from long ago) |
|
|
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
 "The Lady Of Shallott" by John W. Waterhouse-1888 *Who is this, what is here?" When you click this page open, And your eyes begin to see the words Into silent sounds, linking dot to dot Until your brain shows a scene; Know each word here written, forms The outline of who I am, and what is me.. Realize then, as your eyes scan each line.. That we have become intimate, that each stanza Is a paragraph of untold secrets, note The crudeness they expose..Look close! For in them you will find, A few successes, And every failure of mankind. At first my lines are shed dark, a menses Of simple stains on clean white paper, blurs Of what I have seen. A basket of eggs, (Viable ovaries)though 'til now, unfertilized That pass though the end of my pen; Barely comprehensible... Rorschach bloodspots On a pad...half blank, half read. As I write I sometimes call to task... Purveyors of certain myths, this time Tennyson is brought to mind To help my poem along....and Like Arthur's knights, I ask *"Who is this, what is here" And by those words, my vision bright's The Lady of Shallot appears To clean the clots and waste, From my first crude tries at verse, Its mistakes and smears... The lady is pregnant with words, wild With contractions, she deletes before She dilates--we hold hands, I wipe the sweat From her brow and face As she pushes to give birth, The fetal words begin To take-on poem-child shape Note That any graces, found in these scribbles, Is placed there by her hand, so any praises, You might say, please direct, send-straight To the lady in the boat. *"Who is this, what is here" Alfred Tennyson- from "The Lady of Shallot" 1832 [This message has been edited by ice (03-08-2012 09:15 AM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2012 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
"Who is this? And what is here? And in the lighted palace near Died the sound of royal cheer; And they crossed themselves for fear, All the Knights at Camelot; But Lancelot mused a little space He said, "She has a lovely face; God in his mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shalott." Tennyson "The lady of shallott" To read full text of the poem, click here: http://charon.sfsu.edu/tennyson/tennlady.html |
||
|
JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
Creative writing, Ice. As you said, each line read was a continuation of you as you used them to reach down deep to find the words, the phrases, that will resonate with the reader. "The Lady of Shallot" 1832 stilled your hand and markedly your words began take shape in a positive manner. However, I shan't (love that word) be giving any credit to the lady, she was only there to help you find your way, she did not write this poem, you did. So! I say congratulations for a job well done. ~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~ |
||
|
jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
as so often happens from you, my friend, so well written that your words become windows through which we see . . . j. |
||
|
LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
Hello Ice What a pleasure reading you again...well done, enjoyed the deepness of this...what you see, and how you interpreted it all...well done |
||
|
JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Very much enjoyed the write, and picture. You bring the thoughts of this past to life. As always, you do a perfect job. Well done, my friend. 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. |
||
|
katahdin Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196ME. In the Shadow of the Mt. |
Wonderfully written! Sorry I missed this one. Thanks for letting me know about it. Yes I love all the stuff about knights and Camelot. Love the picture, I have a few simiular pics hung on my walls. Kat >^..^< |
||
|
Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
The legends of King Arthur have always intrigued me. You (pardon me) The Lady of Shallot) wrote a lovely poem here. Ida |
||
|
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Jerry Thanks for reading..the "Lady" helped me with this one. Other times it is the "The highway man", sometimes it is the "the little lame balloon man' All help me write my poems. * JWes "words become windows..." thank you, I love the way that sounds. * LeeJ So nice to see you.....:-) Thank you for reading, and the reply. * JL "You bring the thoughts of this past to life." Thank you.. * Kat Thank you for reading.. I thought you might like it, especially the tale the poem is built around. * MM Lol, The lady was the prompt.. She guided my pen..I welcomed that manipulation. Tennyson also helped, having birthed a new legend from an old one. Thanks for the reply.
|
||
|
splashMeadow Junior Member
since 2011-06-09
Posts 20UK |
Not only a very graceful poem but the most eloquent words i have ever read on the relationship between poet, muse, poem and reader. Marvellous writing! |
||
|
ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
Enjoyed your poem, Ice. Ms. E |
||
|
bel1e Senior Member
since 2006-07-24
Posts 1631 |
You always make me do my homework, iceman. It has been ages since I've indulged Tennyson...I have to say you gave him a run for his money! Your bold style here kept me engrossed ...there are unexpected and intimatley shocking elements in this ...that grip your reader somewhat mercilessly...but then...camelot was as merciless, I suspect. The trick...to accomplish it with a nonetheless gallant hand...as you have so successfully managed here...yes...definately gave him a run for his money. Thank you for the lesson...in literature...as ever~*~*~ XOXO  |
||
|
bel1e Senior Member
since 2006-07-24
Posts 1631 |
because it moved something in me: Myth as Blood and Rumor If there is a myth more ecstatic than this simmering like river through my redolent fingers, black-red as night parting the reeds of something so lovely, If there is a myth more lonely than this, pray that it sear through the long hours of night, silt loosened by the heart's surge, the urge swept into the chambers of my wilderness. If there is a myth more present thant this, teach me how to unfurl dawn with my hands and stroke the swift amd honey-veined rivers of skin, with this wild, wild water. ~*~*~ |
||
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
As she pushes to give birth, The fetal words begin To take-on poem-child shape Inspired... and inspiring. *S* I'd appreciate this at any time, but right now, I'm immersed in Arthurian legend, revisiting some favorite books... so I'm even more impressed. *S* Bravo! |
||
|
ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Splash I have many muses..you have been one of them. All the grace in this one comes from the lady... Just look at the painting, you cannot help but be inspired. * Ms. E Thank you for enjoying...:-) * Bel1eadonna One does indulge when they read Tennyson, as well as the other greats. The thing that gets me about him is his eyes...every picture or painting I have seen of him shows him staring, off into another world, or perhaps it is the pain of all that he has seen that makes him have that blank look? Thank you for the flattering reply. * Suthern I love to read the Arthurian tales...and also to read interpretations, they vary so much, sometimes it seems they have been reading different stories. Thanks for reading, and the reply. "Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance." |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
