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gardawg
Junior Member
since 2001-02-08
Posts 34
W of Seattle

0 posted 2001-03-13 09:04 PM



Words Dance in the East Wind

I watched from the near shore
of the horseshoe bay,
too far to be remembered
I watched…


Parasols twist in the east wind,
lilac lavender,
cabbage green,
huckleberry red,
playthings of a vagrant wind
as their owners struggled
to control their buoyant skirts
and parasols in the wind.

three ladies cross the beach
on the far shore
their summer dress too slight
for the pending storm…

Sand will rise and sting their lips,
surf will rise and wet their blouses,
wind will rise and tear their frail forms,
until parasols propel into the sky,
lost to thunderclouds
and raven nests.

slicker wrapped,
but hardly dry
I cup my hands to shout
though the cry
lost to the east wind
flung from the far shore


Dance, girls, dance
around drift logs and crab bones,
dance to sudden squall,
dance for summer wind,
dance to hear a cry,
parasols captured on the near shore.

red green purple waved
a poor semaphore
enigma code
and they raise their eyes
into the east wind
wave and point
to the head of the horseshoe bay


You bring the blanket,
I will bring the wine.
We will drink to less remembered times
until the smoothing of the ocean’s waves.

You bring the oil,
I will bring the bread.
We will feast on talk of food
until the east wind turns back round again.

You bring the flute,
I will bring the drum.
We will sing and dance along the sea
until summer parasols bloom ruby, cream and teal.

You bring the pen,
I will bring the paper.
We will write of winter loves
until spindrift weaves in autumn gales.

we will meet at the head of the bay
tea and soup prepared
and when the east wind
becomes a western breeze
we will laugh at things forgot
and discovered on the scoured shore


Dance,
dance with me to the music of our bones.




[This message has been edited by gardawg (edited 03-13-2001).]

© Copyright 2001 Gary Blankenship - All Rights Reserved
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
1 posted 2001-03-13 09:20 PM


This.....is poetry! I love the pull of titles....and the keep of the poem....you succeeded in both....Bravo!
Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

2 posted 2001-03-13 09:59 PM


I particularly admire the music of this piece. It floats, flits, soars. Thanks for it.

Claire

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau


Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA
3 posted 2001-03-13 11:09 PM


First of yours I've read, gardawg, but I can assure you it won't be the last..you have an exhilarating style very pleasurable to read. I enjoyed it very much....
Paula Finn
Member Ascendant
since 2000-06-17
Posts 5546
missouri
4 posted 2001-03-14 01:07 AM


OOOHHH Gary...bring on the wind and the rain...I am ready to dance, ready to play...
gardawg
Junior Member
since 2001-02-08
Posts 34
W of Seattle
5 posted 2001-03-14 09:56 AM


Sunshine, Meadow, Balladeer (Rara Avis - so cool), Paula: thanks all. This was written as part of a dialogue with 3 poetesses (sp) and is what I call a poem interruptess. IE started, I got the flu and finished in a different direction with part of the old hanging on like the bug, the if you, I will parts.

Gary

Allan Riverwood
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2001-01-04
Posts 3502
Winnipeg
6 posted 2001-03-14 10:09 AM


I'm going to have to give this piece a standing ovation, then sit down humbly and add it to my library.
Truly awesome. I'm going to go back and read this months from now, and several times.
You did an outstanding job.
~Allan

If I had your eyes, I'd be blind. For I can only see out of my own. ~~Carly Van Dort


Allan Riverwood
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2001-01-04
Posts 3502
Winnipeg
7 posted 2001-03-14 10:10 AM


forgot to hit the library button again.

If I had your eyes, I'd be blind. For I can only see out of my own. ~~Carly Van Dort


gardawg
Junior Member
since 2001-02-08
Posts 34
W of Seattle
8 posted 2001-03-14 10:13 AM


Allen, awesome might be a stretch. In other places, it is getting sliced. But thanks much.

Gary

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
9 posted 2001-03-14 10:15 AM


Well, your words certainly dance in any kind of wind....this is excellent poetry...the images sometimes soothing, sometimes raw....but filled with active beauty! Love this ending too!

Dance,
dance with me to the music of our bones.

The poet is like a cocoon; in him the caterpillar of the past finds rest, and from him the butterfly of the future emerges.

gardawg
Junior Member
since 2001-02-08
Posts 34
W of Seattle
10 posted 2001-03-14 10:29 AM


Ethome, thanks much. The end is from the poem before this one in the dialogue. part of hers:


My bones’ music
plays your song
my song
our song

Your ears deaf
only the vibrations remain

Gary

Romy
Senior Member
since 2000-05-28
Posts 1170
Plantation, Florida
11 posted 2001-03-22 04:20 PM


Gary, it's a lovely poem and I truly enjoyed reading it! Thanks for sharing!

Debbie

RMW
Senior Member
since 2001-03-21
Posts 1424

12 posted 2001-03-22 04:32 PM


Gary,

Excellent!!!!

Bob

gardawg
Junior Member
since 2001-02-08
Posts 34
W of Seattle
13 posted 2001-03-22 04:36 PM


Romy, Bob. Thanks. Though as usual, the workshops have helped it sing more.

Gary

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