Sunday 12 October 2014

A distance divides us

What the blood moon stirs, contains you  
a pearl oyster against the lilac clouds

What the sky silvers, turns the past
to water of memories and foam

What the maple trees bare, skins the
night to fragments, fragile by time

The cold wind sands, awakening
me, frozen in our memories

I watch dawn unfold, its fingers threading
a spider web, marbled in infinite blue

To the deepest of the wells
I draw you, scent of shadows & pines

Your image smiles in its pure circle*
But what of your face as I reach to touch you?

It wavers, growing old, belonging 
to another*

Title and line inspired by E. Montale's poem, The Well

(Cigola la carrucola del pozzo)


The pulley of the well-shaft creaks,

water rises to the light and dissolves you.
A memory trembles in the refilled pail,
an image smiles in its pure circle.
Touch your face to evanescent lips:
the past wavers, grows old,
belongs to another…
Ah, how the wheel groans
already, returns you to the dark depths,
vision, a distance divides us. 




Frozen in Water
Photography:   Brooke Shaden


Posted for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - We are getting inspiration from by 
E. Montale's work and Poets United - Thanks for the visit ~ 

34 comments:

  1. i am glad we are beyond the blood moon...on either wide of the event this week school was crazy...adding your to the image in a full circle attaches it to someone which gives a really cool effect...i draw you scent of shadows is a cool line as well...

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  2. Oh that moon was something! This poem enters deeply into the reader....like being pulled into a lunar orbit...very beautiful imagery, Grace.

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  3. This feels very sad to me--maybe growing old with the wrong person, or how we change as we age. Very interesting poem, Grace, thanks. K.

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  4. "I watch dawn unfold, its fingers threading
    a spider web, marbled in infinite blue"

    I have seen that--a sign of hope and joy after a bloody marvel. And the moon? Whatever it fragments through the things of earth, it moves on leaving only memory as it turns to trouble another on the other side of the earth. "Swear not by the inconstant moon" says Juliet to her Romeo. Love this poem!

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  5. somehow sad yet so beautiful it shines.

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  6. I too feel the sadness in this poem, but you have written some beautiful lines. I really loved this stanza:

    I watch dawn unfold, its fingers threading
    a spider web, marbled in infinite blue

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  7. Sadness or wistfulness, your poem has that kind of tinge today. I like how visual your words are. Happy Sunday!

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  8. Beautiful words Grace. I love your progression ending with the dissolving memory.

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  9. "fragile by time' seems to be the key phrase here upon which the exquisite images are built.. beautiful Grace..

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  10. amazing Grace... the depth hit me to the heart!!

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  11. That last line sounds like a stark realization.. that blood moon must have been an amazing thing .. but also truly like an omen of the ends.

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  12. i love the wonderful pairing of images with which the poem begins.especially the first three stanzas.

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  13. Ah Grace--these images are captivating--beautifully penned

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  14. i love the images grace - my fav being the one with dawn unfolding with its fingers threading a spider web...that is so cool

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  15. Wonderful imagery..it reminds me of the recent blood moon ...

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  16. What lovely tension you create & release in your poem!


    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3

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  17. "I watch dawn unfold, its fingers threading
    a spider web, marbled in infinite blue

    To the deepest of the wells
    I draw you, scent of shadows & pines" beautiful Grace!

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  18. What entrancing words you have beguiled us with.

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  19. The moon goes by and releases its grasp on many, some tension sure has a way or working itself out haha

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  20. Ah, the blood moon seems to have put many under her spell. There is a sense of sadness and loss in this one.

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  21. So light and lyrical. Just beautiful, Grace. I've missed reading your beautiful poetry.

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  22. yes, enchanting and engrossing.

    gracias also for sharing the inspiration of your lovely piece

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  23. I'm most interested in how your perceptions magnify and intensify the personal feelings that come with change, transition, even translation from one state to another. The finale brings is all home to such a personal level. Nicely done.
    Steve K.

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  24. I love how the blood moon inspired this. I caught a glimpse of it heading to work one morning last week, and I was transfixed.

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  25. Images in each line....read and stop to enjoy....pronounce and visualize....mastery here! xx

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  26. I love the concept of dawn unfolding and the rest of your wordery is magic...as always. Thank you for your challenge and introduction to such an inspiring poet, Grace.

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  27. This is really beautiful. You create such a sense of poise in your lyrical poetry.

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  28. there are a lot of intriguing lines in this. I feel the need to read it multiple times to unearth all it has to offer. lovely.

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  29. an inspired prompt, Grace, equalled by your pen ~

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