beyond lines and measures
The moon pauses, listening–
a painted backdrop bathed in blue,
a song returning to its beginnings–
Is it a permanent fixture or a trick of light?
A painted backdrop bathed in blue,
a tunnel lined with apparitions–
is it a permanent fixture or a trick of light?
The world approaches blackness,
a tunnel lined with apparitions,
lost in the far realms of the spectrum.
The world approaches blackness,
a stillness that eliminates the horizon.
Lost in the far realms of the spectrum,
unseen crows echo across the gap
with a stillness that eliminates the horizon–
is this the voice that calls the dying?
Unseen crows echo across the gap—
(there should be weeping)–
is this the voice that calls the dying?
There is not enough air here to hold my tears.
There should be weeping,
there should be an explosion of colors pulling at the soul–
but there is not enough air here to hold tears,
to keep the promise of breath.
There should be an explosion of colors pulling at the soul–
infinite branches of trees crowned with rainbows of wings.
How to keep the promise of breath,
to find the path of stars that carries the spirit home?
Branches, trees, rainbows, wings:
will you return life to its beginning?
Find me the path of stars that carries the spirit home–
the moon pauses, listening.
Another (non-rhyming) pantoum, for the Myths of the Mirror prompt for March, above. dVerse is featuring pantoums this month, and Victoria has just written a post with suggestions to help in the writing of this form.
I would also like to dedicate these words to The Secret Keeper, whose passing was noted by her friend Shawn this week. The many poems she inspired with her prompts live on.
63 responses to “beyond lines and measures”
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- March 25, 2019 -
- March 31, 2019 -
I love the mystery and wonder your words captured.
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Thanks Astrid. Mystery and wonder–that is life I think.
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You paint such wonderful images with your words – equal to your gorgeous art work.
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Thanks VJ. Diana’s prompt is very evocative.
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A mystical choice to this one–methinks you must revel in this form. And I agree, the imagery is well done.
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Thanks Victoria. Yes, the pantoum is one of my favorites.
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there’s sadness, a peacefulness and acceptance in your pantoum – you take em to the moon, it’s phases and faces and back to where it all began so gracefully, yes your repetition is the strength here.
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Thanks Gina. I really like repetition in verse. Perhaps it’s all those old ballads I grew up listening to…
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ah I love that ballads too! your pantoums have a lovely rhythm!
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A lovely dedication to The Secret Keeper, Kerfe. I’m so sad at her passing.
Your title introduces the poem beautifully. I love your personification of a listening moon and the ‘song returning to its beginnings’ that echoes throughout. There is chilling foreboding in the lines:
‘The world approaches blackness,
a stillness that eliminates the horizon.’
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Thanks Kim. Death has been much on my mind lately for many reasons. And now the news this morning…
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Exactly what I was thinking–I was writing something earlier today that had echoes of this poem of yours. Perhaps the Oracle. . .
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The Oracle sees both sides I think. But the darkness seems heavy right now.
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Yes, I agree.
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‘A painted backdrop bathed in blue,’ awesome words penned for a moon who sure is painted in the backdrop all in its blue colour. Mystical imagination and beautiful pictures, M.
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Thanks! The picture is full of magic.
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Welcome and yes absolutely, M.
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Perfect words to accompany Marje on her way.
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I hope she is surrounded by stars.
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She will be. I hope Shawn is okay.
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WOWWWW! You have me speechless yet again! and that close up shot of your painting! Amazing!
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Thanks Jodi. (as always)
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Holy smokes, Kerfe. This is amazing. Thank you so much for your response to the prompt. I actually gasped when I read these lines:
“There should be an explosion of colors pulling at the soul–
infinite branches of trees crowned with rainbows of wings.”
I can’t wait to share. ❤
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Thanks Diana.
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Exploring the unanswerable is no easy task. Your dedication to Jennifer was moving.
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Thanks Olga. She will be missed.
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The image of departure – in both that image and your words – is a fitting tribute to The Secret Keeper.
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Thanks Ken. Too much leave-taking these days.
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A wonderful combination of imagery of art and words ( I thought of my deceased husband as I read the poem), a beautiful way to honor The Secret Keeper.
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Thanks Sharon. Yes, others were in my thoughts as well.
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So much here–mystery, darkness, light, the questions and the questioning–beautiful phrases, and I love the ending. A fitting tribute for The Secret Keeper.
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Thanks Merril. This has been a week of sadness.
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Yes.
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Mysterious and wonderful. A fitting eulogy.
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Thanks Suzanne…too much need for eulogies these days…
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Yes, it is a strange time. There are lot of people passing.
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Nicely done. I love that the poem mirrors the song. Also… a fitting tribute.
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Thank you. A pantoum can definitely be like a mirror.
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This is fabulous! 😍 My mind hung on the words “is it a permanent fixture or a trick of light?” … I think that might just sum up my life! 😉
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Thanks Charlie, I think all of us are tricks of light!
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This is a haunting beautiful epitaph… perhaps we will never know if permanent or an illusion…
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Thanks Barry. I think that’s true.
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Strikingly beautiful and haunting, Kerfe. Right now I have meditation music playing in the background, and as I read the word “crows” the sound of them crowing was introduced to the music. Synchronicity – so powerful!
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That gives me shivers…yes, powerful. Thanks Betty.
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Kerfe, your pantoum gleams with beauty and sadness. Sorry to hear about The Secret Keeper.
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Thanks Jade. Her online presence will be missed.
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You are welcome.
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This is a beautiful interpretation of this picture.
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Thanks Robbie. A beautiful picture to interpret.
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“a song returning to its beginnings–” this is a great line. Nice
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Thanks!
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Sad and beautiful at the same time. Really moving work!
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Thank you.
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Love the spaciness as well as the reinterpreted picture!
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Thanks!
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