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Sunday 20 February 2011

Origin to oblivion

Writers' Island's prompt for this week is the one word: FORETELL. Origin to oblivion is my response:-

A sculptor friend
sees future things
in fallen trees.

There in the spread
of branches or
the scatter of
its leaves - and most
of all, the grace
or not, of how
the trunk is posed,
the posturing
of mind or frame -
is future written large
beyond what cards
or crystal balls
or tea leaves can provide.

Ghosts, he once said,
press us on all sides,
and they control
what's happening,
but they are in
some past or future now.

A fallen tree
is like a man
or woman spawled
in some extremity,
and what has brought
them to that state
lies in their past
or future form.
Like all of us
the trees are on
a progammed course
from origin
to dissolution.
We feel the pull
of destinations.

Our lifelines cross,
collide
and interfere.
We and the trees
become
each other's ghosts.

I interrupt
the lifeline of
my chosen tree.

In consciousness
of what I do
I can look back
from what it aches
to be, and am
compelled to free
that future form,
bring back the tree
to a new starting point,
a future origin.

21 comments:

Wusel's... said...

Great. I like very much:
We and the trees
become
each other's ghosts.
Very good. As always.
:-)))

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Carl said...

What a great way to start my Sunday with one of your poems Dave. It is the intersections and interruptions that bring us our perspective.

JeannetteLS said...

The last stanza... I read it aloud three times. Your endings almost always compel me to return to your beginnings, to then savor them in a different way. But isn't that what our favorite writers do? The first reading is pure discovery, but then we want to go back and savor the art of the work, even though we KNOW what will happen. We just want to go back on the ride. Thank you for your art.

CiCi said...

It is a tribute to the artists like you. The things you look at are not as they seem to the duller minds like the rest of us. You see something and picture what it could be. Just as you see a word and bring forth many things it could mean.

The Turning Point said...

I agree with Carl. It's the intersections, interruptions and I might add the shadows that that brings us our perspective.

Thanks for the Sunday morning gift.

Jim

Louise said...

Reading this poem made me stop and think, strong words that require equally strong contemplation.

Helen said...

Jim said it beautifully ... this is my Sunday morning gift. Thank you.

anthonynorth said...

The intertwining and interconnections of it all. Excellent.

Kass said...

Another poem to marvel at. The way you juxtapose, make connections and revel in the unexpected is delightful.

Madame DeFarge said...

I can rarely see anything in anything, so envy those who can see art in any form.

flaubert said...

Dave, a gorgeous piece.
This brings to mind a conversation
I had with a fairly renowned
artist friend from New York.
I told me of the shadows in the
trees. He said it was a lot of
his inspiration for his work.

Pamela

Jeanne Estridge said...

As well as beautiful imagery and and thought-provoking theme, this one has a wonderful rhythm.

Cait O'Connor said...

I LOVE this. Thank you.

RJ Clarken said...

Dave - this really gives me much food for thought! I loved the line, "I interrupt/the lifeline of/my chosen tree."

Wonderful!!!

Anonymous said...

Man, if this isn't the best quantum poetry I've read in a long time! Keep it up, really loved your perspective, mind-bending though it may be! Amy Barlow Liberatore
http://sharplittlepencil.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/honeymoon-and-garlic-writers-isle-sun-scribs/

Windsmoke. said...

Very vivid and thought provoking poem about the importance of trees in our lives :-).

Reflections said...

from what it aches
to be, and am
compelled to free
that future form,


Love this, powerful insights within these trees.

Dave King said...

Joe
Welcome and my thanks for commenting. Good to have you visiting.

Carl
Yes, I'd go along with that - the interruptions and intersections bit, I mean! Thanks for both bits!

Jeanette
Excellent point, and yes, that's exactly what they do. Thanks for that.

The Turning Point
A warm welcome to you and thanks for the pleasure of your comment.

120 Socks
I think your comment will make me stop and contemplate a little more.

Helen
Lovely comment. Much thanks.

anthonynorth
Appreciate your continued support.

Kass
You always surprise me with how much I do! Much appreciated, though.

Madame DeFarge
It's quite possible that yours is a very favoured position to be in! Your comments are most welcome.

flaubert
I can quite see how that might be. Much thanks for that insight.

Jeanne
It's good to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for the feedback.

Cait
Welcome Cait and very many thanks for the comment.

lightverse
Much thnks for a very useful piece of feedback.

sharplittlepencil
Hi, and a warm welcome to you. I loved the quantum reference. Gives it a touch of gravitas! My thanks to you for commenting.

Windsmoke
Thanks again for your feedback and your support.

Reflections
Useful comment. Thanks.

Lucy Westenra said...

Interesting thoughts, Dave.

David Cranmer said...

"Our lifelines cross, collide
and interfere."

Me gusta!