Our blotting paper landscapes have absorbed
whatever's touched them
come their way
secretions of old men
the careless spills
experiments
that put the known at risk
to paint the lily with a poisoned brush of heavy solvents
pigments of cadmium cobalt
dyes ground with turpentine
megilp
or something laced with mercury.
If I could take a sheet of blotting paper to the hills
and mop them up
and frame the end result
you might well call it innovative
and be right,
but then
whose would the innovation be?
Not mine, I think.
At some point we
might look again
at what the paper caught
blurred images
confused
ambiguous
no more a landscape than the patches on a wall
a stain
a growth of moss
but of a landscape, of
a might-have-been
a landscape from another world
a landscape yet-to-be.
And if the hill
the oak tree and the dandelion
the butterfly
still turn a smiling face to us
what does that say
of misgrowth deep inside
and ghosts to haunt our great grandchildren's lives?
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12 comments:
This is expressive of what we are doing. I liked the image of a blotting paper landscape...just that blur of what is left behind after we have ruined it. Just a memory for those that come after.
What a wonderful poem. Layout, words, perfect.
Dave, you have such a wonderful imagination. I think you must paint with brush as well as with words.(and be familiar with this blotting paper.) What comes to mind as I read your poem is: you can never preserve a landscape on canvas as beautiful as it was in reality.
Beautiful - creative logic applied very artistically!
A powerful analysis of what we do, and beautifully expressed.
that is just powerful!! My thought was that if we left it all for a long, long time it would redeem itself...and I love that thought!
a landscape, of
a might-have-been
a landscape from another world
a landscape yet-to-be.
Exactly the feeling I get fro creating digital art! LOL
Very vivid imagery indeed :-).
I like your style. Great imagery and easy to read.
Completely gorgeous writing, Dave. You do see things through the eyes of an artist.
Pamela
I do believe that you have spoken for millions and maybe more.
Tabor
yes, that's pretty much it, I'm afraid.
imnotaverse
Grateful thanks for those kind words.
Mary
Yes, your corect in your surmise. I was first a painter, started writing poetry at art school, then dropped it for a long while, took it up more and more as the hands got shakier and shakier. You are equally correct in your second surmise, I am sure. Much thanks for the comment.
Rose
Lovely comment. Thanks for it.
anthonynorth
Much appreciate the response. My thanks.
Gerry
An intriguing thought that might very well have Gaia's wisdom wrapped up in it. It's worth persuing, I think.
Jinksy
Indeed, I know that feeling well enough. Keep at it!
Windsmoke
Thanks for the comment.
Robert
Hi and welcome to my blog. Many thanks for the comment. Always appreciated.
Pamela
Thank you for your kind remrks.
Liz
Hi and good to have you visiting. Thank you so much for your very encouraging comment.
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