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Tuesday 28 August 2012

Life was

Light and shadows pick out planes,
layers of existence:
some we've left behind
in frock coats, crinolines
and courtly manners; some have found
eternal spring.

Perspectives can confuse:
where life and non-existence meet,
where dust motes that have been around
for aeons poke
the slumbering absences
into a semblance of new life.

For this is where our forbears spoke
of faith and all that lay before
what now are empty seams.
They saw the beauty in the snow,
tasted all the fruits of earth
and would not let the future go.
...................................

The prompt was supplied by The Mag. The image is by Andrew Wyeth.

31 comments:

kaykuala said...

While objects and furniture were left in an empty room,draped or otherwise, there were feelings of melancholy. The sense of fondness was still there playing on the minds. Nicely written Dave!

Hank

Grace said...

I like your perspective of the times of our forbears...eternal spring and fruits of earth~

The last stanza is specially lovely.

ninotaziz said...

I absolutely love the style and the last stanza is sublime.

jabblog said...

Lovely writing, Dave.
I've often wondered about the memories retained by buildings - I'm sure some resonate more than others. One church I went into gave me the creeps and I couldn't get out fast enough. Similarly, there was a bay we moored in that felt very menacing to me (or perhaps it's simply that I don't like sailing!!)

Brian Miller said...

Perspectives can confuse:
where life and non-existence meet...great lines....and i love the last stanza and the bit about our forebearers standing in that place before the unknown....cool poem dave

Carl said...

Nicely turned out.

Anonymous said...

Yes, wonderful poem. I actually like the beginning best - with light caught in the clothing, and also the ongoing life of dust motes! There is something wonderful about the life of all that inanimate stuff that lasts and lasts. k.

Anonymous said...

Dave - hope my comment got in there right - lovely thoughtful poem! k .

Mary said...

I agree with Grace. The last stanza is beautifully wrought. So much to contemplate...the place where life and non existence meet, for example.

Tabor said...

Wonder whether our forebears saw as clearly as you say or are we seeing it through rose colored glasses as we look back.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Dave, your poetry is getting more and more magical.

"where dust motes that have been around
for aeons poke"

Super lines.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Wonderful write Dave and that last stanza - superb.

Anna :o]

Leovi said...

Great poem, full of imagination existentialist, eternal spring, really a dream, I love it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I often stand in places where people have stood before (as, for example, in the old lead mines - and think what memories are there in the stones, in the ground and everywhere around if only we could tap into them. Very thought-provoking Dave.

Anonymous said...

dave, you bring this room to life,
the quietness even the delicate
mustiness, the ideals watered here.

Jenny Woolf said...

The last line is particularly thought provoking and interesting.

Helen said...

A magnificent poem, Dave.

I also enjoyed 'Two Parts of the Road' and 'To the Manor Born.' (On my next visit to the UK I want to return to the south and Doc Martin territory.)

Tigerbrite said...

I love the layers of history you see in this room.

Carrie Van Horn said...

Lovely writing Dave....each stanza holds it's own true and beautiful!!

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

A strong metaphysical flavour here.
Dust motes...I love breathing by them particularly when the sun fills them with its gold stings.

Kay said...

like the others i thought this wonderful...i so believe that stone can hold memories...xx

Tess Kincaid said...

I especially like the forebears in frock coats and crinolines...lovely write...

Kathe W. said...

absolutely lovely Dave. and the phrase:
"where dust motes that have been around
for aeons poke
the slumbering absences
into a semblance of new life."

That made me smile!

Tumblewords: said...

A superfine read - I'll join the other commenters in applauding that stellar last stanza. Bravo!

ds said...

Wonderful write, sir. I liked the crinolines and dust motes, the different perspectives between existence and non-existence. You went very very deeply into this room and pulled out what was hiding in the corners. Thank you.

Steve King said...

David,
What wonderful pace and tone. Your portrait seems so real, I felt I could reach into the frame and touch the imagery. Excellent.

Dave King said...

Hank
That says it, I guess: melancholy and fondness. Like that.

Grace
Thanks Grace. So pleased you picked that out.

ninotaziz
Hi, a warm welcome to you. Thank you for your visit and your kind comment.

jabblog
My experiences have very much paralleled yours, it seems. Good to compare notes in this way.

Brian
Thanks for these comments. As always, great feedback.

Carl
Thanks Carl.

manicddaily
I totally agree with your last sentence. There is something special about the inanimate that survives all else.

Mary
Thanks. Yes, this is a thought/feeling that I've often had in an old house.

Tabor
I think you have a point, but I'm not sure that the glasses are rose-tinted.

Rachna
Thank you so much. Any magic no doubt owes much to magical comments like this.

hyperCRYPTICal
So pleasing to hear you thought this. Thanks for saying.

Leovi
Thanks again Leovi, a really kind and helpful comment.

The Weaver of Grass
I know that feeling well. Imagination comes into it, I'm sure, but it's more than that. Different people often get like feelings in the same place.

Paige + Shauna
Hi, Good to have you visiting. You are most welcome, as is your kind - and helpful - comment.

Jenny
Thanks for saying so.

Helen
Thanks for this, much appreciated. Lovely area, the Doc Martin territory! Hope you make it and enjoy it.

Tigerbrite
Hi. Thanks for visiting. Really good to have your thoughts.

Carrie Burtt
Hi Carrie. Wonderful to have you and your feedback. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Tommaso
Yes, I know what you mean. I seem to remember that as a wee kid my gran told me they were fairies!

Kay Hi, and a warm welcome to you. Thank you so much for the comment.

Tess
Thanks so much - and a lovely prompt.



Dave King said...

Kathe
So good to have your visit and read your comments. Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Tumblewords
Thanks so much. Your comments really are appreciated.

ds
What a very thoughtful comment! Thank you for these observations. They are greatly valued.

Steve
Hi, thanks for your most welcome comments. The fact that you have taken time to make them is very much appreciated.


Unknown said...

I love the way you started with the artwork... 'planes of light and shadow' and then you found the layers of life Wyeth somehow painted into the emptiness of this Big Room. Brilliant poem Dave. Thank you for sharing.

Ygraine said...

Made me feel so nostalgic for times I have never known, and for my long-lost forbears; but at least now I can feel their link to me in this life.
It feels like living outside of time.
Wonderful imagery :)

Margaret said...

some we've left behind
in frock coats, crinolines
and courtly manners; some have found
eternal spring.

Just lovely... some things just end, others new life is breathed into them. And the last three lines are just as amazing. Wonderful reflective mood, this poem evokes.