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Sunday 4 November 2012

light seeps

Nature scribbles on a scraperboard crafted from man's craftsmanship: where stood a human logic: cottage = love in solid form of walls, roof, door and windows, hearth and fire, the labyrinthine logic of the fire has won the day. The door stops nothing now, protecting no one. All shall be free until the brambles stop it up again. light seeps -- a grain or two a day. No more -- to let the darkness in. Those who were here had fashioned love, carved it of the hardest stone, impervious to gloom. Meanwhile, stucco and plaster flesh peels from the charred bones to the floor. Small, furry creatures amble in and out, and what is wild and rooted leans against this skeleton as it decays, reclining in the sun. Light idles time away, plays with its finger paints upon the wall, forgets that what it sees as squiggle pad is carcass, and as such is worthy of respect. But this is time that will march on, cannot turn back, cannot reverse the bramble tide. Nature at least will give a decent burial. ...........................................
Enormous thanks to Brian Miller and SueAnn (see her work here), the first for masterminding an inspirational prompt, the second for the picture fest at dVerse ~ Poet's Pub Poetics - Through the Artist's Lens

18 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

I could not only see the cottage, I have quite clear pictures of the inhabitants - human and otherwise. I have noticed that the chimney is often the last piece of a home to give in to decay and crumble to the ground.

Daydreamertoo said...

Sad but yet...not. It is life's never ending cycle of birth and death, inevitable. Yes, I saw the cottage as it was too. Loved by those inside who loved. Shame it has to end.
Lovely interpretation of the pic Dave.

A Cuban In London said...

It's a very vivid poetic dream or dreamy poem (take your pick). I loved the last line about the brambles. It shows nature at its more merciless. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Brian Miller said...

there is beauty even in death man, and its what is inside the house that def determines its worth, so even if fire takes the shell a family can survive if love abides...and life will start anew elsewhere....timely piece man...

hey you commented but did not link in so i took care of it for you...

Mary said...

I like this, Dave. Thought a lot about the phrase "The door stops nothing now, protecting no one." And one thing nature does for sure is give a decent burial! Not selective. Same for all.

Scarlet said...

I am impressed Dave...I like how you painted the desolate scene, once fashioned by loved,now idled away by time. Hopefully nature will give it a decent burial ~

Sabio Lantz said...

Those who were here
had fashioned love, carved
it of the hardest stone,
impervious to gloom.

Interesting that you gave the former owners so much credit! :-)

Shadow said...

you gave the inanimate life... outstanding Dave!

John (@bookdreamer) said...

Quiet reflection on what was when we see a ruin - now a bauble of nature then a home

Jennifer Wagner said...

Gorgeous piece Dave. You captured this artwork of SueAnn's so well in your poem. Love it.

Raven said...

I really appreciate your "approach" to this painting. Although you acknowledge that the artwork stems from tragedy, your poem is not tragic. It is filled with light and the marching on of life's inevitable renewal. Thank you for that.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

Title and picture in perfect harmony and the feeling of light and earth, seeping through and with the lines, is enveloping.

Helen said...

Dave, you gave voice to the cottage, life to its dwellers ~ human and otherwise. Amazing.

Beachanny said...

Until we have time machines or reason to renovate, earth will reclaim all in its constant movement through space, time, bumping into things, things bumping into it, tectonic plates shift, seas rise, and in this time life goes on. Lovely take on the aspects of life & love.

Cloudia said...

Alliteration is a scalpel in a wise hand, creating new wellness; a torture device in lesser hands!
Surely you know which I praise here-




Aloha from Waikiki,
Comfort Spiral

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Unknown said...

I too appreciated how you take the shell and infuse it with the love, meaning and respect it deserves. Our striving is not in vain and something lives on.

Panchali said...

spellbinding piece...and that's the hideous truth!
Amazing...

Dave King said...

The Elephant's Child
Yes, I think you are right about the chimney - though during the war the part most likely to survive the bombing was the staircase. It was often used as a shelter.

Daydreamertoo
Thank you for this.

A Cuban in London
So many sides to nature - thanks for the comment.

Brian
Yes, absolutely. Death is part of life, the part that makes life transient and therefore more beautiful - or so many think. I do sometimes, but just occasionally I wonder...

Thanks for the help with linking. Much obliged. Can't think why I didn't - that's two senior moments logged for yesterday!

Mary
Yes, you are right. Death was always the great leveller.

Heaven
Yes, here too. Thanks very much for your thoughts on this.

Sabio
Mmmm, I guess I was trying not to blame them!

Shadow
Thank you so much. Very kind.

John
Yes, I always think very like seeing a corpse and seeing the living man through it.

Poet Laundry
Very generous comment. Very grateful for it.

Raven
Really good to have such reflections. Thank you so much for them.

Tommaso
Thank you for saying this. I often think that it's the title that most lets me down.

Helen
Thank you. Good to know you liked it.

Beachanny
Yes, you are correct in all this. I wouldn't bet on the time machines, though!
Thanks for the response.

Cloudia
I think I do. I hope I do. My thanks to you.

Anna
Yes, I too believe that. Thank you so much for saying it.

Panchali
Wonderful remark. Thank you - and a warm welcome to you.