tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post8056197887244520060..comments2023-12-28T13:11:06.666+00:00Comments on Pics and Poems: a parrot in the churchDave Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-38091426865699553782009-08-04T11:30:55.412+01:002009-08-04T11:30:55.412+01:00Carl
Many thanks for that.
Mark
That's impo...<b>Carl </b><br />Many thanks for that.<br /><br /><b>Mark </b><br />That's important! - To me, anyway!! Thanks.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-6167900889433939392009-08-02T20:33:37.735+01:002009-08-02T20:33:37.735+01:00I have nothing important to add to the conversatio...I have nothing important to add to the conversation, just that this is a very lovely poem.Mark Kerstetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13307987573435067415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-64694181085725712632009-08-02T18:18:24.042+01:002009-08-02T18:18:24.042+01:00Hi Dave,
I am drawn to this poem. I keep finding...Hi Dave,<br /><br />I am drawn to this poem. I keep finding all these different layers to think about. Nice work!<br /><br />CarlCarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09751363280115223716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-83797650822054078992009-08-02T12:15:23.540+01:002009-08-02T12:15:23.540+01:00To all
I really feel quite overwhelmed by your re...<b>To all </b><br />I really feel quite overwhelmed by your response to this poem. I am not sure why, but I expected a bit of controversy. Words like "beautiful" especially when applied to the imagery wwere quite unexpected. My thanks to you all. I will now, though, reply to you all individually.<br /><br /><br /><b>Jim </b><br />They were almost the last lines composed, but tey were the crux of it for me too. Thanks. Very helpful.<br /><br /><b>Tabor</b><br />I am very touched by your reference to a dance in the mind. That is a wonderful compliment. My thenks.<br /><br /><b>Leatherdykeuk </b><br />I agree with that, I am sure we do. Thanks a lot for that.<br /><br /><b>Shadow </b><br />Thank you, you have got into the intended spirit of the poem.<br /><br /><b>Derrick </b><br />I dithered for long between "soaking up" and "absorbing". Perhaps in the end it didn 't matter. Your remark re the award exactly fits my next post! Remarkable prescience!<br /><br /><b>PI </b><br />Pop or stop, you're most welcome. Thanks for commenting.<br /><br /><b>Steven </b><br />That is a most helpful (and complimentary) comment. Many thanks.<br /><br /><b>Willow </b><br />That is magnificent compliment! Thanks is too small a word - but they all are, so thanks!<br /><br /><b>Weaver of Grass </b><br />True enough, but you were right to begin with: it is based on an early memory, which however did not take the form of any sort of bird. Very insightful of you.<br /><br /><b>Barry </b><br />Glad you liked it. Thanks Barry.<br /><br /><b>Thommaso </b><br />I sincerely hope you do post on prayer. I should very much like to read it. My6 thanks for your other comments.<br /><br /><b>Cloudia </b><br />I succumbed to da spiral a good while ago! Thanks, though.<br /><br /><b>Tara </b><br />Welcome. Many thanks for the remarks. You'd probably be doing alol a service: I think prayer could often do with a touch of laughter. It doesn't get it often enough. I do remebner one occasion when a typical Welsh Methodist minister was thanking God for sending rain and sun etc etc. he went on:- "Indeed, there have been times just recently, Lord, when we have doubted thy wisdom.. (It having been exceeding wet just recently).<br /><br /><b>Friko </b><br />I am a lapsed High Anglican / Methodist - but then I was always a heretic, so it's not surprising.<br /><br /><b>Elaine </b><br />Thanks you very much for your kind remarks. Most helpful.<br /><br /><b>Eryl </b><br />I agree completely with your opening remarks. The rest of your comment is extremely useful to have. Thank you for it.<br /><br /><b>Karen </b><br />Your <i> the prayer is more a prayer than that the priest intones</i> is very insightful and helpful. Thank you for it.<br /><br /><b>Rachel </b><br />I know (or thought I knew) both of those poets, but neither of the poems, so thanks for giving me some research to do - and thanks for commenting.<br /><br /><b>ken </b><br />I can relate to that sentiment, exactly. <br /><br /><b>lakeviewer </b><br />An equally interesting comment, if I may say so. It adds to my knowledge of the poem, I think.<br /><br /><b>Linda </b><br />What a brilliant and enjoyable analogy. I really liked that! thank you very much.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-16406894268552322952009-08-02T02:24:42.358+01:002009-08-02T02:24:42.358+01:00As I move my fingers on the keyboard, my comments ...As I move my fingers on the keyboard, my comments appear on the computer screen. They are in the form of black letters moving in lines across the " Leave your comment " window. Like zebra stripes in a herd, the computerized copy camoflauges the meaningingful substance of this message. That meaningful substance may disappear in the "slowly thinning" dust when the zebra herd runs away and Dave may never know how much I really loved the smokey images, the rhythmic movement and the vivid colours of his poem. Brilliant!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03241402645242821612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-62216383609174591922009-08-01T17:21:36.425+01:002009-08-01T17:21:36.425+01:00What an interesting piece, a bird distractin the p...What an interesting piece, a bird distractin the prayer and adding to it. Contemplative. Both sacred and prophane.Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-30609045174729202312009-08-01T11:52:32.964+01:002009-08-01T11:52:32.964+01:00A striking poem.
A saw parrots fly free in flocks...A striking poem.<br /><br />A saw parrots fly free in flocks in Queensland many year ago. I cannot look at one in a cage since...ken armstronghttp://kenwriting.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-46315484520251130102009-08-01T03:56:51.999+01:002009-08-01T03:56:51.999+01:00Flight provides such wonderful metaphors. I've...Flight provides such wonderful metaphors. I've read and re-read this and I cannot go away without thinking of the description of the green moth in Ondaatje's In The Skin Of A Lion, and the image of Death in Death and the Gravedigger by Schwabe.Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-45801231645216521262009-08-01T03:10:49.439+01:002009-08-01T03:10:49.439+01:00I love this, Dave - the story of it, the layers of...I love this, Dave - the story of it, the layers of deep thought that rise like the plume of smoke. The contemplation of the prayer is more a prayer than that the priest intones.<br /><br />"But prayer takes many forms<br />as words detract from meaning..."Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003379181294550035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-58864001815039495292009-08-01T01:17:47.681+01:002009-08-01T01:17:47.681+01:00Isn't it peculiar how one can immediately see ...Isn't it peculiar how one can immediately see what one likes, and doesn't, in someone else's poetry but not in one's own! Here I particularly like the rhythm that comes from your use of assonance, half rhyme and line length/breaks (I think!), also, like so many other commenters, I'm drawn to:<br />'else a green sponge/ soaking up our prayers' because it's such a fresh, original image, and rather took me aback.Erylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06008344023000459577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-12128152249536047602009-07-31T22:21:50.308+01:002009-07-31T22:21:50.308+01:00To have a prayer taking on the form of a parrot i...To have a prayer taking on the form of a parrot is a lovely image, but - else a green sponge<br />soaking up our prayers-and -" dancing like a plume of green smoke slowly ". I like a lot.ELAINE ERIGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17334833916376169761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-14818471911926029472009-07-31T20:46:46.680+01:002009-07-31T20:46:46.680+01:00You start with guilt, of the child reading under ...You start with guilt, of the child reading under the bed-clothes; a green bird becomes a sponge "soaking" up prayers; we become expendable through fire and smoke?; It is even fearful?<br />but no, it becomes a formless, plume of smoke, without substance.<br /><br />I am a lapsed European Catholic.Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-9920536863175093142009-07-31T20:31:23.000+01:002009-07-31T20:31:23.000+01:00The power of prayer and the distraction of the min...The power of prayer and the distraction of the mind during ramblings. If I thought I saw a parrot in church, I'd probably laugh out loud, spoiling everyone else's attempt at righteousness.Tara McClendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246124060126729229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-23682542288226785302009-07-31T19:50:40.950+01:002009-07-31T19:50:40.950+01:00"But prayer takes many forms, as words detrac..."But prayer takes many forms, as words detract from meaning."<br /><br />A wonderous poem; streams of golden photons. Bravo, Brother Dave<br /><br /><br />Aloha-<br /><br />succumb to da spiral:<br /><br /><a href="http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Comfort Spiral</a>Cloudiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05853753108637831069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-39986062345790377892009-07-31T18:57:16.248+01:002009-07-31T18:57:16.248+01:00Dear Dave, your latest poem here is going to make ...Dear Dave, your latest poem here is going to make me post something of mine on Prayer, it's a too rich subject.<br />I love most all how the lines between parenthesis work in this poem of yours...and I generally don't like lines between parenthesis...Tommaso Gervasuttihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137499390434949734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-28440976168127897002009-07-31T16:26:02.632+01:002009-07-31T16:26:02.632+01:00Wonderful imagery here, dancing like a plume of gr...Wonderful imagery here, dancing like a plume of green smoke slowly thinning...Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13824632356834631279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-53141215381421886242009-07-31T15:32:29.396+01:002009-07-31T15:32:29.396+01:00Wonderful imagery here Dave. I think you must hav...Wonderful imagery here Dave. I think you must have been seeing things - the farmer is dead good at that - faces in clouds, figures in the embers - but then again - who knows what was making those green smoky fingers curl into those shapes - there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio...The Weaver of Grasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947971556343746883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-12679373423281660662009-07-31T15:07:46.600+01:002009-07-31T15:07:46.600+01:00I love the idea of prayer taking on the form of a ...I love the idea of prayer taking on the form of a bird or a fish. Lovely imagery here, Dave. And I think Wallace Stevens would like it, too.Tess Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889725786678984293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-61115064216361087482009-07-31T14:33:36.462+01:002009-07-31T14:33:36.462+01:00hi dave, this is such a rich poem. layered. i love...hi dave, this is such a rich poem. layered. i love the way it dances from possibility "maybe prayer created it") to probability ("then clear enough, a parakeet") and then out again into the connection between the power of the prayer and the presence of the parrot. "a plume of green smoke". a prayer spreading outwards. you are an insightful writer dave!! thanks for sharing this. have a peaceful day. stevenstevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132104804524716898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-22960393201645110512009-07-31T14:29:54.228+01:002009-07-31T14:29:54.228+01:00Just a quick pop in before I leave. I'll be b...Just a quick pop in before I leave. I'll be back:)Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-68828502788288795052009-07-31T14:15:17.133+01:002009-07-31T14:15:17.133+01:00Hi Dave,
I especially like:
'or else a green...Hi Dave,<br /><br />I especially like:<br /><br />'or else a green sponge<br />soaking up our prayers.'<br /><br />Don't worry about the award. It is enough that you have it. And occupying your time with work such as this is better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00861397533660827678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-89219844726069648332009-07-31T13:46:25.141+01:002009-07-31T13:46:25.141+01:00i enjoyed your thoughts here tremendously. a bird,...i enjoyed your thoughts here tremendously. a bird, a spirit, a mere creature or god? doesn't matter, the worthwhile read!Shadowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999801833389058410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-36920920476375175372009-07-31T11:49:01.362+01:002009-07-31T11:49:01.362+01:00Godless or not, I think we all pray.
Beautiful po...Godless or not, I think we all pray.<br /><br />Beautiful poem, Dave.Rachel Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13048590167153841615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-6809391684192403962009-07-31T11:30:04.440+01:002009-07-31T11:30:04.440+01:00I actually felt that I comfortably understood this...I actually felt that I comfortably understood this poem. Some of your words require brain gymnastics but his was a dance in my mind.Taborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15257045780724471840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2508563923634392703.post-30341279462056998782009-07-31T11:12:42.707+01:002009-07-31T11:12:42.707+01:00I enjoyed the imagery and metaphors embedded in th...I enjoyed the imagery and metaphors embedded in this but the stand out lines for me were:<br /><br /> But prayer takes many forms<br /> as words detract from meaning,<br /><br />A lot in this one.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.com