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Wednesday 20 February 2013

TWO POEMS

Shadows

Shadows racing over sand
are thoughts the land is having
that concern the sea.

Ah, but you are right:
sand is pure mineral is of necessity
thought free.

But for the land, on its behalf,
the thoughts attributed to it
are had by me.

In loco parentis, so we stand
to all that's shadowed by the thought
that time is running out.


A Time

There's a time for this
and a time for that,
a time for prayer
and a time for praising,
a time for love
and a time for parting,
a time for the wholeness that we share,
a time to show the world that we care.

There's a time for rhyme and song and sonnet,
for words of long, endearing love,
for words of sadness at our parting,
for words of praise and words of prayer,
for words that speak,
for words we share
in which is the glory
of this and that.

14 comments:

Ygraine said...

Oh I love these, Dave.
Their simplicity belies such depth.
Each time I read "Shadows" I find a new meaning.
Just as we cast a shadow on the sand, so do our thoughts reflect the fears of the planet. We are indeed Her guardians. Hopefully, we can act on Her behalf before time does finally run out.

And I hope that someday there will be "A Time" for the end of all cruelty and suffering. I found this one so so moving.

Brian Miller said...

i agree...there is much beneath the surface in there...in the first one that first stanza really hooked me...and got me thinking through the rest...

there is a time for everything, surely...

Tom said...

2 for the price of one click - what economy.

Jim Murdoch said...

I like both of these but can’t get Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 out of my head when I read the second one; it’s a hard act to follow. The first though is interesting. As usual I was to me-ise it (can’t leave a good poem alone) but when I think about why I want to do this it’s less of a criticism of the poet and more of a desire to make the piece my own and I wouldn’t want to do that if there wasn’t something there that moved me. This one intrigues me. I’ve read it over several times.

Sarav said...

Both timeless Dave :-) Really enjoyed, that first one really hit home and that last stanza really outdid yourself with the wordplay.

Cait O'Connor said...




Shadows racing over sand
are thoughts the land is having
that concern the sea.

I will remember these lines.

Tommaso Gervasutti said...

Great reminders of the Bible and Four Quartets, you wrote lines I have been carrying in me for a life. You brought them back to life.
Beautiful.

Tabor said...

I want more time to do it all! My favorite...
Shadows racing over sand
are thoughts the land is having
that concern the sea

Mary said...

Dave, my favorite is the second one. Very reflective. And yes, there is a time for this and a time for that; and hopefully time enough left to enjoy!

haricot said...

I'm interested in the two theme. The first one is like a picture, and the latter is like a music with rhythm tic tac...

Dave King said...

Ygraine
Thank you so much for these lovely words, and I certainly join you in your hope for an end to cruelty.

Brian
ALMOST everything, perhaps?

Tom
We do our best - never knowingly undersold.

Jim
Ah Jim, yes, but you weren't SUPPOSED to get Ecclesiastes out of your head.
Your me-ising intrigues me. I take your comments as compliments - but I'm still intrigued. Thanks for both!

SaraV
Thanks for these comments. Any feedback (well, any truthful feedback) is much valued.

Cait
Thanks for saying this. I really do appreciate it.

Tommaso
Yes, I do know what you mean. We all have such lines and the same lines mean different things to us. This was just an expression of what some mean to me.

Tabor
Ah, that tantalising aspect of reality called time! Yes, give me more! Meanwhile, thanks for a very reassuring comment.

Mary
Indeed,I think we should have as much nejoyment as we want in the this and that!

haricot
Yes, I can see what you mean. How very perceptive - and kind of you to say so. Thank you.

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

Both are lovely.

Scriptor Senex said...

Came here as a result of reading Cait' s poem. No wonder she was inspired by the first three lines of Shadows.

Hannah Stephenson said...

Wow--this line is so smart: "Shadows racing over sand
are thoughts the land is having
that concern the sea."

It's a poem just by itself.