ice sweats
the length of the gutter.
I imagine:
dog's fangs, elephant tusks.
You point out
starlings, plump bits of morse code,
pinging for positions on power lines.
I mime the moon
tugging tides.
The frost I skim from your arms
around me chaps. You don't mind
saying how you fell
into dreaming of mosaics of skin
in French-cut bikinis
dazzling in the glow of watercolor
sunsets. I decide
it's enough to know
it snows
and footprints appear ahead
of me.
© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem for today's One-Word Blog Carnival, sponsored by Peter Pollock.
The Blog Carnival is a biweekly online event open to anyone. Participants write either original poetry or prose reflecting their consideration of or response to the one-word prompt or topic. The prompt for January 25 is "winter".
At Peter's place, you'll find a list of links to all of the Blog Carnival contributions, which are posted throughout Tuesday and often through to the end of the week.
The Blog Carnival's FaceBook page is here.
The prompt for the next Blog Carnival is "renewal". The complete list is here.
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10 comments:
I could read this in several ways (it's fascinating how the meaning of a poem can change with a different reading, even a different tone of voice), but one way I read this is as a beautiful love poem, with just a hint of bittersweetness.
It is enough to know it snows and footprints appear ahead of me.
Is it enough? Can I be content with that much?
Wow. That line means so much to me right now. It's going in my journal.
The footprints line ... that's definitely a keeper! And the watercolor sunsets .... such good imagery throughout.
Wow.
The symbolism -- and undercurrent of this poem -- really hit me. Love poem. bittersweet.
it is all of that and more.
Beautiful..
Each time I read this, I see a different perspective. Beautiful, Maureen.
"I mime the moon" --Lovely.
it feels to me like a nice daydream
"you don't mind saying how you fell"
This breaks my heart, sensing the pain inflicted here.
Can the cold of winter ice the wounds?
Well done Maureen!
Following footprints in the snow, to me, symbolizes following Jesus, although we do not see anything but his prints. We walk by faith.
You write SO beautifully. Your work always moves me. Thank you.
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