Sunday, February 13, 2011

Picture This (Poem)


Photograph Courtesy Sean D. McCormick
© Sean D. McCormick Used With Permission

Picture This

Mortar accepts water
and sand that together cement

a barrier in place. Hand-hewed rock builds
up and hides deep — outside from within,

the inside, out. Wood exposed
to the elements dries and cracks,

splintering frame from foundation
but for rust-red nails holding

a place firm. Chinks get the work
of revealing started.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem in response to today's One Shoot Sunday Picture Prompt Challenge at One Stop Poetry, where you'll find the second of a multi-part interview with Canadian photographer Sean D. McCormick and a number of images of his excellent work. 

Anyone may participate in the challenge by offering an original poem or piece of flash fiction. Go here to read the interview and then scroll down for instructions for the challenge.

11 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

That last line pulls it all together brilliantly.

Ruth said...

Lovely, and I agree with Mama Zen. Maybe this is why I love old stone and wood buildings.

Anonymous said...

talk about opening a window!

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

Yes, I agree, that last line pulls it all together ... and begins to tear the walls down. Nicely done.

hedgewitch said...

Touching all the bases lightly and bringing it home at the end. Just enough said and not too much.

dustus said...

Even the most solid structures are not immune to wearing away from what begins as minor decay. While not a picture that's always immediately visible; certainly worth the effort to contemplate seriously as a life lesson. Also, great title for a picture prompt challenge response.

Ami Mattison said...

I love how hard you looked at this photo and managed in a very short space to offer what seems to me a kind of deconstruction of it. I'm with everyone else, the last sentence is revelatory and in perfect sync with its content. A seemingly simply poem with a lot going on in it. Great write, Maureen!

Maureen said...

So interesting to me how this is being read. The literal is metaphorical.

Glynn said...

It's almost the description as written by a journalist - and then it becomes something much more than that. Excellent, Maureen.

Jerry said...

I like the cyclical nature of human effort detailed here. An image of divine seasonal creation.
The rise and fall of human constructs effected by natural law.
The last line definately brings it home. Your attention to detail is astute. I might have over analyzed this a little...woke up to go to the bathroom and checked in. :)

Claudia said...

for me the first line is the most impressive one - the accepting..