Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Comfort Hoards Its Hope (Poem)

Comfort Hoards Its Hope

Winter white, pearl, iced blue, cotton crape:
which color of a tear drop held
against the light foretells what
we, alone, imagine?
In time our comfort
hoards its hope, grieves
our promise
to pray
faith.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas

My audio recording of the poem:

 Audio Recording of Comfort Hoards Its Hope ~ A Nonet by mdoallas 
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This poem, inspired by the colors in a mood board by photographer Kelly Sauer, takes the form of a nonet, a poetic form that was the subject of a post at One Stop Poetry. The form requires nine lines on any subject, rhyming optional; the first line has nine syllables, the second has eight, and so on until the final  line, which comprises a single syllable. 

My thanks to Kelly for the inspiration and to Corbie Sinclair for the explanation of the form.
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32 comments:

  1. Dave KingSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:55 AM

    The form is new to me. Writing to a form can make the result seem forced and false. This hasn't happened here - if, indeed, that is what you did. The poem moved me very much.

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    This is lovely.

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  3. Kelly SauerSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:05 AM

    Oh this really is lovely, a bit wistful, but gentle, sweet. I like it very much!

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  4. Annie BoresonSeptember 6, 2011 at 1:42 PM

    "In time our comfort hoards its hope." Lovely.

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    oooh
    how cunningly smooth

    and
    nonet to me
    is new

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  6. ClaudiaSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    oh i much like the image of color of a tear drop held
    against the light...beautiful and gentle write

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    smooth as silk on the tongue...beautiful

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  8. Brian MillerSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    mmm...smoothly done maureen...have seen the form before and you do very well by it...

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  9. Jannie FunsterSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    Yes, there are worlds we cannot imagine in a single tear drop.

    Loved the winter images and colors.

    Beautiful.

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  10. mrs mediocritySeptember 6, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    love those words, in time our comfort hoards its hope...hope has been an ongoing theme in my writing, this is beautiful.

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  11. robkistnerSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Very nicely done Maureen...

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  12. UnknownSeptember 6, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    flowed very smoothly... a peaceful and comfy poem. great

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  13. hedgewitchSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    Difficult to do this much, this subtly with only nine lines, rigidly formatted--here invisibly formatted, and flowing without inhibition. Which color, indeed, can tell what we imagine.

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  14. S. EtoleSeptember 6, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Your voice adds comfort to your words.

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  15. Jenne' R. Andrews September 6, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Exquisitely and ardently crafted, showing your linguistic genius and heart for the beauty even in apprehending not-white things-- love too the title- xxxj

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  16. DaydreamertooSeptember 6, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Beautiful.

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  17. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    This nonet must be difficult to pull off as nicely as you have done hear..... very good job! I'm going to try this......

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  18. Laurie KolpSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:12 PM

    Stunning, Maureen!

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  19. UnknownSeptember 6, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    Very well written. Have always liked the form. You definitely did it justice. Really enjoyed the piece, thanks

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  20. ayalaSeptember 6, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    This is beautiful, Maureen.

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  21. Ann LeFloreSeptember 6, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    this flow so smoothly and such a lovely write. Love your blog and thank you for sharing
    http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/08/29/unsuspecting-creatures-of-the-night/

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  22. Anna @ waysidewordgardenSeptember 6, 2011 at 11:13 PM

    This is beautiful, and your words fit the form seamlessly.

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  23. RuthSeptember 7, 2011 at 5:44 AM

    Tight, exquisite beauty, Maureen.

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  24. PatriciaSeptember 7, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    I enjoyed hearing your read...

    the color of a tear drop is such a beautiful, gentle thought. This made me feel aware and thankful in my grieving state that I am quietly surprised by 'hoarded' comfort slowly warming me with hope from the blanket of faith foundations.

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  25. Joseph HeschSeptember 7, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    I'm always in awe of poets who can write such expressive work while working within the constraints (though they really aren't) of a certain form. I loved everything about this nonet, Maureen--image, pace, diction. Just wonderful.

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  26. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Love the poem's diminishing form - it works really well here. // Peter.

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  27. Geoff M. PopeSeptember 7, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    Enjoyed this vivid, skillful nonet, especially the second half with r and p consonance before the a assonance.

    Along with Patricia, I liked hearing you read, and look forward to absorbing more of your resonant writing.

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  28. signed...bkmSeptember 7, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Our comfort hoarding hope...what a thought - but so true...we hold on to it cradle it --very nice..thank you Maureen always enjoy your work..bkm

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  29. GlynnSeptember 8, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Beautiful. Sigh.

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  30. Steve KingSeptember 8, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    You sound and read so 'natural' in this form. The verses are so understated and true, and with a perfect, quiet finality in the last word. Very nice.

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  31. AnonymousSeptember 8, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    great express of word done with such a light touch

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  32. Julie FarrarSeptember 9, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    I'm so intrigued by the variations of white in the first line. I'm not a poet, but I do always enjoy finding such creativity within such constraints.

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