A cold wind sighs between the cedars
and their skirts are lifted up
to keep the hems from the mud:
Four old ladies, wearing their best
old green, with tattered lace
showing their brown skin
buckling under the weight of years.
I have heard them speak.
You have to lean closely
to catch their wisdom
that rolls across their gummy mouths.
They tell us stories of bowl boats
and First Woman with green eyes
drifting across the ocean
like a gull glides sky.
The cat paws in stalking
ballet towards what he thinks
is a chirp of feathers
and is quizzical when he finds
nothing but creaky twigs
grinding together like brown nubbins
of teeth. My grandmothers
have jawed themselves hoarse
on their dire warnings.
They’ve never known it this cold.
They do know, there is no Second
Woman to come quietly to this sore.
Author notes
there is a Nootka story of the First Woman who sailed to these shores in a bowl boat.
In a list
A contest entry
- For Those On My Favorites List by LadyUnique.
450 points, ended April 18, 2007, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Hey, I love the clarity your poetry brings with it. I feel like I could be there. It's comforting to read a poem and be so familiar.
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THIS VISION REVEALS INDIAN WOMEN BEAUTIFULLY
HY HEART SCREAMS TO PAINT THIS MURAL ON WOMEN DRESSED IN SKINS EARTHY BROWNS , PAINTED FROM YOUR POEM ABOUT THEM. YOU ARE SO TALENTED, LADY, YOUR POEM TOOK MY BREATH !! Pwondercat@comcast.net (KAY RIVES PHILLIPS )
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excellent ending. how many times can a person send a warning? sometimes there are no do-overs especially when it comes to destroying a planet and the human race. i really enjoyed this and wish i had added even more little green trophies... oh poop!
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ty lady, there are so few good contests to enter sometimes...I was glad to find yours.
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Pretty good
Pretty good. My faveorite part was:
The cat paws in stalking
ballet towards what he thinks
is a chirp of feathers
and is quizzical when he finds
nothing but creaky twigs
grinding together like brown nubbins
of teeth.
That was so vivid and intriguing. Great job and best of luck in your writing future. -
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ty true....I love it when my native voice finds a way to express itself.
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It reverts back to the old adage of leading a horse to water,but you can't make them drink of it. Your explaining the verbal expressions of the old ones I mean. Bowled boats,now that is interesting. Can't imagine what they saw.This spills in a river of informed tales passed down.And a gathered wisdom derived from the same.Very expressive piece.
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ty, Suseann, Daughter's of Copperwoman" is a beatuiful beginnign story.
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I like this piece's words and the way that you control them. A very atmospheric piece. The capitalisation and reference to the "First Woman" is quite strong in my mind and that is how I found my way into this piece. Sorry I have been quiet of late. All the very best to you my dear friend. Anthony.
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I have missed you, pen friend... I hope life is having you happy and heartful.
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