My pulse of life beats its rhythm
as I resound against the rocky hurdles
that would try to halt my path.
Yet I dance and sway
around tree trunks that have long
lain dormant, their secrets never told;
only I know.
Through drought and long, arid summers
this spring has held faith,
life giving to my charges
as they look to my essence.
In mystic, furtive path
I am a sprite that gushes forth.
So many songs I have heard
and withered hearts have come
to rest within my graceful sweep.
When sunset lays its reddened cloak
my face becomes golden pond,
as calmly I will cease my magic song
and like the daisy my face is closed
until I feel, as sprite, to play once more
in rich abandon.
Author notes
Your prompt is the following poem, written in 1880 by Australian poet Henry Kendall. Please allow his sincere love of the scene to shine through the rather old-fashioned words used.
A Mountain Spring
Peace hath an altar there. The sounding feet
Of thunder and the wildering wings of rain
Against fire-rifted summits flash and beat,
And through grey upper gorges swoop and strain;
But round that hallowed mountain-spring remain,
Year after year, the days of tender heat,
And gracious nights whose lips with flowers are sweet,
And filtered lights, and lutes of soft refrain.
A still, bright pool. To men I may not tell
The secrets that its heart of water knows,
The story of a loved and lost repose;
Yet this I say to cliff and close-leaved dell:
A fitful spirit haunts yon limpid well,
Whose likeness is the faithless face of Rose.
In a list
A contest entry
- K is for Kendall (AUSTRALIAN POET!) by just mercedes.
450 points, ended April 6, 2008, 3 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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I loved the personification that you chose for this prompt. This was well written and interpreted the prompt in a lovely way. Congratulations on your silver trophy. Peace, Liz
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I liked your take on the poem prompt. Giving a determined sprightly voice to the noble and benevolent water essence gave your response a lot of animation. I especially enjoyed your tie-in to song, both as a giver and a receiver. Congratulations on the silver.
Marlene -
This is a great response to the prompt and does evoke the very essence of water, in line with the rich symbolism of a spring. I like the playful personification, and especially /and like the daisy, my face is closed/ as it takes me to the very secret/sacred mountain spring and the days of tender heat.
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This is a spritely invocation to springtime; I like its pagan feeling.
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Enjoyed the sense of control, of energy, that feeling of conquest over the hurdles of life. Really liked the poem by Henry Kendall. Will leave an excerpt from a favourite by John Donne
"Tis true, 'tis day, what though it be
O wilt thou therefore rise from me
Why should we rise, because 'tis light
Did we lie downe, because 'twas night
Love which in spight of darknesse brought us hether,
Should in depsite of light keepe us together."
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this is an amazing write and i love the beautiful personificiation that you have used.an amazing piece gran
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Beautiful personification. This has that "secret" feel to it as if we are hearing a perspective we should not be privy too--an insider's view. It has that third person feel, and yet definitely touches the senses and emotions with it mood. Well done.
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As always my Dear you have penned a work of words of art
well done and best of luck to you in the contest.
Blessings,
Frozentearz
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