the coracle turns
humming the tune of the lake –
the man sleeps, curled inside the womb
dressed in autumn’s blending ache
willows hem the southern shore –
skirts for pine trees held behind
rushes suck at northern colour
forming vaults of templed days
turned to night and dark beliefs
the river drifts in from the west –
a snake with skin of rippling scales
camouflaged by mirror sheen
night hisses – crackles snap and stir
the lone explorer’s dream –
he mumbles and the moon replies
endless stars re-shape the breeze
as gulping night
awaits the tongue of dawn
by eastern light
the man will let his wooden oar
club the hungry water’s flesh
and, murmuring to the river gods,
he’ll read the compass of his life,
lift his future-perfect gaze
and choose
Author notes
Contest prompt:
"you will never leave where you are, until you decide where you'd rather be"
In a list
A contest entry
- Winner takes it All....Prompt by Cannonsfire.
1000 points, ended August 6, 2008, 22 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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This is stunning work, more than deserving of silver...
excellent penning.
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I really like the way this seems to sing.
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Boffo!
This flows beautifully.
Love "read the compass of his life"
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Pleeeeeease, go forth & publish, Scribe. I shall scrape together pennies to be able to hold your words in my hands, to see their magnificence sitting on my beloved bookshelf. 
Good luck in Chez's contest, my Friend. 
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"endless stars re-shape the breeze
as gulping night
awaits the tongue of dawn"
My favorite stanza but of course the whole piece is brilliant with rich visuals and diction, a most pensive and well crafted heart's labor.
All the best in the contest,
mj.
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To choose whether to be there or here, I find this amazingly strong in its expression and desire. Loved it. Love, C
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