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in altissimo

 



perhaps to love is to learn
to inhabit the earth lightly.
to bloom it all out
like the cherry trees of early spring.
to learn to yield.
your touch invents a blush.
it makes blossoms
of all things.
I keep falling
because you harvest
my scattered flowers














Author notes

inspired by Octovio Paz’s “Coda”

in altissimo = in the highest
i've known this...

In a list

A contest entry

Please tell me what you think

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    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
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Comments

1 - 53 of 53

  • white stone
    July 10

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    Stunningly beautiful. My favorite of yours so far. Gentle wisdom and care here. Blossoms falling.... wow. I've read some Neruda, but since apparently you're such a big fan and influenced by him, I'll look a little deeper.


    • Nicolette gold member
      July 10
      Edit | Reply
      thank you i'm happy how this little one turned out. yes, Neruda is my favourite but also Octavio Paz - you should read both of them

  • abu nuwas
    June 8

    Edit | Reply

    Altissimum

    Such an easy and light touch. But for an old unre-constructed Englishaman, well, all that mushy stuff, well, I mean to say, damn it all.....hang it....


  • perfectsunset gold member
    May 29

    Edit | Reply
    Awww... this one struck
    close to home for me. I felt
    a personal tie to it as
    the way I've felt in the
    past. You truly penned
    a masterpiece here,
    so beautifully.

    So very worthy of the gold awarded


  • Lyrical Soul silver member
    May 26

    Edit | Reply
    Woman, you are just simply brilliant. What else can I say? Wow. Love this!

    ~Lyrical


  • glenn shannon silver member
    May 11
    Edit | Reply
    you are more than a poetess you paint the canvass and direct the music delish work here


    • Nicolette gold member
      May 11
      Edit | Reply
      thank you so much, glenn - you are most kind. thank you for all the lovely comments on my poetry today!


  • Cannonsfire
    April 5

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    Only you dear lady breathe love and bring it alive C


  • thepoetssoul
    April 4

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    This is truly beautiful, Im so pleased in this piece of poetry,
    Wonderful words of wisdom
    Be blessed in all you do.

    Tony

  • Virgoan
    April 3

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    'Your touch invents a blush' - not all poets can use the word invent so beautiful and powerful at the same time.

    The last three lines are to die for.

    Excellent


  • soulfultia gold member
    April 2

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    This was a deeply beautiful piece, causes the mind to wander and find warmth in the meaning. Beautiful work! ~Tia


  • IronIcecream
    March 30

    Edit | Reply

    verticality is an attempt on flight
    only lost when the roots are grown.
    thus the trees wear their leaves as feathers,
    allow birds to nest between their branches
    and, when they bloom, they are telling the sky
    "we will try again".




  • kisskrys
    March 29
    Edit | Reply
    beautful

  • mimiagatha
    March 28

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    you are wrong, nicolette, to love is to scour earth like wildfire, to scourge all being with the lash of worded dementia, to scream in abandon as you are collected off the ground and shoved inside the warmth of unbuttoned shirt. but you do know it, nicolette, and it all hides inside the mirrored view of this reality as worded in this wonderful poem. the beauty of blossom is its death, when you fall around it into the sun.


  • ariazephyrzoe gold member
    March 26

    Edit | Reply
    I keep falling
    because you harvest
    my scattered flowers

    and I fell for these lines
    beautiful

    Anna Lee
















  • Namita
    March 26

    Edit | Reply
    aww so beautiful, Nic... even I remember writing a poem inspired by this same piece lovely writing!


  • NurseChilly gold member
    March 26

    Edit | Reply
    and where the wild flowers grow
    so, shall the sun weave her magic

    picking daisies as she goes
    a garland for every day there is lov

    beautifully done Nicky... ohh yeshhhh yebo gogo


  • Oisin silver member
    March 25

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    So very much like music taken above the octave, your poem extends beyond just the words as written, but to the beat of a heart. Incredible.


  • leander Moderators member
    March 25

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    I keep falling
    because you harvest
    my scattered flowers

    I think that those three lines are possibly the closest ever to what I am experiencing/feeling right now when it comes to my emotional side.
    Such deep sorrow you express with those words, but bring it to the reader with such serenity...


  • natari gold member
    March 24

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    You are producing some stunning work. I think that poetry like this is almost holy and definitely serene. Lovely

    H


  • Sonja
    March 24

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    Your poetry is "in altissimo" and your words are always clear, precious with transparency of diamonds. don't forget, whatever fall it rise again stronger than ever.
    ~Sonja~

  • Yvette Champ gold member
    March 24

    Edit | Reply
    Dearest Poetess,
    you don't pour mere words onto the page, you grace the page with a wonderful world where there is depth that is weightless, an intrinsic weaving of light, love,love and light. The gentle opening of perhaps...the visual of nature and nurture blooming in the blush...the karmic hush that plays a symphony to the reader's heart...yes...we freefall in altissimo...


    Absolute beauty.


    Love and Light


    Yvette





  • Daizee silver member
    March 23
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    You truly soothe souls with your words. This is no exception....

    Love,
    Stacy


  • marc creamore
    March 23

    Edit | Reply
    Nicolette . . . Haven't been on much of late, busy with another volume of my own, but I have to check in once in awhile to allow my mind to be bathed in your latest words . . . This one is no exception, the last line speaks of a deeply felt sorrow, but spoken with a gentleness of heart that only you can express . . .

    love ya sister,
    Marc


  • Balldinger silver member
    March 23

    Edit | Reply
    summer's salt is the exception to winter's peppered winds. i love the Paz dispenser in each of us, but your candy is prettier and much more aluring for some reason today - perhaps your garden grows more gracefully today.


  • Lyndon gold member
    March 23

    Edit | Reply

    I think of this on a reed instrument

    played from on high with the aid of vocal attunement. And Antonio Paz, as I remember the Coda, also mentions Lyndon.
    Well Lyndon trees!
    You have spun off the words of the coda most beautifully and lightly. As a professional, you do not scream but gently whisper, in altissimo, one and a half octaves above us.
    We love flowers because they are plants' delicate, coloured organs of progeneration and symbols of fertility and love.
    The phrase "to bloom it all out" is delicately memorable. Ron.


  • Jersene gold member
    March 23

    Edit | Reply
    I love the wisdom behind the first two lines...how it ties into the imagery. Beautiful poetry


  • Dalaney gold member
    March 23

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    your poetry has found its way into my heart these last few months.  my life has been turned upside down and back, and reading you has brought such a sense of peace to me.  your words are quite simply...healing.  at least, for me they are.  Love, Lane


  • Malabu
    March 23
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    my eyes have roamed a blossom today...

    yours--

    mal


  • quietly burning
    March 23
    Edit | Reply
    what a wonderful piece !


  • Aussie Gypsy gold member
    March 23

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    My first thought is how truly beautiful and richly true these words are. You just sum it up without pomp or ceremony, just the facts in the way only you can do them. Best to you in the contest


  • AngelSeeker silver member
    March 23
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    I never know what to say about your poems that could do them justice. As always, I am awed. Patti


  • Heart Sutra
    March 23

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    Ah, Nicolette, sweet deep passionate Nicolette with a heart as big as the Universe.

    This poem touched me.


  • AJ Morelli gold member
    March 22
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    beautiful



  • Son of Jim
    March 22

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    My first thought is the title, which started bringing all the possibilities that a poem from you could bring. I was lost in wonder. The first two lines fulfilled the needs there, but there is of course more. But again, the surreal thought of love inhabiting the earth lightly is epic. Then to tie the visual of the cherry blossom, so light and fagile itself into the metaphor, the blush of the wood, the blush of the fruit, and the blush of the blossom oh so tender, like you aptly put love. Falling in love like the falling of the blossoms, the scents of my childhooe, because we had two cherry trees right outside my window, I can see the small flowers on the ground and to have someone to harves them, well done!!!!


  • Randomly Beautiful
    March 22

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    I keep falling
    because you harvest
    my scattered flowers

    Simply gorgeous Nic.
















  • truembrace
    March 22

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    if one cannot seem to love thoroughly in their own world - the least one can do is to read your poetry and live vicariously through the words you give us.

    it's stunning...


  • LadyElbereth
    March 22

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    Pretty Picture

    You paint such a pretty picture with words. Your cadence brilliant as always your imagery off the hook well cared for so beautiful. I am lulled by the sense of subtle peace you always invoke there are many lovely words but the way you bring them together the way you combine them capture such a moment; one that you gift to your readers as a wonderful treasure for all time. You take something in nature to its fullest surge and ebb meaningful displays I am once again in awe of your artistic beauty. My heartfelt thank you for this most exquisite post.


    Lady E


    I just read this again today and I must tell you I am blown away..you are beyond the pale..what a writer..I am in awe... I must say wondrous...I'll be back ...smiles


  • klassy lassy
    March 22

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    It's raining outside and I've been watching the cherry blossoms scatter in the wind. You say it sooo beautifully, Nicci. Such a lovely way to harvest love, falling and harvesting, and blooming profusely again! Sigh.... And there is nothing more lovely than pink blossoms when things look hopelessly gray!


  • Peteskid gold member
    March 22
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    simply beautiful...PK


  • kaibab silver member
    March 22

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    You keep watching those petal swirl, and thurn them all into words like these...lovely art my friend


  • arafura gold member
    March 22
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    I love the feel of this... wonderful!


  • Andrew Norris
    March 22

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    Beautiful seasonal metaphors which, although being well known, somehow capture something unusual and special. Perhaps it is the tenderness and warmth with which you imbue this poem. Perhaps when we learn to inhabit the earth lightly then we learn to feel the power of love and yield. Our cherry tree is about to blossom and that always fills me with a sense of love. Cherish nature and those we hold dearest. Really beautiful. Thank you


  • Night Hope gold member
    March 22

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    Immaculate Sighs Surround...


    Sighhh...I hear Neruda singin' right along with Paz, my beloved Sister...How beautiful can one Woman be, I ask ya??? I dunno...'cause even after (almost) 5 years, your bloom is still fresh, new, elegant, refined...& extremely scent~sual...Gorgeousness, Sweetie...Good luck in the contest, everybody else. Vlindertjie


  • piggyback
    March 22

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    Beautiful poetry. As always you are a true love poet. The title is wonderful and the imagery really lives on the page and beyond.
    "perhaps to love is to learn
    to inhabit the earth lightly." - I couldn't agree more... really needed to read these exact two lines right now. Thank you for sharing.


  • tara wilson gold member
    March 22

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    "perhaps to love is to learn
    to inhabit the earth lightly."

    your poetry is always so beautiful, Nic! a very quiet & calm voice and tone in this. this one reads like a whisper & with the lightness of fallen petals...i feel the heart is high in this one.


  • Catie Sheeran gold member
    March 22

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    I always find a sense of peace and beauty in your poetry...lovely write


  • MJ Donnelly gold member
    March 22

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    *sigh* you have one of THE most tender and romantic poetic voices I've ever read Nicky.

    Love,
    mj.

  • Rowan gold member
    March 22

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    it is worth the fall, isn't it?
    So you; beautifully crafted.


  • campanaro silver member
    March 22

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    Nicolette,

    This was beautiful as it was peaceful,
    -and meaningful.
    You are such a talented writer.
    Thanks so much for sharing this.
    Best
    Love Peace
    campanaro

  • Suzanne Dia
    March 22

    Edit | Reply
    love the quiet implicated here
    it should be
    a tiptoe across a dream
    that settles at sunrise

    really a gentle push

1 - 53 of 53