gold-leafing on a granite wall seals sentences
a poet cannot retrieve without rust forming
on palms and fingernails in desperate search
for that one line, that one phrase,
that one elegant, magical, metaphor
that lingers in halls, as ghost, to tease
with touch, with tingle, and with prickle prompt
that comes to those who seek, in spite of pain
when ripping out their very guts,
to allow the soul to seep upon papyrus
to write, to carve, to gesture in sand,
on back, on heart, words of falling;
tumble stumble down red and orange fiery flame
of finger scraping on a chalkboard
just to get it written, to get it permanent,
to give release and respite to the constant need to gnaw
on old poems and poets’ bones
this fling and feint of loosened sky
breathing in and breathing out
language of listless waves of words
settling, slowly, at hem of she who plies
in putting soul to sacrament
is holy, oh, my god, ‘tis holy, this
I would write on skeletons and shriveled gourds,
in dirt that freezes your name upon its crust,
because there is a knotting need for you to know
(wherever in this Universe you are)
that I have spoken to angels, ancients,
and they know my ache, when harvest silos slip
their hinges for such incredible bounty,
that I am dry bristle of branch
trying to gather warmth of some old sun
in order to write your name
Author notes
jpg and prompt -
The Philosopher in Meditation by Rembrandt
and "Metaphorically speaking, what does this image say to you? The ancient sages have a meaning and a purpose in our lives. What is it?"
In a list
- Bronze poetry • next in list
- Writing About Writing • next in list
- A Woman's Writhe • next in list
- Beautiful Words by Beautiful People I Know • next in list
A contest entry
- Fall's Image Prompt by Cynthia Gaines.
2400 points, ended November 8, 20 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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Congratulations on the Bronze Chalice!!
Thank you once again for your entry in my contest. I am truly honored. 
Peace,
Cyn
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Thank you, Cynthia. There was a bit of a fix-up needed and I waited for you to judge before I did it. Awk! I appreciate the bronze and the challenge.
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Profound!!
I really love this thought-provoking write!! Thank you for sharing your philosopher's muse with all of us, I'm wishing you all the best in the contest!! 
& s,
Cyn
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Absolutely stunning. Good luck in the contest, my Friend.
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ty, betimes I end up with same words in the same poem...such was the case here and I waited....chomping on the letters of my keyboard, to fix it! lol
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Oh my gosh, this just took my breath away! I was first struck by "to give release and respite to the constant need to gnaw/on old poems and poets’ bones", but the whole poem just speaks of the poet's burning need to write. The final stanza could be about my life, right now, one of those things I wish I'd written! Beautiful work, as usual, dear Poet. Lita
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How soulsongs come, or how the solace of such writing touches others, we can never know. But, when I delve deep into that space, most often there is someone it speaks to. Ty for your comment, your friendship, and your own beautiful pen!
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