Stoke the fire, let light
suffuse this helix thought,
wind through neuron, fatty tissue
chasing sunlight and failing.
Do no more than ride the wind.
Staccato heart, invisible
my cogent wisdom, transparent
age, now, my shadow
joints creak,
I contemplate knowledge.
Mention love, hear the smiles
behind my back, reflected
upon my bald pate. Winter comes.
The fires continue to be built,
heat still rises and the man dreams.
Leaves scrawled with lore, runes seeking
the magic winds around the fire, spirals,
arrow -- from the pyre -- burning away
all pretense of knowing. Time
grows the gut and bends the back.
Until, man can only wait, hands clasped.
The child running down the stairs,
laughter, acorn bright, promise of mellow oak
she, this new star in the family of love,
comes down the stair to kiss me,
see I am warm and safe from harm.
She waves at the door, off to risk the world.
11:07 AM
10-20-09
Alexandria, VA
Author notes
Prompt: The Philosopher in Meditation' by Rembrandt
I am unable to post pictures so my words must speak for me.
A contest entry
- Fall's Image Prompt by Cynthia Gaines.
2400 points, ended November 8, 20 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think, what it makes you feel, how you are moved.
Comments
1 - 23 of 23
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a warm fall picture painted with snippets. Good job!
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Welcome the Man
For fall is a word of movement toward endings, descent, collapse. The man is but a person, like us all, who is facing the way life becomes a broader and slower river, no less powerful, but not the brightness of the young.
Glad you enjoyed my simple words and graceful images.
Peace,
Tom B.
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This is brilliant. So well written and portrayed. Thanks for sharing
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So much compliment. I am honored by your joy.
Peace,
Tom B.
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this says so much in such a concise verse. It is so beautiful and some really lovely words and phrases have been used here. Well Done. ESS
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thanks ever so much. It is always a gift for someone to share they have found so much in my simple words.
Peace,
Tom B.
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This was truly a beautiful piece.
It speaks volumes, yet isnt very long at all.
That is the mark of a great writer. I really enjoyed reading this. It was a wonderful use of imagery, very catchy and descriptive.
Keep it up
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Moving
I like it....espicially the ending ")
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"Winter comes.
The fires continue to be built,
heat still rises and the man dreams.
Leaves scrawled with lore, runes seeking
the magic winds around the fire, spirals..."
I love those lines, if you had not written anything but those few lines, I would have thought it perfect.
The second stanza I had trouble with...the words just didn't seem to flow, were very halting..I wonder if you'd thought about rewriting that section?
I love the last stanza, and comparing the girl to an acorn who will grow up to be a mellow oak (I want to say sturdy oak, lol).
All in all , a very good poem, just a few rough spots!
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Staccato heart. Each line a stress. Glad you enjoyed. I figured people would hear sturdy oak
why say what is already known? Glad you enjoyed. Thanks
Peace,
Tom B.
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Powerfully Inspirational!!
Especially the third stanza (lines 16-21). 
This is a wonderful poem, and I sincerely thank you for your entry in this contest. My best wishes to you always. Take care... 
Peace,
Cyn
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Thanks for the mention. These words that twine and twist without rhyme as we all seek the divine by name or course.
Peace,
Tom B. -
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You're very welcome...
And THANK YOU for your awe-inspiring entry!! I just wish they allowed more trophies (as many as I want to give) 
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I so enjoyed this i read it four times, i can see the seasons of a man. Watching his youth fade yet using the wisdom he has gained to see the delight and wonder of the young in his home.
They do make us fee our souls at different ages. Letting us touch upon their lives which in turn regains ours if only for a brief moment.
Parts of this was kind of sad yet at the same time you took it to a happy place.
One line kept grabbing my heartstrings:
Until, man can only wait, hands clasped.
This could be interputed many ways, is he waiting to grow old, to pass in this life, or waiting in prayer as the new star goes off to risk the world...
I loved this write!
Amazing my dear friend,
Love,
~Lisa~P
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Thanks
I needed to get this to catch that wisdom and knowledge are always confounded by youth. I used the picture as a prompt and let it lead where wont. There is a biblical edge in here.
Love,
Tom B.
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A small suggestion, perhaps place the comma after creak, so that this reads " my shadow joints creak, I contemplate knowledge" This would relay the weight felt and the leaning into the weight of wisdom. " Do no more than ride the wind" indeed, feel the breeze of circumstance and take a chance...
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Thank You Much
Glad you caught the typo, damns things are worse than haunts in an old building. Perhaps, as we age, we become fuller of fancy but realize its time has past. We are bewitched by the possibility children provide.
Love,
Tom B.
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This was a very beautifully written piece of work you have here. I enjoyed reading this. It was amazing. Good luck in the contest and keep up the good work.
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Thanks
I appreciate you taking the time to share your joy. Every gift of joy multiplies beyond my simple needs.
Peace & Light,
Tom B.
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Pictures...
you do not need, you wonderful metaphors and images leap out in 3d at me. I see colors and landscapes I could never see if your words weren't so sharply descriptive. It is a beautiful world inside your language Tom.
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Quite a Compliment
I was intrigued by the title of the contest and then the image presented. I always feel the poem should speak without anything to support it. I am glad it spoke so clearly to you. The seasons of man and the cycle of weather often reflect upon each other.
Love,
Tom B.
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I creak contemplate knowledge. (? line doesn't make sense...)
I love "this fire continues to be built."
it's a strong statement, and it's full of such optimism and confidence that no matter what, we can withstand it. Nice.
I love the child running down the steps..
Nothing better than a kiss goodbye. except maybe a kiss hello.
love,
jin
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Maybe I will go back to creak and contemplate. It is always searching for the balance of how much to say and how much to assume. We getting older the farther we move ahead, but we are young of heart and mind and when at last the body begins its crumble we live in the joy our children bathe us in. Least, that's how I see it, except when Graham is scaring the piss out of me.
The challenge included autumn and that picture and I wanted to catch the sense of transition.
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