Sullen and slate-grey,
the sky lights up slowly,
in its own good time,
rinsed with lemon luminescence,
a bleached handkerchief
embroidered with distant gulls.
Smaller seabirds, snatched
by the polar wind,
flutter like leaves,
tumbling acrobats
that land and curtsey
on salt encrusted rocks.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Quadrille: Rock
Mish is our host for the Quadrille today and the word she has chosen is rock.
Linked to What’s Going On? on 27th March 2024.
writing in north norfolk 
I liked the idea of the sky being “embroidered” with seabirds.
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What a treat of a performance!
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Quite a unique poem… accompanied with a nice photograph!
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I love the salt encrusted rocks. Such a very vivid visual. I like this so much.
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I can see and smell this one Kim ~ Love these lines specially:
rinsed with lemon luminescence,
a bleached handkerchief
embroidered with distant gulls.
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This is bursting with such imaginative imagery! I very much enjoyed this, Kim. 🙂
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Great imagery in this piece. Well done.
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This is absolutely outstanding–ab amazing word picture that brought me along with you in every word. I have spent a many years living within a short drive or walk at the ocean. So good, Kim. Feel better my friend.
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I reall love this wonderful image of those birds. Reminds me of the coastline I sometimes miss and which I need to go back to some day.
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Dammit, Kim, I wish I’d written this. Gorgeous detailing.
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Love this : rinsed with lemon luminescence. The imagery is wonderful!
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Like Grace, you had me at “lemon”. This is my favorite poem out here on the trail for this prompt, left with the salty brine on the rock slipped in & stood upon.
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Beautifully woven, Kim! LOVE that “lemon luminescence”…and the embroidered gulls 🙂 I pray you’re well.
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I won’t pick a piece…. The whole is a delightful bit that put in the mouth makes the reader smile… and put it back in again. The test of really good poetry — sound.
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like your quadrille and was going to comment. Then saw the puffin and all I have to say now is SQUEE! 😉
–coal (Fireblossom)
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Another Groovy scene! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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That puffin brought this poem to an excellent close. Beautiful imagery throughout, Kim.
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Thanks Sara!
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Ah, the birds! The high flying gulls and the small acrobats! I know well the scene you draw here. I love it.
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Thank you, Susan! I love birds, early morning light and twilight.
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A lovely poem, and I can just picture the setting you have described. It must be truly wonderful to live near the sea!
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Thank you so much, Mary. I’m not as close to the sea as I used to be, but only 15-20 minutes by car.
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I love the bleached handkerchief, embroidered with distant gulls! And the seabirds, snatched by the wind. I love puffins, and have seen them bobbing imperiously in the waves with their bright beaks. Just lovely, Kim.
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Thank you, Sherry!
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This is the first I’ve read this poem. So many visuals to bring the poem to life.
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Thank you, Truedessa!
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lemon luminescence – that is such a great description!!
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Thank you, Rajani!
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Beautiful imagery and words. Well done !
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Thanks so much, Rall!
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tumbling acrobats – Loved this image of freedom and happiness – Interesting poem and well crafted
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Thank you, Alan!
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Kim, seabirds are usually a good guide to the nature of a day, at least by the coast. It’s a magnificent sight when they are circling above, especially on a grey day! We frequently have them around us in Cheshire…looking forward to sunlit days!
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I love watching birds, Eileen, and I too look forward to sunlit days!
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I really enjoyed your poem. Your words created a picture which came alive in my mind. Thanks for sharing your view of the world.
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Thank you for reading and for your kind comment, Suzanne.
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