Bits of twig and uprooted willows
tangle in hollow bank-side shadows
haunted by a mist of winter gnats.
Hoar frost sparkles on the slats
of rowing boats and canoes,
abandoned like a giant’s shoes,
the kind you find at the side of a road,
dumped without its pair. Bubbles implode
in the eddy of a turning fish,
icy tears that splash and splish
with the patter of last leaves from the trees,
plucked by the fingers of a biting breeze.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar: I Once Used an Earthquake – Symbolism
Victoria is our host this Thursday. She says that while she was browsing some of her old poems, she ran across one in which she used an earthquake to stand for fear of change. As writers, we often turn to this tool, to express the depth of our thoughts and beliefs.
She goes on to say that, when we write symbolically, we choose something tangible to convey a more abstract concept or a mood/emotion. Rather than just saying something blatantly, the poet or writer uses, for example, autumn to convey later mid-life or a spider to express fear. Victoria has kindly pointed us towards an extensive list of literary symbols to guide us in the poem she would like us to write for this prompt: express an idea, emotion or mood symbolically without saying anything directly.
Beautifully written, Kim. And the image you chose is so symbolic as well. I enjoyed your skillful use of and work with rhyme that was anything but sing songy.
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Thank you, Victoria. I’m not good at writing political poems but this was the closest I could get. 🙂
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Symbolically is the only way I would write political–too hot to touch otherwise. The title holds the clue in yours.
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It seems like a symbolic description of winter and perhaps other things.
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The emotion of autumn is so strong in that hoar frost and the bare branches… a melancholy I can very much feel… just lovely.
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Leaving that image at the end was a huge surprise because I’d envisioned something entirely different. The poem and the image really work well together.
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Thanks Misky!
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You have created a beautiful read with your words.
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Thank you kindly, Annell.
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I loved your poem. I also loved the image…XXX
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Thanks Alison. xxx
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Lovely imagery, though I didn’t get the political allusion.
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😊
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I love the ‘giant’s shoes’ . that took me in a different direction initially, but after reading again I find the subtle politics there
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😊
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As haunting as the image, if not more so. A great write, kim
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Thank you, Eric.
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Your words have a beautiful sing-song quality Kim.
I have read several times and wonder if your words direct us to an awful winter (thrust upon us) by those who wear big shoes in the political arena…if so, you are right.
Anna :o]
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You’ve got it, Anna 🙂
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I like your summary Anna☺
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I can feel that biting breeze ~ I felt the sting of the cold autumn, as if someone left us all stranded ~ Love your poem Kim ~
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Thank you, Grace.
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Those are really big Clod Hoppers!!
Dwight
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It’s the clod hoppers who wear them I’m concerned about, Dwight – those giants of politics who are leading us towards a nuclear winter.
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I believe you are right!
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I’ve been on the water’s edge… your words took me there. Perfectly.
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Thank you Charley.
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You are welcome!
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plucked by the fingers of a biting breeze–I wished the uncovered beauty was dressed warmer. That’s the truth, but it was an astounding match for the expressive poem!
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Thank you, Nan.
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Beautifully written, left me in a dreamy place.
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Thank you very much!
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Oh my, Kim! I’m sitting here in the early morning with my cup of coffee and I was marveling at your words and then….I saw the image! The image is amazing!!! As are your words…I especially like “plucked by the fingers of a biting breeze.” So many times we have the personification of the naked shivering trees as skeletons….but to personify the breeze…wondrous! 🙂
And this:
“Hoar frost sparkles on the slats
of rowing boats and canoes,
abandoned like a giant’s shoes”
I can see the frost…and I LOVE the idea of the row boats and canoes, empty now, maybe tilted there, as giant’s shoes 🙂
A delightful read early this morning. Thank you!
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Oh, thank you so much for your lovely comments, Lilll! I’m glad you enjoyed my poem, although it’s not a cheerful one. 😉
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You painted a haunting picture here, Kim. Love it.
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Thanks Viv!
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😊
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you have conjured something so vivid with the slightest of hand it seems – marvelling at every line Kim
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Thank you so much, Laura.
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Aye! Such Thrills and Chilling Bitterness. 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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Love the flow and rhythm of this piece. 💙💛
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A nice write. What a mess we’re all in. Hope we don’t all end up ‘gone’. Just him.
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Thanks Pat. It’s a worrying time.
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