Writing in Tongues

I trill in notes of birdsong
I laugh in springs and streams
I bark with dogs and muntjacs
join owl and fox with screams
sometimes I breathe in purrs
sometimes I growl with rage
when my pen clots with feral blood
as it wrestles on the page
but when it flows, it’s a crashing wave
an ocean filled with songs
and mesmerised by its music
I write in tongues

Kim M. Russell, 2018

Mouth Tongue Splatter lips paint wallpaper
Image found on wallpaperup.com

My response to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads NaPoWriMo: Transformations

On the fourth day of NaPoWriMo, Brendan says that ‘the richness of poetry is that its tapestry keeps unwinding, revealing new worlds and fresh visions’. He also tells us about the Milesians’ leading poet’s invocation, which is known as The Song of Amergin, and shared a translation of it. He says that the sixth century AD Welsh poet Taleissin picked up Amergin’s singing robe in the sixth century Book of Taleissin and, ages later Walt Whitman wove and wore it in Leaves of Grass, as in “I Hear America Singing”, which Brendan has also shared.

Brendan’s challenge, is to write a poem about the vantages available to us: how many selves sing for us; which poetic selves we have found useful; and how they helped or taught us about writing poetry. He wants us to show him the panoply or use one persona to introduce him to the whole.

44 thoughts on “Writing in Tongues”

  2. Beautiful!❤️ I love the contrast “sometimes I breathe in purrs/sometimes I growl with rage” ..which is the beauty of writing and sharing poetry! 🙂

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  4. I love the rhythm of these lines, Kim. How they bounce along at a merry pace and build anticipation around these awesome lines:
    when my pen clots with feral blood
    as it wrestles on the page

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you, Gillena. I’m taking part in so many NaPoWriMo and other prompts that I’ve got behind with my reading, comments, and everything else! Much love to you!

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    1. Thank you so much, Sherry! I’m never sure if I’m over or underdoing it with a poem. I’m always delighted when I get this kind of response. 🙂

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  12. to sing the songs of the many, the few, and of course, to have the wisdom to just embrace them all – this is the true strength of the creative – the poet! well done Kim ~ lovely word play and diving into the different aspects of self – all of one and yet never quite the sum total, which is the beauty of the unknown, and of course, possibilities!
    🍃Pat

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  16. I really enjoyed this, Kim. The flow is lovely, as is the meter. Writing in tongues….very clever. I read the prompt…and it didn’t make any sense to me, maybe cos I’m so tired. But I did like this!

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    1. Thank you, Viv! I kind of lost it after a busy morning and afternoon, so I gave up for the evening and met up with a friend. Now I’m busy catching up with reading and commenting!

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      1. Good for you! I have a back-log here too, and I’m totally out of sync. By the way – how are your book votespecial coming along? Kindly send me the link again…I need to finish it.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. JOE AND NELLY A World War Two Ghost Story – Free Story by Kim Russell
        11 year old Joe returns to wartime London, where ghostly Nelly helps him survive material loss, bombs and a dad missing in action
        INKITT.COM

        Liked by 1 person

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