Crepuscular light falls on a grey
lichen-covered rock face,
illuminating a maze
of micro countries,
mapped but uninhabited
to the human eye, until
red turns to pink and purple,
colouring in the outlines,
and they burst into life: a fairy lit
topography by sunset.
Kim M. Russell, 7th September 2019
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Quadrille: Are You Set?
Merril is our host this Monday, inspiring us to write quadrilles around the word ‘set’.
writing in north norfolk 
I love those lichens that looks like a Map… my father called it the Russian Map, because it just keeps growing.
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🙂
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I love that description of lichen. I need a little relief this evening, so thank you for this breath of fresh air.
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Thank you, Sarah. I’m glad I could provide your breath of fresh air. We have sunshine this morning. I just hope it stays like that for the weekend and next week.
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I love lichen covered rocks and you have described this to a tee. I always thought they looked like maps as well but not fairy maps. I always pretended they were Alexander’s conquests or British Isles.
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Thank you, Toni, The sleeping gnomes in our garden are covered in lichen now. As I’m writing this, we have a very large, handsome cock pheasant outside the window and he’s making the most amazing noise. I hope the cats don’t chase him.
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Oh my! I hope the cats don’t chase him either. Cock pheasants are so gorgeous.
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A wonderful poem and message. I used to collect moss agates for much the same reason. From Rorschach to Fairyland; incredibly cool.
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That would make a great title for a poem: From Rorschach to Fairyland.
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So beautiful–a fairy lit topography indeed!
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Thank you, Merril!
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I like the thought of this imagined world.
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🙂
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I like the uninhabited countries brought to visibility like magic ink with the fairy sunset. Sweet!
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Thank you, jade!
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You’re welcome 🙂
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What a joyful read! Thank you.
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Thanks Bev!
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This is positively lovely Kim!
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Thank you, Linda!
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The sunset on a rock face can be beautiful.
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🙂
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The sunset is magic as it enters the landscape of the rock. Of course fairies live there! (K)
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Your poem and the light are mesmerizing across the landscape! Love the glow of gold in the lichens on the rocks.
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Thank you, Dwight!
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Beautiful picture and beautiful description Kim — vivid!
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Thank you, Rob!
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I am frequently seeing maps in things. Thanks for pointing these out.
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I love the tiny worlds in moss and lichen.
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I love the idea of a magical map. Cool.
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Thank you!
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You capture those brief moments at sunset when the failing light suddenly flares up again in pink and orange. Lovely 🙂
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Thank you, Jane. 🙂
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Words like “crepuscular” were invented for poets.
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I enjoy words!
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It’s amazing what we see when we quiet down and bring a (soft) focus to one small things. Worlds open up. You’ve expressed this beautifully . Thank you for the reminder.
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Thank you, Christine.
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Love the imagery in this one, Kim!
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🙂
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