We need iron in our blood to carry
oxygen from lungs to cells,
and yet iron left in damp air
will rust and its shiny grey
will crust with red. The earth
is rich and hard with iron,
mined for making steel,
its solidity tempered
and twisted into buildings,
pylons and bridges,
and its smoothness giving rusty birth
to the enigma of the Angel of the North.
Kim M. Russell, 7th January 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Tuesday Poetics: Let’s get elementary
For the first Tuesday Poetics of 2020, Sarah is our host, and she would like us to get back to the absolute basics of matter. She tells us that for Christmas this year, her son received a book of stories about the different elements of the periodic table. She thought it might be fun to write some poems inspired by elements – and we don’t need to have any knowledge of science to do it, as we rub up against the elements every day. She’s even given us two wonderful example poems: ‘Oxygen’ by Mary Oliver and ‘Silver’ by Walter de la Mare.
writing in north norfolk 
I like the resonance between the colour of blood and the colour of rust, and the chiming of “crust” – which made me think of scabbing – and “rust” – there are so many echoes in this poem of apparently disparate objects. I’ve never seen the Angel, must take a trip up there sometime.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a thing about rusting objects, and find them interesting and beautiful. It’s the smell I’m not keen on, too much like blood.
LikeLike
I love how you really went from the blood to the rust and that wonderful angel. The color red and iron are so well connected.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Bjorn. I love the way that rust blooms on inanimate objects, giving them life..
LikeLike
we can’t live without it … and you packed so much into this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
my pleasure
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the way this starts with what iron does for us humans and how necessary it is. I was anemic as a child and had to drink this vile dark tonic to enrich my blood. Excellent write Kim!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda. I was also anaemic, but thankfully no vile dark tonics! We had cod liver oil and malt extract.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iron and oxygen, life-giving companions inside, but adversaries in the open. I love that concept, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jade!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for introducing the Angel of the North. What an interesting sculpture, and what a great “take” on iron.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just before Christmas I saw another of Gormley’s statues, the one in the crypt at Winchester Cathedral. Sadly, my photographs didn’t turn out well.
LikeLike
An intriguing piece…I share your fascination with rust. You’ve visited my Minimalist Photography site, and know that “rusters” make up a big part of the group.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Glenn, I do enjoy you rusters!
LikeLike
We need iron everywhere. I specially love the ending lines with:
and its smoothness giving rusty birth
to the enigma of the Angel of the North.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Grace.
LikeLike
I didn’t know about it either so I read some and it is fascinating. I love it and its history, one being “It was a picture the council sent him of the mound – next to the road and covering 300 years of mineworkings – that piqued his interest and persuaded him to visit (the artist).”
Your poem could be a plaque engraved at the base.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Debi!
LikeLike
you concluded this tough and soft poem with such grace. the play on colors is so visual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Angel of the North, that’s an interesting structure. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how you’ve taken the beauty of the oxidation in this poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Carol.
LikeLike
We do need iron, I sometimes have to take supplements. That photo is stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, but not one of my own.
LikeLike