I stared at stars printed on the sky,
the solar system in all its glory,
and thought back to another time,
a different city when Wren designed
the dome that stands so proud beside
the Thames, the best of London’s pride.
I wondered about all who stood inside,
who marvelled at the golden Byzantine
oculus, the gilded niches and its height,
and whispered in the gallery.
Now, I wonder if I’ll ever see it again,
the domed cathedral beside the Thames.
Kim M. Russell, 13th October 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Tuesday Poetics: Three Little Words
Sarah is back to host Poetics this week and she says she’s keeping it simple and fun with, what I think is, a kind of treasure hunt.
I had never heard of ‘What 3 Words’ before today and had to go and have a look. I couldn’t imagine how the developers could divide the whole world into 3 metre squares and allocated them a combination of 3 words which can help to pinpoint our location exactly. It’s astonishing. I also love the idea of a plantation of poems, of which Sarah has been a part, and which was organised in a similar way. How wonderful to have a poem printed on wood in woodland!
Being a Londoner born and bred, I love this prompt, in which Sarah has done a little tour of London and picked out some three-word combos. She would like us to choose one of them and write a poem (3 – 12 lines long), using the three words. If we go to the what3words website, we can find our spots in London – and use them for further inspiration.
I chose print.solar.stared because it took me to St Paul’s Cathedral, which I sometimes visited when I worked nearby. St. Pauls also reminds me of the scene in ‘Mary Poppins’ when she sings ‘Feed the Birds’. The title refers to an old song.
writing in north norfolk 
I think we’re all wondering things like that, Kim. The world seems very distanced at the moment. I love the way you’ve used the words, and that you used St Paul’s as an inspiration, too. It flowed so smoothly I had to read it twice to find the words! I love your rich words – proud, golden, Byzantine, solar, stars – it really captures that Baroque excess.
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It’s years since I had lunch breaks on the steps of St Paul’s. It is a beautiful cathedral.
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Oh you’ve done this so well, Kim. Using the words and connecting them to the Cathedra. I’ve been there….is is absolutely awe inspiring and now your words and image have taken me back there!
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Thank you, Lill. I’m glad my poem took you on a trip back there.
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I think there will come a time when we go back and wonder what we did during these days of covid… but with three words we can go on a journey… when I checked out the site I could walk from one side of my house to another passing through different three-word combinations.
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I’m already bemused at how I’ve spent almost all the tiem indoors and not been bored once! I’m not sure whether I should blame or thank Covid!
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Kim, this is gorgeous. I’ve never been to London, and now wonder if I ever will.
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Thank you, Linda. I hope you get the chance one day. But you should visit other English cities, including Norwich – a fine city.
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Well, according to Ancestry, my DNA says I am 42% England and Northwestern Europe, 31% Scotland, 11% Ireland, 9% Norway, 5% Wales, and 2% Sweden, so some of my ancestors were in England!
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Thanks for the trip to St Paul’s Kim. You might find this hard to believe but I lived in London for three years and never set foot in the place. Byzantine isn’t a word I would have associated with my idea of St Paul’s. I’m glad you used it, it opens up a whole new image for me.
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I was very young when I worked near St Paul’s, only a matter of months before I moved to Cologne and another magnificent cathedral.
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Such a different style though!
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Lovely, I can feel your ‘pain’ about our present isolation. But this is temporary, we will get through this, even though there seems to end at the moment. St Pauls is magnificent.
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Thank you, Francis.
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The complexity and beauty of this piece eclipses the prompt. I, too, had to reread it to find the 3 words, so carefully woven into this tour, this homage.
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Thank you, Glenn.
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This is exquisitely drawn, Kim! I can feel the nostalgia and ache as you lead us to St Paul’s Cathedral. I too am delighted how the developers allocate a combination of 3 words which can help to pinpoint the exact location, correctly. 💝💝 Here’s hoping the world returns back to normal again 🙂
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Thank you, Sanaa. I think if we return to anything it will be a different normal.
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So poignant. Something that many wonder. We haven’t even been in Philadelphia since February. Of course, I know some of the history of St. Paul’s (and the Mary Poppins scene). I was only in London once–as a child. I remember going to some places, but not St. Paul’s.
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There’s so much to see and do in London, Merril.
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Yes–I still remember much of what I saw there when I only about 10, but of course, it would wonderful to see it as an adult.
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What a beautiful cathedral Kim. I can imagine this as beautiful as our famed Cathedral in Montreal which I visited 2 years ago. Hopefully you and I can see these lovely cathedrals one day in the future.
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I hope so too, Grace.
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As strange a time as Covid has presented, it has yet given all of us a new perspective on our lives and what’s important, I think. I love that you incorporated the words as well as being inspired by the site they represent.
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Thank you, Bev.
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This does look like a place for both stars and ghosts. (K)
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The Whispering Gallery is quite eerie.
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This is beautiful Kim!
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Thank you, Mary!
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Thank you for taking us there, Kim…in spite of (or because of) Covid 🙂
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🤓
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A simpler time with its own complexities, yet sharing the same stars with us.
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True.
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I really enjoyed this poem and it took me on a journey right there to the cathedral! I love that the stars are “printed on the sky,” and they took you back in time. I want to visit London so bad!
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Thank you, Tricia/ I hope you get to visit London.
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💖💖
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