You are a sparkle in the eye
of the ocean of the past,
a persistent glint on the horizon
of the future, the sea foam
phosphorescence of autumn nights.
You give me warmth in quiet moments,
smiles and laughter through the day,
and strength to continue when life
gets harder; you are my mainstay.
Kim M. Russell, 16th April 2024
Image by Tom Mossholder on Unsplash
It’s Tuesday 16th April and Sanaa is hosting Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub.
Sanaa has been inspired by Maggie Smith’s ‘Good Bones’, a poem of address. She comments on the ‘colloquial style that masks the artfulness of Smith’s verse, which is highly controlled and structured’. She explains that a poem of address allows the poet to ‘speak’ to a subject, usually in the form of a monologue, and has given two examples in extracts from Smith’s poetry.
She also says that this kind of poem is usually in blank-verse style, with a clear rhythm and meter, but the lines do not rhyme, and sentences may be divided into two or more lines to maintain the rhythm, creating the appearance of a conversation or monologue that has been inserted into the structure of a poem.
Sanaa would like us to write in the style of Maggie Smith and incorporate the conversational mode of address in our poems.
Also linked to NaPoWriMo on 25th April 2024.
writing in north norfolk 
This is exquisitely drawn, Kim 😍 I so love; “You give me warmth in quiet moments.” Yes. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt 🩷🩷🩷
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Thank you, Sanaa, I’m so pleased you like it.
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I have searched for that word… in Swedish it is Mareld which in turns goes back to old norse and comes from sea and fire…
I remember swiming in mareel in August when the sea still is warm.
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I’m so glad there is a Swedish word for it. Mareel is from the Shetlands, so I think they must be related.Here’s an article from The Guardian which confirms that:
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/sep/20/shetland-islands-scotland-epic-landscape-with-a-viking-soul#:~:text=%E2%80%9CShetland%20is%20both%20Scottish%20and,the%20Highlands%20%26%20Islands%20in%20Lerwick.
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What a tender poem of praise and affection, Kim, telling of “warmth in quiet moments” and “strength to continue” — Utterly moving, utterly beautiful.
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Thank you so much, Dora. I’m blushing!
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You’re most welcome. Meant every word!
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Such a beautifully tender love poem, Kim…positively heartwarming!
I looked up Mareel…also a fine arts venue?
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Thank you, Lynn.
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Your poem is quite lovely …. everyone is in need of an anchor ~ as you painted it with words.
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Thank you very much, Helen.
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something, anything that “gives warmth in quiet moments, smiles, and strength” is so fine by me. Loved this short poem. Thanks, Kim.
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Thank you. Selma, for your kind comment.
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Very nicely done, Kim.
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“a sparkle in the eye
of the ocean of the past”
Cool poem, from this strong opening through to its comforting conclusion.
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Thanks so much!
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Nice on the prompt, Kim. I like your multiple imagery uses.
..
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Thank you, Jim!
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Hi Kim, this really is very beautiful.
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Thank you very much, Roberta.
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💚
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I love this, Kim! The language just flows.
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Thank you, Sara!
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