snapshot poem 30 january 02008

i ask for a dream to answer the question
i dream of a seal    an affectionate seal
it wants to be in the house with the women

it slips through the door like water

the seal is blue . . . mottled . . . purple and gold
it's the swimming colors of oil on water

one of the women who lives in the house
does not want the seal inside with the women

the seal stands up in the room like a woman
like a woman    she walks on the shore

the seal is innocent  the seal is a blessing
the seal is unguarded and fearless but shy

she drifts through my dream like water

she can swim    in the depths    she can surface

her fur is thick and sleek and dense
her fur is her skin of oil and colors
the deep black-blue and purple of ink
and the gold foil of secrets and vows

the seal glides through my mind like water

the seal is a sylph    a cipher    a bond
the seal is a veil       consummation

the seal is an answer to every question
she circles my dream like water
   

This week's prompt was to say why you think you're alive, why you were born, and why you're still around: What are your reasons?

So, just after agreeing that a poem needs to be intelligible and accessible. A poem should be capable of meaning something (Jim Murdock), I write this. But kasper reminds me:

A poem should not mean
But be

Later, I found this:

My Message
Cecil Rajendra

And now you ask
what is my message
I say with Nabokov
I am a poet
not a postman
I have no message.

but I want the cadences
of my verse to crack
the carapace of indifference . . .

 

Go to 3 Quarks Daily to read the rest.

And later still, thanks (again) to Ron Sipherd at The Well, here's the word I sought and could not find: SELKIE

And from Anne:  The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry

Comments

[UL]

How beautifully put...! I like the way you spaced out certain lines, esp.

"the seal is a sylph a cipher a bond
the seal is a veil consummation"

such a unique take on the prompt. I think I will attempt the TOP myself.

[Jo]

this works beautifully......

[gautami tripathy]

IT took me on a ride inside the mind.

I agree with Cecil Rajendra..

Life Force

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

I think you juggle it just right, between meaning and being; the best poetry sits in between those two poles, pulled either way.

[paisley]

wow sb... i don't know if this was a real dream interpretation or a piece of imagined poetry,, and on one hand,, it doesn't matter,, it is so thought provoking and beautiful.. what a thought process....

i am working on a new project with the senior citizens here in the ALF and i set up a page to expound on it as it unravels.. i asked yesterday for pearls of life wisdom from my readers,, and i want to cordially invite you to leave a comment should you have one... i can see from this post,, there is life wisdom inside you,, and i would love to have just a cuppa....

"pearls before swine"

[Tumblewords]

Vivid imagery - layers of thought - very nice!

[Linda Jacobs]

I like the white space in this poem. It gives it that dreamy quality. There is room in between the images for thought!

[Sweet Talking Guy]

Don't you just love dreams? I love the image of the seal - the seal is blue... mottled... purple and gold it's the swimming colors of oil on water - Magic!

[Rambler]

very nice flow of thoughts..