Snapshot Poem| Moon Island

  This week's prompt is Moon Island, which I used for another long-lines exercise. Again, I've done it as an image; click it to bring it up larger.

Below the cut, the poem in text, with broken lines:

This is a simple house, but it has a moat. In a circle around it, a moat. Deep beneath the ice, an ancient
crocodile rests its four-chambered heart, waiting. Sleeping in the water, the crocodile dreams of warm-

blooded animals. It dreams of feathers. Ravens call down to it, a mocking, an unkindness. The crocodile
sharpens its teeth on stones. This house is not a castle, but above the steep and ordinary roof rises

an imaginary tower, with the obligatory dragon, the necessary maiden. Day passing day, they play out
the required scenes. Dragon spits fire, maiden swoons in fear, both are caught in their metal net of drama.

When night's curtain drops, they curl together in sleep. She drowses in the curve of his dangerous tail,
he snores his smoky breath. The round moon sheds its reflected light down to their shared chamber.

The moonlight falls like thin snow. The imaginary tower glistens with stars. The barred and leaded windows
waver in the moonlight. Owls fly from the turrets. The actual moon this night, above this ordinary house,

is falling away from full, a waning moon, a gibbous moon. This winter night quietly fills with snow. All
the creatures of this plain house sleep. The dungeons in the basement are silent. The sky holds its stars.

Comments

[Dick]

The long lines certainly help to drive the beguiling narrative. The poem has the feel of a piece of minstrelsy; it speaks out loud very effectively.

[paisley]

in my own little corner, in my own little chair,, i can be what ever i want to be........

[Linda Jacobs]

Really wonderful word choices and usage in here! I loved it!

[gautami]

Prose poetry always works for me. Here, for this prompt it really fits!

[Jo]

This sings, is very beautiful. So many exquisite images, and the sky holds its stars line is superb.

[...deb]

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative style & essence and there were lots of lines I was completely taken with.

I particularly liked "She drowses in the curve of his dangerous tail,/ he snores his smoky breath." Domestic tranquility.

[Tumblewords]

A lovely place - many fine phrases and visuals.

[Mike McCulley]

I especially like the way it ends. Good job.