Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Toads In Tandem: Poem Of A Silent Woman

Hey. Look up there. It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's a Skywriter! But wait. What's that traveling alongside? It's...it's...that aerial curiosity called a Fireblossom!

For our collaboration, which I can safely say we both thoroughly enjoyed working on, we have written a cascade poem. Without further ado, here is our poem.





POEM OF A SILENT WOMAN


You think I am silent; truth is, I never hush.
I am flow as well as bung; either way, I offer much.
You concern yourself with rind; not much further is the fruit.
The climbing rose grows bare and shaded at the root.

I am a west-wind owl in open sky-- I create.
You are the saddle and boot, the bull at the gate;
Wild mane, tossing tail, I canter beyond the sagebrush.
You think I am silent; truth is, I never hush.

My gate is vined, and latched and tall
But opens, lockless, every Fall;
I am baskets hung with tendrils--fire--frost--and flush--
I am flow as well as bung; either way, I offer much.

You believe that you know all that I am,
Read my smile wrong, think me a lamb.
I am child of the moon, ebb and tide--no absolute.
You concern yourself with rind; not much further is the fruit.

Come by the moon--new, quarter, and full--
by degrees, shows its turned face--then shows all;
come through the gate--with the season slip through--
the climbing rose waits, shaded--for you.


 

30 comments:

Kerry O'Connor said...

Ah! Thanks so much, Shay. It looks even better with your presentation. I must thank you for helping me through my convalescence and giving me the inspiration to write again. You did the lion's share, but I so enjoyed the process.

Fireblossom said...

Do NOT listen to Kerry; she is clearly delirious. This was a true collaboration, 50-50 all the way, and a blast to do.

Sanaa Rizvi said...

Whistles!!💖💖 This is absolutely fiery and delicous.. love the form and the repetition works so well! Sigh...gorgeously penned ladies!💖💖

Blogoratti said...

A very vivid description of a silent woman in tandem with a rose patiently awaiting something or someone. Thanks for sharing!

Brendan said...

We get the woman and the rose spoken in distaff voices. This is a really fine weave from two very different stylists.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I was so anticipating this collaboration, as i knew it would be wonderful. I love this form, and must explore it. You have woven this poem so beautifully, with such depth in the message. Loved every line, especially the closing one. Wonderful work, Kerry and Shay.

Marian said...

Intoxicating, really... much to learn if one cares to truly look. Gosh, such impressive use of this form! I had to look and study to recognize it, which is a great thing. Applause!

Kerry O'Connor said...

Thanks friends, the idea was TOTALLY Shay's. The form she chose worked so well in a collaboration. Everything worked like a little bit of magic.

Sumana Roy said...

lovely to read this!

hedgewitch said...

What a lovely rhythm this has, which is partly the form(one I love) and mostly the cadence and music in the phrases--I could quote so many lines, including all the ones which form the 'cascade' but I was just bodyslammed by that entire second stanza--breathtaking. Two wonderful poets make a doubly satisfying poem here.

Susan said...

This is the way to be waited for, to learn each passionate drop, to grow the roses. Bravo!

Maude Lynn said...

So beautiful. I adore that last stanza.

Sreeja said...

Beautiful...it has a power and wonderful flow!!

Gillena Cox said...

Very nice, the passion, the peace, the tease the dare, very much like the ex-tempo calypso, and the lyrical Midnight Robber forms of writings in Trinidad and Tobago

Much love...

tonispencer said...

A wonderful collaboration from two excellent poets. I love the last line in particular.

Kim M. Russell said...

Another fabulous collaboration, and a cascade poem no less! The gentle flow seems to have slipped off your pens. I particularly enjoyed the lines:
'I am a west-wind owl in open sky-- I create.
You are the saddle and boot, the bull at the gate'
and
'I am child of the moon, ebb and tide--no absolute.
You concern yourself with rind; not much further is the fruit'.

Outlawyer said...

Ah just lovely. Really seamless with wonderful rhythms and rhyme and a movement and sense throughout. JUst terrific. Thanks. K.

Angie said...

what a great idea to use this form poetry. you made it look easy

Magaly Guerrero said...

I'm perfectly in love with the first line. There is something about the softness of the tone that makes the message chant itself loud and clear into the brain. It doesn't let itself be ignored. It doesn't accomplish this by force or threat, but just by stating a fact: "You think I am silent; truth is, I never hush." And then, it uses line after line, to explain just what it is meant. Love it.

Anonymous said...

Hats off to both of you - the poem is so well blended and the rhymes flow sleek and subtle

Anonymous said...

The Cascade was an apt choice and the dance between the two voices was a delight.I love the line 'bung nor flush' Congratulations on a well conceived and penned poem.

Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene) said...

you played us with your words pressing precisely upon the fret to attain a perfect pitch. You two collaborating in this musical piece manifests the harmony that is in the truth of words. Gracias for sharing such a wonderful piece

Dr. Vijita Pillai said...

Beautiful, absolutely brilliant style..a nice merger..

Kerry O'Connor said...

Once again, I am so grateful for all these kind words. The cascade form is a lot of fun - I will definitely try my hand at it again.

annell4 said...

What a beautiful write!! So glad I came to FB today, I don't come often, what a treat!

Fireblossom said...

Thanks, everyone.

Margaret said...

What we see, what we don't - so true that at the core of most women lies a complexity that is often hidden - like it is expected that women tuck away their voice and intent... This poem is rich in images and I love "with the season slip through" but that is just one line of many...

Herotomost said...

Damnation....that's what happens when two wonderful talents come together. It's more than magic,...

Susie Clevenger said...

Oh woman speak..Love it from the opening. This is seamless, beautiful writing.

Rommy said...

I'm a sucker for well written, witchy sounding rhyme, so I really dig this. The voice created for the speaker is marvelous.