A day of joy – trireme sonnet for dVerse

To write a trireme sonnet is the task provided by Samuel Peralta (semaphore) on dVerse. It is getting late here, but I thought I should at least try. I used the picture below which I took when me and my wife paddled in a Norwegian fjord a couple of years ago.

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a day of joy we let our kayaks free
we just communicate in whispered words
the memory, a treasure we will keep

on silken water glide in smell of sea
symphonic nature melody from birds
we can forever have as part of sleep

a day of joy that builds a strong esprit
internal power to strengthen our cards
the memory will help us, make us leap

the mountains high above the fjord we see
we’ll bury them inside, they’ll be our guards
against a winter cold depression deep

a day of joy is the important key
so I can now continue to be me

February 28, 2013

47 responses to “A day of joy – trireme sonnet for dVerse

  1. the norwegian fjords…have heard much about their beauty and hope i make it there one day…you just stirred that longing even more with your poem

  2. nice…like your end couplet….getting away like that def is good for the soul….used to kayak quite a bit when i lived up north…so serene early in the morning….saw some amazing nature a well…

  3. I love spending time on the water… nature’s symphonic sounds, the smell of sea… so peaceful.

  4. This is beautiful. I think we all need a day of joy sometimes to make us feel good, to enable us to continue to be happily just who we are. A day of kayaking would be that kind of day! (I have done it a time or two.)

  5. One day of joy and fun (especially in nature) can bring a lifetime of warm memories for those cold, depressive days of winter. Very nice…love the serene feel.

  6. That you can “continue to be [me] yourself” stuck me as an odd verse. For what would you be otherwise? Or was the kayak time so rejuvenating that it allowed rest, strength to continue a harder life?

    I am envious of that trip (loved the pic). I kayak too, but you made me envy your trip both in the words and the photo.

    • My thought with that line was more on continue to be me (a true self) and not adopt too much to a “normal” life. So you have interpreted it correctly.

      I kayak at home in Stockholm too, where we have a beautiful archipelago. Right now it’s still covered in ice, so skates are more suitable. But going back to the fjords are on my list of summer treats to do.

      • Ah, thank you for the confirmation. I use to live in ocean areas with islands, but now am stuck kayaking on rivers and lakes (which have their own beauty of course). And like you, the glide, release and intimacy with the water is one of the most rejuvenating experience on my list. Here is a short poem I wrote about my quiet time with a seagull while kayaking.

        May the ice melt soon so you can get back on the water!

  7. As I said, I enjoy ekphrastic poetry, and even more so when I can view the inspiration (your photograph) right next to the poem. And isn’t it even more joyous to have captured your memories of that day in a poem as well? Well done.

    • It is indeed, I have found that the values of my photographs have increased tremendously when I can add poetry to it. As a matter of fact I find writing poetry without a picture extremely challenging.

  8. It must feel freeing to kayak on such a beautiful fiord and commune with nature…your poem makes great use of the sonnet form …would look nice framed beside your photo on a wall 😉

  9. Bjorn, this is an amazing poem! That opening verse took my breath away and all the way though the poem I went wow, wow, wow. And that couplet at the end was superb. What a closing!

  10. There’s a serenity in your poem which perfectly complements the photo and the memories that it has helped you to recapture and express so elequently. I’ve had the privilege of visiting some of the Norwegian fjords – and they are truly spectacular. We have something similar on the Scottish west coast – just not quite on the same scale.

  11. We learnt about Norwegian fjords in school in Form Four (16 years of age). And I remember imagining these beautiful breathtaking sceneries. Such solace, no wonder it is easier to be oneself in such surroundings.

    Your poetry, inspired by art of nature, sings!

    Note: I love the haibun form and will try to do haiku / sonnet combinations more often.

  12. a day of joy is the important key
    so I can now continue to be me

    I can well imagine the satisfaction and the feelings of having done something right. Looking at the pic, your poetry brings out the reality of
    nature’s beauty. Nicely Bjorn!

    Hank

  13. Right! A nice poem urging us to make happenings unifying and worth memoring. Togetherness is primarily constituted by the work upon The Son but I agree experiences of the love of God is important.

  14. …this has a very important message to tell… to just simply live a day with the real you and happiness will come for sure… your sonnet is really beautiful & soft…not weighing too much…but just to simply go on… read & be mesmerized… i liked it a lot…great take… smiles…

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