My page, yet blank, the thoughts
are sea in doldrums, waiting, waiting for
a morning breeze; my hands are soft;
I’m less a sailor than observer. At just
that moment, come speck in sky,
illuminated, lending sheen from dawn,
a common tern approaches and it
calls: Kee-arh, kee-arh and splashes
for the silver; for the backs of sprats.
O sea, o sea my morning mirror,
cracked; it’s bulls-eyed, pierced; and quill
just brined is ink; and high above the tern
is white on blue again; calligraphy;
its bill is blood and soot its head;
The tern is scanning calming surface;
hungers for more silver and its flesh,
until the call of breeze when hounds
of sky, grey the gulls: the pack infests
and darkens dawn; but then my page is
blood, filled with silver, shrieks and sky.
Zone by Philip Guston
Kim inspires us with a poem by Ted Hughes, “The thought Fox”, and wants us to write something in similar style at toads. Quite a challenge. I will also link to Poetry Pantry tomorrow morning.
March 25, 2017
I think we need both ‘sailors’ and ‘observers.’ Observers that fill the pages inspire the sailors to action. A thoughtful poem, Bjorn!
Oh, wow. I love this — really, really love it. Exquisite. Especially the rhythm. Absolutely gorgeous writing, Bjorn.
“; but then my page is
blood, filled with silver, shrieks and sky.”
The poem comes to life for the reader as well
Much love…
The intensity! I really like that the animal is rather elusive, until it bleeds it shrieks into my face.
Gorgeous, especially the closing lines. Wowzers, kiddo! a great write!
I love the way the tern becomes your ink in this poem, Bjorn, and that you start, as you do, with a blank page. I love the lines:
‘…the thoughts
are sea in doldrums, waiting, waiting for
a morning breeze’;
the way the speck becomes a tern; and those final lines are just wonderful:
‘…but then my page is
blood, filled with silver, shrieks and sky’.
Like the dance between prey and predator, the cycle of life and the observer inspired by it all.
‘…….the thoughts / are sea in doldrums,’ this has to be for that spec to appear and fill the page….
This is a really great poem Bjorn. Beautifully graphic for the reader.
So well described, and horrific – the gulls as hounds particularly disturbing. Wonderfully visual.
the pack infests and darkens dawn;
but then my page is blood, filled with
silver, shrieks and sky.
Love the closing. It puts a finality to the lines!
Hank
Very thought provoking. It is a world away, and that quality is what I like.
I like the way this poem builds in momentum, from the blank page where, “thoughts are sea in doldrums, waiting” to the bloody page, “filled with silver, shrieks and sky.” Beautifully crafted.
until the call of breeze when hounds
of sky, grey the gulls: the pack infests
and darkens dawn; but then my page is
blood, filled with silver, shrieks and sky.
Sigh.. this is soo powerful!!
I really admire the complexity of this poem. A lot of great images and subtle meanings. Nicely done.
There is something elegant about this tern, despite its bloody and demanding nature.
A beautiful collection of words!
The cycle of life in your morning mirror. Great write!
First, I loved how you made use of semi-colons so affectively in this verse. And that ending is crazily good. Also, the rhythm is exciting. There’s so much to like and enjoy in it. 🙂
-HA
Ah my goodness! This is the poem I wish I had written.. We both chose birds but your whole approach is far more subtle.. and your power words are excellent in creating impact at the end.
I think your poem was excellent… but marveled how close we were in thought..
Happy Sunday
much love…
Another fine write, Bjorn.
An imagery feast, and one I quite enjoy.
A dramatic scene! Well done 🙂
An intense and visually stunning piece that you have imbued with an eloquent – almost epic – energy … appropriate to the powerful and layered metaphor it holds.
That was a wild ride!
When a page fills with blood and silver, you know it’s worth paying attention to!
Inspiring work. Very well done..requires a few reads to totally enjoy…thank you…bkm
no words. ❤ ❤ ❤
Oh, totally gorgeous!
A great poem. Enjoyed reading it.
You’re an amazing poet Brudberg! 🙂 Keep on shining like a diamond!
I feel lucky that some of us have the ‘ink’ and ‘blood’ to keep us going…Poems are the lifeblood of narratives…and in your case, it always work beautifully!! Wow!
Oh. My. Goodness. “but then my page is blood, filled with silver, shrieks and sky.” This is a beauty, Bjorn, elegance and heft.
Stunning in its violence, Bjorn!