Wednesday, October 17, 2007

alpha and omega----3WW /Totally Optional prompts




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Totally Optionally Prompts has the following poem as its prompt, a translated work from a Chinese one.

On Hearing a Lute-Player

Your seven strings are like the voice
Of a cold wind in the pines,
Singing old beloved songs

Which no one cares for any more.

I have incorporated both in the following. It is but a rough draft and may appear disjointed at first glance.

alpha and omega

connected wires field in the storm
howling winds almost rip at ears drums
day hides into startling night of doom

enhancing the unknown apprehension
lightning strikes with such suddenness
taking me by surprise. complacent gone

I listen to the old love songs being sung
by gusts of wind to the swaying pines.
envious of those, assailed by melancholy

I kick out at the table stubbing my toes.
howling like the wind, I hobble around
giving a loud voice to choicest of curses.

my eyes fall on a doll long forgotten
discarded now. turbulent weather is
perfect to revisit childhood memories.

ragged doll, a silent bystander to all
alpha and omega of my early years
offers comfort for a second, only so..

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the last one the best, though I'm having trouble putting my finger on why. Something about it just resonates.

Tumblewords: said...

This will be a good poem - lots of music and the past. Nice start!

Gill said...

I get a sense that the one in the poem has learned a sacred truth right after she stubs her toe.
Nice writing!
xo
Gillian

Anonymous said...

Turbulent weather is perfect for memories, how true! Why is that?

paisley said...

so many of us today were doing reflective pieces.. i wonder what it was about these three words that brought all of the memories to the surface......

excellent piece....

Jo said...

How did you manage to bring two into one? I agree there are some lovely thoughts expressed.

Norma said...

I love the idea of the alpha and omega of childhood--I've written before about when childhood ends. This has a wonderful feel. Happy to see you on Thursday TOP.

http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/10/4230-totally-optional-prompts-alumni-of.html

Pauline said...

would love to see this again when you've taken it to the next level - there are some wonderful images here. I especially like

"I listen to the old love songs being sung
by gusts of wind to the swaying pines"

Christine Gail said...

This is beautiful, I really enjoyed reading it. I especially loved

"I listen to the old love songs being sung by gusts of wind to the swaying pines"

Christy

Robin said...

I like it too. The first stanza is so powerful. I like the italized words. --Robin (WITS)

Rambler said...

" turbulent weather is
perfect to revisit childhood memories"

actually kind of haunted me as I read it.. nice piece.

Cyn Huddleston said...

Sometimes, I get this feeling when I look at a an object or a little bit of green things growing in a bit of dirt and I get this feeling I have never been able to adequately describe...connectedness, awe, deep sadness, pleasure...and I got it when I read this poem. Great job GT

poefusion said...

How wonderful? You brought together one of the strongest images in storm and the innocence of a child's memories. Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice day.
Michelle

WithinWithout said...

Melancholy is one of the most beautiful moods, Gautami, and your depth is always so evident.

Melancholy requires depth, and the two are inseperable. I loved your reference to the doll.

I apologize for being away for so long.

:-)

TC said...

I've been there with the stubbing the toe! :)

Romeo Morningwood said...

We all encounter a lot of storms during our lifetime. Storms always simplify the reality of our mortality and they do spark growth.

What I loved about childhood was that weekly encounters with insurmountable obstacles were tempored by matching paradigm shifting discovery. We lose that as we establish limits on our options.

Silent ragged dolls eventually give way to strategic alliances with handpicked friendships that sometimes implode with betrayal and sometimes soar. But your ragged doll, like a loyal, mute, pet, never whispered your deepest secrets to others. You always appreciate the exclusivity that you shared.

Smiler said...

Me again! Interesting... I shall be back.

Anonymous said...

"I kick out at the table stubbing my toes.
howling like the wind, I hobble around
giving a loud voice to choicest of curses"

I enjoyed this stanza - it brought me more fully into the piece. I liked the entire poem though.

Mad Kane said...

I too especially liked the last stanza.
Mad Kane

Anonymous said...

I read your poem forwards (top to bottom) and backwards (bottom to top). I think the stanzas work well bottom to top. Consider reversing your order. You have some nice imagery.

Andy Sewina said...

hi, finally found you - 'turbulent weather is perfect to revisit childhood memories' - how thought provoking!
this line could itself could be a prompt...

Anonymous said...

I especially like love songs sung by the wind!

Bone said...

I know others have mentioned this line, but it's wonderful and worth mentioning again:

turbulent weather is
perfect to revisit childhood memories.

Anonymous said...

I too was going to mention that line. It's perfect

Anonymous said...

I love the rawness of it. It shows not all memories need to be visited again

Anonymous said...

I like these verses:

I listen to the old love songs being sung
by gusts of wind to the swaying pines.
envious of those, assailed by melanchol

David Edward said...

hello friend

Sherri B. said...

This is so lovely...I especially liked this:

I listen to the old love songs being sung
by gusts of wind to the swaying pines.
envious of those, assailed by melancholy


I also combined music and nature in my poem...

Anonymous said...

WOW...can I say that again? WOW...You captured the storm ragging outside and within so vividly! Isn't it always that when your world turns dark that EVERYTHING goes wrong at once and the little things just make it worse! Hope the sun comes out soon.