Thursday, October 25, 2007

lording over----Totally Optional Prompts



This week's prompt is from Kooser's book 'Delights and Shadows', published by Copper Canyon Press.

Horse

In its stall stands the 19th century,
its hide a hot shudder of satin,
head stony and wilful,
an eye brown as a river and watchful:
a sentry a long way ahead
of a hard, dirty army of hooves.

Though I began with great ideas, somehow I lost interest half way through it. Still I posted it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
lording over

on that pedestal, you stand proudly with a fixed stare,
sun reflects your ebony structure wit abandoned glare.

past glories are gone, it is time to consider; reflect upon
what would have happened, if battles had not been won.

combat was the way of life, winning the ultimate prize.
success was measured by seized monies and land size.

it has all come to and end. glorious days have forever
ended. forgotten, hooves held high up, you try to sever

ties with your bygone days. a bit of regret creeps into
the stony heart, chilling it to frost, anaesthetizing unto

nothing. fountains of dust break open the now frozen
thoughts. slowly emerging gleeful feelings are chosen

over sad ones. glimmering scabbard glows even more
sentry duty is taken into stride, heart is no longer sore.

22 comments:

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Loved it! You do like those prompts, don't you. Hope you are well Gautami.

Jo said...

I like the many readings that can come from this!

paisley said...

equally as apropos to humans as horses....

Pauline said...

I like the fact that the statue is wondering what might have been...

Anonymous said...

WoW You turned that war symbol on its head. I really like the way lyou used rhyme to count time.

Romeo Morningwood said...

I pictured a Janjaweed Militiaman rotting away the end of his days in a prison.
Hooves, scabbards, stony heart.

He is trying to justify his murderous past. A lifetime of wanton disregard for other human beings. Now he must ready himself to meet his maker but all that he sees are the frozen faces of his terrified, young, defenseless, innocent, victims.

Rambler said...

ties with your bygone days. a bit of regret creeps into
the stony heart, chilling it to frost, anaesthetizing unto

reminds me about my last couple of days.

Rambler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tumblewords: said...

Ah, the what if's return to the barn. Nice work!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

I love the prompt piece. And even though you lost interest halfway through yours, still you managed to come up with some great lines:

'it has all come to an end. glorious days have forever
ended. forgotten, hooves held high up, you try to sever

ties with your bygone days. a bit of regret creeps into
the stony heart, chilling it to frost, anaesthetizing unto

nothing.'

gP said...

as bleak as the world looks, a never ending story of endings. painful yet true./

Anonymous said...

This one was haunting, but besides some of the obvious imagery made me stretch my imagination to piece together the rest. I like a piece that will make me think.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Hi, Gautami! Loved both poems, but the first one I loved best! Thanks.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

I like them both! :)

Mad Kane said...

Very nice. And I agree -- very applicable to humans.
Mad Kane

Norma said...

I think this is wonderful. You seem to be speaking to a moulded or carved object gleaming in the light, but the message is so much deeper and you give it life. I could read this one many times.

Thanks for visiting my TOP http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2007/10/totally-optional-prompt-todays-prompt.html

Kai said...

very lovely

Andy Sewina said...

'A bit of regret creeps into the stony heart.' - more than an observation - here the narrator chooses his feelings and thoughts.

Smiler said...

Hi Gautami, I just thought I'd let you know that I've added you to my NaNoWriMo blogroll. Just five days now... are you excited?

Clay Lowe said...

Hi Gautami,

I enjoyed reading this poem as i do most of your work. I especially like the rhythm of this poem.

Peace,
Clay

Anonymous said...

I can see a horse statue.
I admire your taking on the challenge of rhyme.

polona said...

you do so well with these prompts.
love yout take on this one.