We are the blind doves
as bright as bells in our tree made of moonlight.
In the morning,
children find silver apples which redden with the rise of the sun.
The old priest comes out with his broom,
and the church steps stay still like ponies for the currycomb.
A young woman comes in the evening.
She holds an apple in her hand and cries because she has no child.
There is a pie cooling in a window.
We can feel stars appearing and hear the howl of the lonely dogs.
We are the blind doves in our tree made of moonlight,
silent as spirits, and bright as brides.
________
for Sunday Muse #206. Birds are the theme.
I was keen to use the painting "Moon Over Harvest Village" by Amy Scholten, but it is copyright protected. You can see it HERE.
This wafted straight into my heart. Such delight at your always unexpected imagery, especially the church steps staying still like ponies for the currycomb. Wow.
ReplyDeleteShay, this is beautifully rendered. I have to say that reading your poetry makes me feel like your inner world is incredibly rich... You somehow write in a way that encourages interpretation and also leaves the reader feeling that there's a profound underlying message that was intended by the poet.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
David [ben Alexander]
http://skepticskaddish.com/
Each stanza here is a complete poem, and each is indeed 'bright as bells" They weave in and out of your theme like a musical phrase in a song that pulls it together. That third couplet is just genius--and the silver apples are one of those ambiguous gifts that seem to shimmer into a myriad of suggestions and meanings. There is a strong sense of something holy everywhere, something magical and rich that surrounds us even if sometimes it brings sadness, whether we are in the church or in the trees. I can't imagine how this could be any better than it is--just beautiful writing, Shay.
ReplyDeleteYour imagery is always so vivid and unique. There seems to be an undercurrent to the blind doves. Seeing/not seeing what is before us. Fragments of something otherworldly.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all you had me at blind doves! Every line and stanza from there is a bonus blessing! Your use of imagery is always so amazing that I feel like you are from a higher place of consciousness!! You have a way of leading us in and out of lines like both a gentleman and a true priestest! Love this poem Shay!
ReplyDeleteEach breathtaking stanza reads as its own poem ... amazing write, Shay!
ReplyDeleteAs always, your images are quite wonderful and unique. Each stanza a vivid vignette.
ReplyDelete"We are the blind doves / as bright as bells in our tree made of moonlight." - beautiful, as is the rest of the poem. As HW has said all better than I could.
ReplyDeleteI so love this poem. Your visuals are incredible. As always your story telling in poetry is perfection. Love how you ended this poem!
ReplyDeleteThere should be another concept than "poetry" for this.
ReplyDeleteIt touched my soul... straight in!
Every line in this can stand alone. You had me right from those first two lines.
ReplyDeleteUtterly gorgeous and piercing. Each image is in super sharp focus and I am transfixed. The church steps as still as ponies waiting or the currycomb, the young woman who cries with the apple in her hand, the stars appearing, I can almost hear them popping. So beautiful and mysterious <3
ReplyDeleteI don't comment on others because what can I offer that isn't better said by others?
ReplyDeletethis one gave me goosebumps.