i picked the last grapes of the season today, those not devoured by the sun that once nurtured them & i thought of you...
sitting & staring at all your yesterdays, arranged like sun faded polaroids on the dashboard of your dreams, color bleeding, around black oval fingerprints, surrounded in blue & green, where you held on too tight, trying to make it fit your reality...
the Cortez in me wants to build a raging inferno & hold your still shaking hand, as you scatter them among the hungry flames...burning ships laden with memory, so there is no way back...freedom rising in the ash, on smoky tendrils...but you've left the wood damp with your tears...
so i wait & squish grapes between my tongue & cheek, tossing the seeds in your general direction, until one takes root...
a new day will come, with a sun not so harsh.
written for One Shot Wednesday. Write a poem today and come join us.
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121 comments:
Loved the set of images you painted here, then the 'squish' which popped the bubble of memory as well as the grape.
This one got to me, perhaps too deeply. I need to get out of my office to walk this one off. Blessings.
This communicates at so many levels. Thanks for this.
All the best, Boonsong
lovely & intense-- My poem will be up tomorrow...
http://mairmusic.wordpress.com/
Lovely - wet wood & fingerprinted polaroids...
Hope that day is today....Cortez frightens me a bit....The sun will dry those tears on the wood.... Great imagery....I hear the hope still. heartspell
Wonderful : like Sepia Saturday meets the Days of Wine and Roses.
The juice of the grapes stirs around the juice of memories, good and bad.
A new day will come . . .
Hope is a great thing.
Joy and peace always,
Susan
Spit in your general direction?
That sounds like Monty Python!
Was this bit of brilliance conceived in the privy?
It matters not, it was great son.
Rock On.......G
this one hit close to home...especially the line "...sitting and staring at all your yesterdays..." I yearn for that new day when the sun is not so harsh.
Magnificent. One of my favs by far.
sitting and staring at all your yesterdays - holding too tight...arranged like sun faded polaroids...dashboard of your dreams..trying to make it fit..
sad story - and sometimes it would be good to burn it all and start again...but not that easy when the past has such power...
excellent poem brian - think i've read it about 10 times...
Paragraph two, in particular, spoke to me, just to me???
Excellent reflection - well done Brian!
-J.
oh yes, most of us have been there or will go there...but the sun does come back out and new seeds do take root....and no one can really help you except that person within...blessings...bkm
There's a tiredness to the gardens (or vinyards) that happens at the summer, even the smell is warm with decay. Nature's way of preparing us for what is to come, a rest in fall and winter. Like this one!
wow.
Wow Brian, I am so glad the sun always comes out again, great visionary here. smiles, hubbies Mom is out of the hospital today. thank you for thinking of her. take care.
The black/green bruises, hoping your advice takes root, reassuring that a new day will come...Is this for one of the kids you work with?
In any case, very intriguing...I had to read it three times!
You are so darn TALENTED. Sometimes I fight to keep myself from feelings of inferiority by some of the wonderful creations I find from my blogging friends. I must remember to keep my own authentic voice, since it doesn't seem to work for me to write like you do...
That last line is breathtaking, Brian. The scenes and the images conjured by your writing are very beautiful, and so wonderfully vivid.
Yes....... it was the last line!
Maggie
Nuts in May
We all have to let go of the past and plant the seeds for the future. Wonderful imagery, Brian!
I don't get what this is about I'm afraid.
Brian you really bring your work to life, I imagined being in the South of France at a wine orchard, superb mate..
Just goes to show that even grapes can be romantic.
Soooo much imagery in your words today!
Like the ongoing cycle of life.
Grapes can be bittersweet but sure can be delicious. Very nice write!
'Burning ships laden with memory.' Love that line. I could write a story around that line alone.
g-man..its funny you say that because the original line was spit them in your general direction but it seemed a bit harsh...kinda like the sun...
You have such a way with words! "on the dashboard of your dreams!"
Great descriptions!
@heartspell...the cortez reference is intensional...he is attributed with saying burn the ships so the soldiers had no way back, but from what i understand he did not burn them only destry them...but we have 'changed' history to fit the quote...like we do with our own memories....at times...it was a subtle layer...
@heartspell...the cortez reference is intensional...he is attributed with saying burn the ships so the soldiers had no way back, but from what i understand he did not burn them only destry them...but we have 'changed' history to fit the quote...like we do with our own memories....at times...it was a subtle layer...
Just beautiful Brian. It reminds me of how my mother spent her last days and some of my feelings at the time.
raging inferno...
there's something about the word "raging" that is really frightening.
Very powerful images, like "all your yesterdays, arranged like sun faded polaroids." And then squish. Terrific.
this ...
"tossing the seeds in your general direction, until one takes root..."
is vivid for me.
you leave your reader hopeful in the end. i like hopeful endings.
"arranged like sun faded polaroids on the dashboard of your dreams, color bleeding, around black oval fingerprints, surrounded in blue & green..."
the color outline of fingerprints on a photo—helluva a detail. Great piece... Sometimes you have to burn your ships to truly survive—apt reference.
Interesting interweaving of perspectives with sensual imagery and a grain of anger. I have posted two poems this week. On not saying hello is new but Kingpin Baby was posted up on a quiet Sunday so I thought I’d give it another outing. Both are adaption of different formal poetry forms – pantoum and sonnet.
Oh so can relate here Brian. Felt something. Blessings.
The line about tossing the seeds is excellent.
I think I'll just stick with a comment like, "I really liked this, Brian." :)
PG
that was a top drawer piece full of marvellous prose and imagery..had a great feel..excellent..cheers pete
My son is a squisher too. He prefers a nice blueberry to a grape though, much messier. :)
This piece has so many levels. The actual act of eating grapes and then the imagery of taking a young ripe soul and smashing it with words and deeds. Will a new thought take root? A new direction take hold?
Loved it Brian
Hugs
SueAnn
Ah... sometimes we just need more time before we're ready to let go. What a gift to have someone there waiting.
no doubt...but cool fruit makes the hot days more bearable.
Ahhhhh..i love this one Brian...sooo touched me,deep inside..i m trembling..beautiful!
"the Cortez in me wants to build a raging inferno & hold your still shaking hand....."
sigh, that is magic! the whole piece is emotive and beautiful.
Thank you.
xm
Magnificent poem........
So great Brian!
when the sun is harsh... make raisins?
loved this one. :)
There is so much here, I don't know what to write--and I can't stop reading it. Perhaps that is the best praise of all.
We are all Cortezes, aren't we, trying to make new worlds fit our perceptions of them, burning the memories, ignoring the sun...
No, I can't stop reading this.
"polaroids on the dashboard of your dreams'
Really enjoyed this short but evocative piece brian.
I might have to spend a bit of time with this one - so many gorgeous words...
For some reason this really makes me think of someone that is near and dear to me that is at the end of her life. I think of all the days I have spent holding her hand as of late, talking about yesterdays, today and the tomorrow that may not come. Great one Brian.
Wow, I'm pretty sure everyone can relate to this at some point in their life. That was beautiful.
This is fantastic, Brian. I hope one day you will put these in a book!
*smiles*...
This is an interesting poem, Brian. Laden with rich imagery. But can I confess that I do not truly understand it? It makes me think one thing, then I think another...
:)
Nice one Brian.
I like the placement of "burning ships laden with memory, so there is no way back".
This is fabuloous. Love the imagery but especially how waiting for the seed to take root. Well done!
Oh, I love this...even though it's a little wistful.
All your yesterdays squeezed into a solitary mind... this echoed with many potent images. :)
there are so many good lines in this... beauty.
You've got it going on, my friend. The dashboard, the grapes. It's beautiful.
And what happens to the one seed that takes root? (Ok, so I had to ask.) Nice one, Brian.
So much imagery in there. It really paints a vivid picture in the mind. I'm so glad it ends with hope!
..."tossing the seeds in your general direction, until one takes root..." Oh, there is still hope.
Love your metaphors. Well done not to go for cliche thoughts. Everything very fresh, your voice is very clear. Outstanding poem. You have a lovely gift. Thank you.
Such a nice, pleasant read with great imagery and deep thoughts, but still easy going...I enjoyed every word.
The imagery is fabulous - the writing divine! This is one of your best yet!
straight to the heart
This is a beautiful piece of writing.
Well done. As others have said you filled both the sense of sight and taste. You are keeping these in a book?!
"burning ships laden with memory, so there is no way back...freedom rising in the ash, on smoky tendrils...but you've left the wood damp with your tears..."
This really got to me - well thenwhole poem did but those lines stuck in my throat and in my minds eye
How can I be always so surprised that you wrote something even more beautiful then the previous post? Yes, you did, again :-) you really do paint with the words Brian, I could, again, see the fingers, the blues on them ... the grapes ... and I did love the image of Cortez! Happy Wednesday :-)
Your one shot is spectacular
I loved this and was also a little unsettled by Cortez, thanks for the explanation.
This one is memorable, both for the sentiment and the intensity. Well done, Brian. I love it!
Thanks for visiting today. There are actually two posts up for today on my blog. In the second post, I pass the "Sweet Blog" award to you.
Cheers!
Such a lovely post Brian!Have a great day :)
The extended image in the second paragraph is so terrific!
Your commenters are absolutely right, put them in a book and make a squillion
wow.. i love the cortez ref... just wonderful....
There's always a new day around the corner.
CJ xx
Love your beautiful writing Brian.
a wonderful poem
full of images
Hauntingly beautiful, Brian, very wistful and deep. I love how you have left us free to fill in the gaps, enabling us to pin our own interpretation to the story.
" arranged like sun faded polaroids on the dashboard of your dreams"...
Regardless of past and present, new days do come...can we stand strong and be patient? The tears will dry soon.
Well written.
Intense and vivid. Superb as always.
Wordless Wednesday: Meet Me At The Corner Of...
You have the world's best imagination, Brian, plus an ability to describe it in words.
This was scared me, b/c I felt like I am him.
That's unsettling.
Maybe that's what poetry is supposed to do, it can't be all good feelings,right?
Spitting seeds? Sounds like 'sour grapes' to me, Brian! (LOL!)
Just kidding, of course... I liked the segues between grapes, photographs and memories.
This is such an amazing poem. It reached right into my heart. How I understand that sitting and looking at my yesterdays and the freedom that comes from finally putting them in the fire.
This was really very special.
Love that third paragraph. Love it.
This is just too beautiful for words...
This is one of my favourites of yours, Brian. There's something I can't put my finger on but I like the writing style, and the venom pouring out.
Brilliant!
Beautiful! Going to read this over and over!!!
Wow! this poem is absolutely thick with images. I don't know where to begin with the positive comments, so I will simply say very well done Sir!
This was just lovely. I especially liked the second paragraph. So vivid.
These are great memories of yesterday, sweet fruits of today and intense hopes of tomorrow. You just painted it perfectly in my head Brian and that is what i love about your writing it's very vivid.
Wow - you sure have a way with words! Great analogy!
Brian
Ingenious use of word descriptives, pretty profound writing there. Wonderfully crafted and well thought out.
Joanny
your words always create such vivid pictures!
Hi! Brian...
What a very nice poem-especially, this words...
"so i wait & squish grapes between my tongue & cheek, tossing the seeds in your general direction, until one takes root..."
...that "caught" my attention.
Thanks, for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D
Hi! Brian...
What a very nice poem-especially, [these] words...
Oops! I'am so sorry, about the typo...
DeeDee ;-D
Totally. Awesome!!
That bit about the polaroids faded on the dash -- freaking BRILLIANT!
xo
Fantastic use of the english language. It's like you are speaking a different dialect than me.
Life is a grape....Hmmmmm.
wow, nice, I like "the Cortez in me..."
This was one heck one a moving poem...
From the first line itself, I started picturing the scene, and it was a sad one..
The pain and longing are so beautifully and tenderly brought here, Brian..this is amazing!!!
And the last line - phheewww! My nose itched and eyes welled on that one!!!
An excellent one shot!!
That approaching birthday is doing things to you!! :)
Amazing Brian, the burning up of the past to let go, the grapes still fresh of today, the seeds for tomorrow, very poignant. So much angst from certain memories, but ended with a smile for the future. Really enjoyed this. :)
I bow deep to you, Master Of Imagery. I am stunned into awe, especially with the second paragraph. Many thanks for sharing your words.
This has touched me deeply ...the line .."...sitting and staring at all your yesterdays" wow, I have chills...I am going back to read it again!! This is a masterpiece my friend!!!! x
No burning ships Cortez - go walk it off on the grapes
nice one Bri
great 1 Shot - a ringer
"a new day will come, with a sun not so harsh." YES! Such a beautiful contribution, and I'm so glad I stopped by. Thanks, as well, for your comments on my offering.
Oh Brian....
Wow, very moving and evocative - speaks to each and every soul in its own way - universal sentiments.
wow brian tht was a collector's item :) absolutely lovely images conveyed throug such simplicity..
have nt been much into blogging off late..call it disillusionment with the straitjacket thinking or maybe my own lack of understanding/creativity..But very few writers like you still exist who continue to inspire through your writings..
I just pray n hope that u preserve the fire of your creativity and may it burn infinitely...
Cheers!
This is really special, Brian. I was simply blown away by the third paragraph in particular, but the entire thing is top shelf stuff.
Okay, you made me cry with this one. Where is the tissue button?
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