
the window reflects only me, but
I know that beyond, in the dark, the
branches cast their shadow
against the sky—a patterned whisper, a voice
like wrinkled wind. Outside is
far away from the artificial glitter of a
wire-wrapped tree, sparkling a mere
imitation of stars, pretending to echo in a vibration
of what the night has to say—the messages passed amongst
the members of the nocturnal choir. The
listening of the landscape requires attention—the trees’
murmuring, air displaced by invisible wings, thin
threads woven in soundwebs—stillness shivering the leaves.
A golden shovel poem for the dVerse prompt from Peter for endings. I’ve used a line from M L Smoker’s poem “Mercy”–a source for a number of pages of writing in my journal.

“But the shadow voice is a mere vibration amongst the trees’ thin leaves.”
–M L Smoker, Mercy
Oh, this is so beautiful.
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Thanks Lucy. The earth is a wondrous place.
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you’ve done the line great justice! and love your art
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Thanks Kate.
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welcome Kerfe
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Mystical story of two worlds. Great holiday collage with the space window 🙂
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Thanks Jade. Two worlds indeed.
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Such a beautiful golden shovel, Kerfe, and I love the words you have used from M L Smoker’s ‘Mercy’. Your poem is full of sounds and reflections – also in your collage – and I especially love the phrases ‘a patterned whisper, a voice like wrinkled wind’ and ‘sparkling a mere imitation of stars’.
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Thanks Kim. Some poems get inside you, and that is one. I’m only sorry there is no link to it online.
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We were looking out of different windows seeing the same things. I like your mystical journey, and your trees are in the poem I’ve just written this morning!
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I’ll go visit! This vision did remind me of your landscape.
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This is amazing … perfect combination of words and line of the poem you chose. Happy Holidays.
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Thanks Helen. The same to you!
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I’ve just realised reading this how a Golden Shovel poem can be a guide or co-ordinates for our Muse to take us where s/he will. ‘a mere
imitation of stars, pretending to echo in a vibration
of what the night has to say’ – I love this idea of listening to night music, the music of the spheres!
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Thanks Ingrid. I agree with that assessment. Using others’ words as a guide takes me places I wouldn’t go on my own.
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I found that too!
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I love the phrase “a voice like wrinkled wind”. Beautiful writing!
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Thanks Beverly.
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Every image is magical in this, Kerfe. I especially love that wrinkled wind!
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Thanks Betty. The earth is magical!
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Excellent response to Peter’s wonderful prompt Kerfe. Hope you have a great holiday season, and look forward to reading more of your work in 2021.
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Thanks Rob. A happy new year to you and yours.
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I love the sounds here: nocturnal choir, a patterned whisper, a voice
like wrinkled wind.
Thank you for your art and words, and being part of our poetry community. Happy Holidays.
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Thanks Grace. Enjoy the break.
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“air displaced by invisible wings, thin
threads woven in soundwebs—stillness shivering the leaves.”
Excellent response to the prompt, with these lines really touching me.
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Thanks. Thus is a reflective time of year.
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Hi K, love the imagery. I’d like to know more of this golden shovel poem🙏🏾
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I can’t link it from my tablet, but go to the dVerse link in my post and Peter explains it. I’ll also try to remember to give you a better link when I’m on my computer later today.
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https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-poetry/golden-shovel-poetic-form
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Thank you so much ❤️
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Have fun!
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When you look out in the darkness you have to have the knowledge to really see that the blackness is branches of trees… and once you light the lamps, you only see the lamps.
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That true Bjorn, thanks.
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ok, this imagery is so piercingly beautiful, I truly wish I had written this, I am so jelly 😉 this is epscially wonderful:
a patterned whisper, a voice
like wrinkled wind.
K- this goes on the wall, next to reticulation. so well done!
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Thanks Lona, I feel honored.
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