The path connects the path divides,
the sky is rising like a tree–
the ending moves, retreats, and hides
what is, is not, has yet to be.
The sky is rising like a tree,
the land grows, following behind
what is, is not, has yet to be–
an offering returned in kind.
The land grows, following behind
the dance of water, spirits, earth–
an offering returned in kind–
a trance, a dream, remembered birth.
A dance of water, spirits, earth–
the ending moves, retreats and hides
a trance, a dream, remembered birth–
the path connects the path divides.
A pantoum for Sue Vincent’s photo prompt, above. I love the rhythm of circular dance that this form always evokes for me.
I photographed the art on many many backgrounds; it looked different on each one. But I kept going back to these two: vivid blue and wood floor. Each brings out a different aspect of the painting/collage.
This is a reblog from February 2018. Sue’s prompts have inspired a lot of work that holds up for me when I look back at it. Her photos are always magical.
Linking to earthweal Open Link Weekend.
I adore your last verse….well done!
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Thanks. I have neglected pantoums of late, but this reminds me I need to revisit the form.
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I adore your last verse…. verywell done!
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Each line is a poem in itself, Kerfe. And I love the effect against the wooden floor… oddly, that works better than the more logical blue for me.
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Thanks Sue. I was looking through old posts yesterday, and you have inspired so much good work! It was hard to choose what to reblog, but this one felt like something I needed to remember. I miss that floor…perhaps in my next residence I’ll have one like that again.
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One of my sons restores these lovely old floors… they are beautiful.
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Yes. This fake wood they put in modern buildings is not the same.
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No, it isn’t. I love thedepth of the gleam in real wood…
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Well done Kerfe, you nailed it in both word and image. A lot of space for soul in these betweens. – Brendan
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Thanks Brendan. You always give me a lot to think about.
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It’s rare that your pantoums rhyme. I think the rhyme gives a feeling of solidity, familiarity to the poem. It anchors the words, makes them soothing even though it ends with the (inevitable) dividing path.
The blue frame seems less of a frame to me, more a depth to sink into, whereas the wood is more protective and secretive. I like them both, though I’m only looking at the effect of the frame on the whole, not on the central image.
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Thanks Jane. I like the challenge of rhyme and should do more of it. Its always interesting to me how much the background can change the feeling of a work of art.
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The pantoum is my favourite form and you have executed it wityh precision. I love the message, the rhyming – the whole thing. Wonderful!
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Thanks Sherry. This is reminding me I haven’t written any in awhile. I need to get back to them.
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Your pantoums are mesmerising! And I love your work on both backgrounds, they bring out different aspects 🙂
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Thanks Kate. I almost always photo things on at least both black and white, because it really changes how things look.
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thanks for the clue 🙂
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Beautiful, Kerfe: I love your combinations of poetry and art, and this pantoum is delightfully crafted!
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Thanks Ingrid.
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Mesmerizing poem, Kerfe — I love it.
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Thanks Betty.
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