when you leave yourself behind,
where do you go?–
clouds a shimmering path
blue like a robin’s egg–
this liquid sky, darkening into shadow–
when you leave yourself behind
does the mirror look back
like a lake regarding the sky?
where do you go?
do fish see themselves in the stars?
do birds ride feathered waves?–
clouds a shimmering path
The prompt for NaPoWriMo today was to write a poem that uses repetition. That prompt was made for me. I had been working on and off all week for a poem for Sherry’s prompt at earthweal, to write from that place of holding onto wildness of soul. I thought that today, Earth Day, would be the time to post it.
So I took my ideas and made a cascade, but there were ideas left over, so I did a pantoum too. You can never have too much repetition in my poetry world.
when you leave yourself behind
(clouds a shimmering path)
where do you go?–
windsong the surface
clouds a shimmering path,
the lake regarding the sky–
windsong the surface
displaced by light
the lake regarding the sky–
as it hues the reflection
displaced by light,
does the mirror look back?
as the earth hues reflection,
do fish see themselves in the stars?
does the mirror look back
when birds ride feathered waves?
do fish see themselves in the stars
on the remnants of moontides?
when birds ride feathered waves,
do they flow into calligraphy?
on the remnants of moontides,
where do you go?
will you flow like calligraphy,
leave yourself behind?
As I’ve noted before, I attended the first Earth Day celebration in 1970 in Washington DC. Not too much has changed since then. We can do better.
K. 
You use repetition beautifully, Kerfe. I am rather partial to it myself!
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Thanks Ingrid. It’s a lovely way to use words.
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Both lovely! And I’m pleased you brought in calligraphy. It’s an art form that has fascinated me since I learned to use a pen. Repetition is part of us, as much as the questions and the going back to check on things we might have missed.
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It is. Brush painting is somewhat like calligraphy. It’s beautiful when done with skill.
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It’s what I remember about the film Arrival. I got lost in the time slip of the plot, but the writing was intriguing.
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Great questions and beautiful poetry, Kerfe! 💕🙂
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Thanks Harmony. I’m much better at questions than answers.
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Ps WordPress is not letting me post comments on a number of sites, including yours, but I enjoyed your wordplay!
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WordPress is doing that to a lot of us. It’s so frustrating. Thanks for letting me know. Hugs 💖
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Frustrating indeed.
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Beautiful use of repetition, and a thoughtful series of Earth Day questions.
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Thanks Xan.
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Both are beautiful–the endless questions and the repetition.
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Thanks Merril.
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So lovely, Kerfe! And the repetition worked beautifully. I also love the tie and dye fabric.
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Thanks Punam. Repeating lines make circles, my favorite shape.
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Convincing, like a song with refrain. And music too. Ride the cloud. Ride the blue. Ride the wonder.
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Thanks Susan. Music keeps us going.
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Both so beautiful, such lovely questions and imagery.
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Thanks Sherry.
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The cascade is wonderful and the paintings catch at my imagination!!
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Thanks Muri.
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