THE BLISSFUL SEAT
daylight
holds its breath
darkness
keep its secrets
still as death
creation blinks
the chuff of angel’s wing
plucks strings of song
from streaming ink
on chords of wind
glory dances in
the dying turn their faces
from the wall
they hear the call
of harp and timbrel
flute and pen
I love the music that flows through in this! My favorite stanza, the chuff of angel's wing..., just so lyrical and beautiful. It reminded me of when my grandmother was dying, she said she heard choirs. I would turn my face from the wall too, if I heard music coming from heaven. Just lovely Karen.
ReplyDeleteOh Chords of wind
ReplyDeleteglory dances in
This conjurs other worlds for me Karen
Beautiful. Love this one
Linda
it feels like a moment, a glimpse captured of something that never starts and never ends.
ReplyDeletei wonder if we are to see the seat, and the seated, perhaps, later on, in another great poem of yours ;)
I hear that scratching of the ink filled quill and ever turn my head to it and the wonder of the music written here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with catvibe: it's the music that gets to you.
ReplyDeleteCat nailed it. I heard you Karen! :P
ReplyDelete"the chuff of angel’s wing
ReplyDeleteplucks strings of song
from streaming ink"
That's a lovely piece of musical and figurative language. I can hear the chimes of life in those lines. Bravo!
Beautifully lyrical. It was begging to be read aloud, and I obliged.
ReplyDeleteI hope the dying hear the music as beautiful and tender as you've described it here in your poem Karen. It's a soothing thought.
ReplyDeleteone writing, one song, to take my breath away
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with "glory dances in" and it made me feel rich to read this.
ReplyDeleteNearing The End
ReplyDeleteThere is a scratching
at my door and light beneath
slices my back wall
as I lie with eyes
tight shut against all the glare
of your call to me
with colors beyond
my understanding of light.
I am so ready.
Cat - It was the chuff of angel's wings that started the whole thing. That was where I began and the one thing that had to remain in the poem. Your comment about your grandmother makes me think of my mother-in-law and the things she told me she saw that I couldn't see. She was in a different world already. I'm grateful that she shared it with me. You, too, Cat, with your grandmother. What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteLinda - Isn't glory a glorious thing? I can't think of a more powerful word or image. Thank you, Linda! :-)
SzelsoFa - Your comment makes me think "World without end. Amen." I think we only get glimpses of glory, so I don't know if there will be more. Maybe if I'm lucky? ;-)
TWM - Your creative spirit heeds the call. How wonderful to live in both worlds! Thanks, my friend.
Dave - Thank you.
Aniket - Thanks to you, too!
Gerry - I appreciate your comment on the specific lines.
willow - I wonder if people think we're talking to ourselves? I love to recite poetry in the car. At least there, they think I'm on a cell phone! Thanks, Willow!
Margaret - Thank you. I hope so, too.
Kay - What a lovely comment! Thank you!
Chris - Smiling, smiling! Thank you!
Christopher - Well, I haven't inspired you for ages! I'm honored.
I hear the voice and feel the touch of something greater than our small lives.
ReplyDelete(BTW, that picture reminds me of the Winged Nike from my Ancient Art class.)
I hear the voice and feel the touch of something greater than our small lives.
ReplyDelete(BTW, that picture reminds me of the Winged Nike from my Ancient Art class.)
Evocative and lovely! I like the way you use such spare images in concert to produce something that feels lush, rich. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said Karen...every line looks perfect.Nice read.
ReplyDeleteLove the chuff of angels' wings.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous...
ReplyDelete"plucks strings of song
from streaming ink"
I'm glad to have stopped by and will, most definitely, again.
Three cheers for the paraclete timbrel and pen!
ReplyDeleteAnother little gem Karen
This is a stunner, Karen. On par with finding
ReplyDeletea hymn not yet sung, simply because of it's
beauty and knowledge.
jason - Yes, that's Winged Victory of Samathrace (aka Nike). It's my favorite thing in the Louvre. Isn't she "glorious"?
ReplyDeletePaul - Thank you!
swapnap - Thank you for your comment.
poemblaze - Welcome, and thanks!
Teressa - I'm glad you stopped by, too. It's nice to make new friends! :-)
rallentanda - Thanks!
Cynthia - What a very nice thing to say! Thans you.
jason- Typo: Samothrace
ReplyDeleteWow! I'll need to come back and read this again.
ReplyDeleteI like "darkness keeps its secrets..." (alluding to your own self, here?) Then again, I always go for the dark stuff.
ReplyDeleteKat
Stunning. The imagery is vivid, lyrical and rendered with a delicate touch. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis poem resonates with the lyrical qualities that move us from one life form to another. Beautiful, Karen!
ReplyDeleteAhh, very nice... I like the subtle rhymes going on here. And as always, your choice of imagery astounds. :)
ReplyDeleteKat - The darkness, yes, in contrast to what happens once creation blinks: Glory!
ReplyDeleteTumblewords - Thank you so much.
Jeanne Iris - Thank you!
Joseph - Thanks for your very nice comment.
Every time I read here, I hear (and feel) the call of harp and timbrel, flute and pen. Beautiful work, Karen! I agree with everyone about the music. The poem is lyrical and flows like the notes of a harp. I love glory dancing in on chords of wind and "the dying turn their faces/ from the wall." The first stanza is also fantastic. Having "daylight" on the first line is excellent. Then after the wonderful slow pause, I can literally hear the last breaths.
ReplyDeleteThe poem fills me with a beautiful hope that the last moments will not be filled with pain...only music. Thank you, sis! You always make my day so bright!
Interesting the "chuff of angel's wing" was the starting point--it is a very strong moment; but I like the quiet build up of the few previous lines--they make an excellent "prelude" to the music that follows.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. So very simple and eloquent.
ReplyDeleteThis is very beautiful, calming and spiritual. V Nice
ReplyDeleteLove the line; "the chuff of angel's wing".. it's perfect!.. beautiful and quieting poem :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, full of hope
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this - gentle and positive and delicate. Very nice.
ReplyDeletethe chuff of angel’s wing
ReplyDeleteplucks strings of song
That's terrific
Lyrical, beautiful and especially musical - form and content so well intertwined.
ReplyDeleteAnd the sense of the numinous is conjured in your words, for me. Great, spare writing, utterly precise yet opening worlds. Really like it!
wings, strings, song, streaming...
ReplyDeleteBeautifully lyrical
Lyrical, with classical lines that lift it up into the poetic rafters! Another great one from a great poet!
ReplyDeleteJulie - Thank you for reading so closely and for the many very flattering words of praise. I've always said you're the best poet-cheerleader I know! The truth is, I look forward to your comments because I know you do read deeply and you always take the time to be specific in your feedback. I appreciate it greatly, Julie.
ReplyDeleteJohn - I appreciate the comment on the prelude. I don't know enough about music to continue the metaphor here, but for me, even though the angel's wing was the beginning idea, "creation blinks" is the important part. Thanks for commenting on the build.
NanU - Thanks!
Niamh B - Thank you!
Watercats - Thank you, friends! :-)
Moira - Thanks.
Pure Fiction - Thank you.
Emerging Writer - Thanks! (Love your blog name, by the way...aren't we all?)
Titus - Thank you for your very kind comments, especially about the spirituality. I hope the picture is one of beauty and comfort.
Peter - Welcome, and thank you.
K - :-) :-) :-) Thank you, poet friend of my heart!
I love how death overlaps with creation here, Karen. How music dances with ink to write the next chapter of existence. Creation blinks is the gorgeous push that swings a most resonant bell. This poem has wings.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, these lines--
the dying turn their faces
from the wall
struck me deeply. I have read this many times in the last week. And while I often have more doubt than faith, I didn't feel like that while reading these beautiful words of hope and renewal. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Phew made it! The bus broke down outside macDonald's and I ran the last couple of blocks, not easy for an old fat man. Worth the effort though, some delicate porcelein in the lines like the beauty of 'the chuff of an angel's wing' Ooosha Bonga!
ReplyDeleteFabulous!
ReplyDelete"the chuff of angel’s wing
plucks strings of song
from streaming ink". These lines lingering!
this one had me holding my breath too. i love "creation blinks" - the depth of that pause - and the steady rise of music that follows. and i think the title gives the poem a brilliant twist - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSarah - Your words touch me deeply, especially with your personal situation right now. I hope, too, Sarah, and I can't help but believe. I wish you that comfort.
ReplyDeleteTFE - You make me laugh every time!! I'm glad you made it. It's worth the wait just to try to figure out "Oosha Bonga!" :-D
Tamarind - Thank you much!
joaquin - I don't think anyone else remarked on the title. Titles are, for me, really hard, and while I didn't want this to be about Milton or even reminiscent of him, I like that line and think it fits my idea here. Thank you!
What a nice flow this poem has, rich and evocative. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete