Just when I thought I had nothing to say about color, this...
GLOW OF GOD
In the bay, neon blue trails
sway with the stir of tides,
signaling some secret
shared by those who know
its conscious cosmic flow.
In the fields, fireflies spark and fade,
flushing from the grass,
unaware that rushing children seek
to catch the magic as it passes
through their hands.
They call it bioluminescence,
this blooming internal glow,
light without heat, a pulse of God
beating in small creatures
here below.
And in a story on the news today,
a famous General holds his breath
while science strives to catch
this marvel, magic cosmic glow
and make of it a thing to use for death.
We can twist everything, can't we. Flowers become drugs, the air becomes toxic, the most innocent become the source of the most deadly.
ReplyDeleteI feel like picketing.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteand isn't it ironic?
I always marvel how you say so much so beautifully in so few words.
That's art.
~rick
Brilliant and very sad Karen, like the conscious cosmic flow alot
ReplyDeleteWe may try to find a way to make bioluminescence, into a deadly weapon but at least for now God is staying a step or two ahead of us. We spend billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of man hours trying make what God created with four single syllable words.
ReplyDeleteA rich word-painting of color.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering: Is the general holding his breath hoping that it works, or hoping that it won't?
ReplyDeleteI especially liked these lines:
"signaling some secret
shared by those who know
its conscious cosmic flow"
They hint at the Prime Mover, the One behind the scenes directing our cosmic play.
Nice work, Karen!
(Way to grab that inspiration!)
Now I need to go and find out about that news item- It hasn't reached here yet...
ReplyDeleteI am adding to your Glow of God which took me guite nicely into reverie. I shall post your site as my own at the poetry bus and hope that the double reference is not too much. I don't want to break my queue.
ReplyDeleteForgive me if this is too much. I wrote off your vision, after all...
Rhapsody
The wild blue essence
tangles with your hair today
as if you rode it,
as you have ridden
so many deep fantasies
in your tenure here.
Oh my Queen, my liege,
allow me to speak of you
at the blue conclave
beneath the blue moon,
the next that solemnly comes,
gathering great souls
who'll hear and praise you
and then dance the minuet
for you and for me.
Lovely, unsurprising and therefore tragic, Karen, and like Jinksy I'm intrigued as the story does not appear to have got to us yet, although the meaning is quite clear from your words.
ReplyDeleteI am also much taken with the walking man's comment.
I found the two central stanzas particularly spectacular.
I agree with Shakespeare – we can twist anything to our own evil purposes. Sigh. But beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteEveryone: In fairness, I must confess that the news article (which sounded like a press release for the military) put a positive spin on creating or capturing bioluminescence for military applications. It mentioned that because it produces no heat, bioluminescence can't be detected by heat-seeking missiles and that it can be used to save lives. (Somehow...not sure I got that part.) When I researched a little today, I learned that bioluminescence has been used in Naval warfare for some time now and that mostly it has proven a hazard to submarines and Navy Seals who happen upon it because it can be seen clinging to and leaving a trail behind them.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, what spurred this poem for me was the irony of something so magical, marvelous and natural being used for warfare. No matter which side you're on - somebody ends up dead.
Oh, and another thing - I thought it was interesting that this story appeared on 9/11.
ReplyDeleteLovely softly-spoken, gentle words, each one carefully chosen. Bioluminescence is a great word, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing where a prompt will take us, and how they sit in a corner somewhere, quietly working away on the material of the moment, until something clicks. Something as seemingly unrelated as a news article on bioluminescence. A magical piece.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. I always look forward to hearing from you. The voice, is indeed, a little closer to home than usual. My daughter - an only child - left for university last week, just as I was clearing out the shed, muttering about mouse droppings- and baby mice - everywhere, and deciding the dollhouse, which my future grandchildren will definitely want/need, had to come into the house. As I was walking back and forth through the garden I noticed all the butterflies. The egrets were a bonus. One of those once in a lifetime visions. And it all got thrown in together.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet and soft blend of words, conjuring images of light and goodness. We know plants and animals use this inner light to guide them. Then, we find it will also be used for warfare, which somehow does not surprise me!! But...it is a beautiful poem, Karen - as always, just beautiful.
light without heat, a pulse of God
ReplyDeletebeating in small creatures
here below.
I find hope in this, that nature will overcome...
Beautiful poem, Karen.
Oh, Karen, I just love this! You've outdone yourself on this poem. (I call my Morning Glories "Godlights" because they seem to glow mysteriously from within). Thank you for riding the Poetry Bus with me. I'm amazed at how many fabulous poets there are online. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThe poem was good all the way through to the last stanza. Then it became great.
ReplyDeletei caught that story too. it is supposed to save lives - but isn't that what having missles pointed all over the place is supposed to do also?
ReplyDeleteanyway - i love how you present it here - how it is seen and chased first with a child's innocence, then with a military agenda. how like us to always look for ways to exploit the marvel of creation.
the way you pair the wonder and beauty with the reckless quest to manipulate it is searing - and sadly spot-on, i think.
Karen, I haven't traveled the blogs lately because I've been consumed by the making of reports accounting for my mother's estate (oh, unholy rite of numbers!). Today I paid my first visit in the ether to your blog. What a joy! I caught up with your work and savored your art. Someday, when you have the time, I foresee you putting together your manuscript and, in spite of trepidation, submitting it for publication. And then...someone snatching it up in glee and running with it to the presses. You're that good.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare - I'm with you! You are so right. Let's go!
ReplyDeleteRick - Ain't life ironic? Unfortunately. Thanks, my friend. Miss you!
Niamh - Thanks. I like the cosmic consious flow, too, only when it is left to be...
TWM - Amen!!!
Jason - Thanks.
Eric - Eagerly, eagerly. In reality, though, the article talked about how this would save our soldiers. I would expect him to want it. I just see martial applications for God's creatures as sad. So sad.
jinksy - If you Google "bioluminescence" along with "AP article", I believe you'll find it.
ReplyDeleteChristopher - Thank you for leaving your bus ticket here! I hope others are reading and understand that you have a queue at your blog. I'm always happy when one poem sparks another!
JoAnne - The unsurprising part is certainly most tragic! Thanks.
Bug - You Know Who (the OTHER Big Guy) said, "The Devil can cite scripture for his own purpose." Reminds me of that.
Peter - I do love that word (and that glow).
ReplyDeleteMairi - I've often wondered if you choose a line, a phrase, or just part of a title for your jumping off point. Thanks. As I said before, it's nice to see you posting again.
Kay - Why can't we be guided by a similar inner light - one from the creator? I wish I knew. Thanks.
Vesper - You know, somehow, I think nature will overcome, but I fear that we will annihilate ourselves first.
It's nice to see you again, Vesper.
Marion - Thanks. I've missed you at your blog, and I'm glad to see you again. Thanks for the prompt and for driving the bus.
Dave - Beaming ear to ear!
joaquin - Thank you for your kind words. You're always too generous with me!
Chris - My heart is with you as you go through the aftermath of your mother's passing. I appreciate your sweet words. xoxo
it's not the first time man puts his evil hand on one of nature1s miracle :(
ReplyDeletei love fireflies and i saw the first one in PA in 1991 - i was 22...
from that time on i keep seeing them here at home as well. isn't this peculiar, hm?
:)
Just wonderful, Karen.
ReplyDeleteWell done to Christopher too!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the article, but your poem stands alone wonderfully, Karen. It is so powerful and sad. It moves me in many ways.
ReplyDeleteI have always been fascinated by bioluminescence, because in my state, we have foxfire in our marshes, swamps and woods. It really is an unearthly thing. You capture that beauty so well. And the black irony of the horrible things humans do with the beauty.
SzelsoFa - Your comment reminds me that once our eyes (or minds) are opened to something, we begin to see it everywhere. You were in PA? For school?
ReplyDeleteTFE - Thanks. Christopher keeps his blog poems in a queue, but he drops little blossoms here every once in a while. I'm glad he joined us.
Julie - I love foxfire! It is so magical! How sad that the human mind would see a warring application for something so wonderful!
Excellent, I like the way you make connections in this poem
ReplyDeleteJuliet - Thanks!
ReplyDeletei worked in a summer camp for two months and after that i had free time.
ReplyDelete