Friday, June 5, 2009

Shadow Blossom Memories

Beside the gate,

a girl, caught in sun

that halos round her head

like dandelion blooms,

squints up her eyes.


Beneath the dress

that tulips when she stoops,

small toes plow paths

of prints in

fertile earth.


Beyond our view,

in silent still salute,

the master’s hand drops

shadow blossom memories

at our feet.

26 comments:

  1. Fantastic! I was hoping to find a new poem of yours. I love the sun that halos round her head like dandelion blooms. And that second stanza is so beautiful. Wonderful picture. Now I can thoroughly enjoy the weekend:) I hope you have a good one.

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  2. nice blog with nice pomes.i like it.

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  3. Thanks, Julie! It took me a long time to find a picture to use with this. I have an old photograph somewhere, but I've searched and searched, and I can't find it.

    Originally, the title was to be "Preserve Your Memories". Remember that old Simon and Garfunkel song? Probably not. I forget you're a baby. :-) Thanks for pumping me up for the weekend! Enjoy yours!

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  4. Thank you, bangrudy, and welcome.

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  5. i mean poems...sorry, i am indonesian who learning english and blogging

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  6. This certainly taps into my heartbeat - love it in its entirety!

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  7. "small toes plow paths

    of prints in

    fertile earth."

    Enchanting Karen. Beautiful.

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  8. Oh, I love this Karen. Esp, the master drops shadow blossom memories at our feet. :-) The painting, another Van Gogh...ah... You and K have me lusting for life with your tributes! I love the blue flower pot. Every stroke in a Van Gogh seems rich with intent doesn't it?

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  9. It's shadow blossom memories that stays with me. Great pairing of image and verse. Good post.

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  10. bangrudy - perfectly understandable and admirable that you can do this

    Rose Marie - Many thanks!

    Aniket - I'll take "enchanting" -- gladly! :-D

    Amal - Thank you! Using Van Gogh helps!

    Cat - Thank you. I must read Lust for Life -- it's next on my list, actually. Thanks for the comments on the shadow blossom memories. You know how you just get something in your head? Even when it makes no sense, it starts to make sense.

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  11. Lovely poem-- I really like the sun becoming a dandelion, & all the sounds, esp. in the second stanza. The phrase "shadow blossom memories" is lovely both as an image & in terms of sound; sort of memory "murmers" encoded into it.

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  12. Like the beside, beneath, beyond starts for the stanzas; and the images

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  13. I loved "the dress that tulips when she stoops". This was delicate and lovely.

    Kat

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  14. Oh, this is lovely. Such a sweet entanglement of girl and blossoms!

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  15. Karen, There is such delight in our connection. "and revealing myself one poem at a time" is the unfolding of your grace - a gift I am so pleased to receive.

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  16. John - Thank you for your comments. One of my favorite parts of the writing is the opportunity to play with sound. Coming from a musician, I take this as a great compliment!

    Gordon - Thanks for that!

    Kat - Thank you. It's the first time I ever used "tulip" as a verb. ;-)

    Rachel - I'm grinning...

    Rose Marie - I'm pleased to make your acquaintance through your very fine paintings and verse as you reveal yourself there.

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  17. This is beautiful Karen.
    The title 'Shadow Blossom Memories' is just perfect. Enchanting lines! Your poem brings so much out of the painting, sending my eyes back to look at the painting again and again!

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  18. A portrait in every way. Thank you for capturing it.

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  19. I see you found your way to Vincent!! I'm glad. I've always loved this painting of Dr. Gachet's wife in the garden. You have paired the perfect words to cover this.

    Beyond our view,
    in silent still salute,
    the master’s hand drops
    shadow blossom memories
    at our feet.

    Karen - this stanza will become a part of how I think, what I remember, and words I impart on a regular basis. This poem transports me to where I want to be at this moment!

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  20. Margaret - I never tire of looking at Van Gogh's paintings! Every time, I find something I didn't really notice before, whether it's an image or the brushstrokes or the colors. I'm glad you looked and looked again at this one, too. Thanks for your nice comments.

    Jason - Merci beaucoup! Painting with words is something to which I certainly aspire.

    Kaye - You can't know how gratified I am at your reaction. I feel a huge relief that it meets your standards for a Vincent poem! I've been waiting for your comment, and when I read it, it came at just the right moment for me, too. Thank you.

    By the way, your last post inspired me to write a piece on that painting, too, but I'll have to work on it a while before it's ready for "public consumption."

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  21. Beneath the dress
    that tulips when she stoops,
    small toes plow paths
    of prints in
    fertile earth.


    This poem is so beautiful, Karen, so delicate, so enchanting - a sweet moment of the childhood that's forever kept in our hearts...

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  22. Beautiful, Karen:)
    I love the use of the word "tulips". And all the images. "Shadow blossom memories" Haunting!

    And your poem below is amazing. I will have to come back to read again when I have more time.:)

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  23. Each word is a new portal into the heart of self and into the artistry within Van Gogh's soul. APPAUSE!

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  24. Vesper - Thank you for those words - delicate, enchanting. Ahhh!' :-D

    Faith - First, I'm glad you're back in cyberland! Then, thanks for your kind words and for your comments on The Letter, too!

    Rose Marie - Thank you, thank you! You are such an affirming presence here.

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