murmuration’s song
i watch the sound of you
make shapes in the enemy of sky
and you shift change until I lose
the voice behind your words
this earth is cold and grey
and i stand motionless
as you scream
your quavering dance
through a wind
filled with knives and
stinging nettles
your flight is the map
of all things living
and i raise my arms
briefly
thinking perhaps i could
cut in
learn to waltz
or at least
follow
but I am no angel and
you have black wings
i have fingers and toes
and this listening heart
and we both know
this is always and never
even as you land
on the corner of my shadow
pecking code and
marking melodies
neither one of us
is free
February 4th, 2014 at 8:10 am
your cadence is a dance, and i felt a freedom in spite of you!
February 4th, 2014 at 10:34 am
you had me at that first line. and kept me, landing on the corner of MY shadow.
February 4th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Your writing and photos are so mesmerizing, Kelly.
Thanks for the fascinating share,
Jennifer
February 4th, 2014 at 11:49 am
Hauntingly good.
February 4th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
oh dang… the two live in different worlds and if one tries to fit in the other’s they’re both not happy…it’s sad…wonderfully written kelly
February 4th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
some really magical lines in this….the sound of them making shapes….flight being the map of all things living…what a chilling close…it can be endearing as well but….
February 4th, 2014 at 2:03 pm
I really like this piece, MM; and how cool that both you & Bjorn found inspiration within a “murmuration”. The whole poem undulates sadly, somberly, a thousand starlings deep, spiraling into abstract dances & east Indian symbols; liked your lines /as you scream/your quavering dance/through a wind/filled with knives and/stinging nettles/ Perhaps on a bright Spring day another murmuration will conjure up rainbows.
February 4th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Kelly, I really loved this one, and what a coincidence that we both started in the cool double meaning of murmuration. The images of being in the murmuration or outside is caught so well…
February 4th, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Loved your imagery and it was very poignant at the end. Really a good write. >KB
February 4th, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Your opening stanza just grabbed my attention and the poem become more irresistible with each line.
February 4th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Beautifully penned, Kelly. I love it all.
February 4th, 2014 at 4:02 pm
I enjoyed the rhythm of your poem. I could see the circling birds as you watched them and they inspired you. And I suppose nobody is ever totally free.
February 4th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Perhaps no one/ nothing is really free?
February 4th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
I like the way “you” is not really ever explained or pinpointed, I am guessing its birds by the photo, but it can be something else. But, what I like most about this poem is the layering of things that are opposites yet the same … in the end neither is really free … my favorite lines are these: i raise my arms
briefly
thinking perhaps i could
cut in
learn to waltz
or at least
follow
but I am no angel and
you have black wings
February 4th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
i suppose we all play and pay a master of nature..
But at least a bird in not a cage..
or human in not a home..
is free enough to simply be one..
with others..or alone as one
with ONE…like that bird that flies..
with the master of nature.
February 4th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
melancholia, winged ~
February 4th, 2014 at 5:12 pm
This is so beautiful, I want to swallow it or dance with it. Now that’s weird. But true. Just positively haunting…in a good way.
February 4th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
absolutely beautiful
February 4th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
raising my arms here as well
in awe
in wonder
in gratitude
February 4th, 2014 at 6:28 pm
A wonderful write and loved the use of words and double meanings — words and lines sung! -joanie
February 4th, 2014 at 7:36 pm
That ending is just stellar ~ And I thought these lines are just breath taking:
your quavering dance
through a wind
filled with knives and
stinging nettles
February 4th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Lost on the wings of darkness..a haunting write..
February 4th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Beautiful thoughts Jo – loved the visuals and the effect.
February 4th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
This poem is as beautiful as the murmuration itself. Cheers!
February 5th, 2014 at 12:06 am
..and we both know…. this is always and never…. neither one of us is free.
Oh my! how i love your words.
in my fondest.
February 5th, 2014 at 2:25 am
Yes we watch but cant
February 5th, 2014 at 3:30 am
A lovely poem – I read it immediately after reading Bjorn’s starling piece, and the mood carried straight on.
February 5th, 2014 at 7:45 am
Very interesting poem. I love the sense of predetermiination and inevitablility here, even if it’s about separation and forestalled desires. (At least for me). Excellent writing.
Steve K.
February 5th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Attempting to inhabit a world that doesn’t fit you, but fits the other like a glove is one of the most painful things to experience – how well you describe this, how wonderfully well.