on the morning
of the falling pink moon
she walked to the end of a drive half frozen
and stood beneath the tallest tree
a single crow announced her presence
in a tone of calm resentment
and the smile on her face grew wider
than the patchwork quilt of magic
wrapped around
one fragile
shoulder
in the pine
the mockingbird whistled
cat-call face-small arbitration
filling the air between them
earth moved by tender greeting
recognition repetition new rendition
as the wind attempted to whisper-woo
a smear of color from the bone
of each white cheek
.
.
.
Join us over at dVerse Poets where we are honoring the passing of Harper Lee
with a prompt to write a narrative poem.
.
February 23rd, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I sense so much not told… I like so much what you show though… I find so much melancholia in the scene you paint, some sorrow only seen in the paleness of her cheek…
February 23rd, 2016 at 3:17 pm
This is too cold for me! I’m ready for spring already. But I like the narrative and the way the middle, single-word line is a transition from what she is doing to what is going on around her. Very nice. Peace, Linda
February 23rd, 2016 at 4:04 pm
I can hear this conversation as I read this 🙂 also I like the way the poem is shaped like an hourglass
February 23rd, 2016 at 4:37 pm
This is beautifully written 🙂
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:05 pm
This is particularly wonderful, Kelly:
“cat-call face-small arbitration
filling the air between them”
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:25 pm
Such a melancholy story…so much to read between the lines of this. The shape of this just adds to it. thank you for this great prompt!
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:31 pm
I love the gothic feel of this. Nicely done.
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:39 pm
I love the notion of calm resentment, plus the lovely images you create.
February 23rd, 2016 at 5:47 pm
I really enjoyed this, Kelly; snagging our interest with superb imagery & word-smithing, but leaving reams of space between what was written, & was not, engaging our imaginations. Was this the elder Scout, reflecting on the past? Perhaps. What I saw with the shape of the poem was a tree in a field.
February 23rd, 2016 at 6:36 pm
I really like the image here of companionship in a lonely, open place. Where you feel isolated, but actually are not. Vivid, and nicely written.
February 23rd, 2016 at 8:40 pm
This is a concert of birdsong that is so delightful. You have used it so well to create such atmosphere.
February 24th, 2016 at 2:37 am
I particularly like the last four lines. Very immediate and quiet except for the bird.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:09 am
Resentment from the crow – acceptance from the Mocking Bird.Solace in the silence. Beautifully written.
February 24th, 2016 at 8:50 am
I love the “tone of calm resentment”.
February 24th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
I see you also went for the full moon image – but a very different approach.
Elegant, both in form and content. And a true understanding of and connection with nature.
February 24th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
Slow and calculating. Logical and graphic. Love it.
February 25th, 2016 at 4:20 am
So finely quietly and fiercely etched – finding at the edge a liminal chapel. Yes.
February 25th, 2016 at 6:31 am
This is absolutely beautiful. So many wonderful lines paint a melancholy tale. Sitting here this morning in Bermuda, with gale force winds whipping up white caps, I especially like the line “as the wind attempted to whisper-woo” — wonderful sound to it and quite soft….opposite of what’s happening here!
February 26th, 2016 at 11:42 am
So beautiful and what a tribute! Made me feel lonely but good.