Monday, January 16, 2006

Ars Poetica

for Andrew

As the moon sat high in its
Westward ark, not clear and visible
But intimated by its ball of glow
Infused in gathering clouds in the
Opposite way from which
Dark spreads in warm water
Around a tea bag,
He stood in a dark room of a
Sleeping house staring out the
Frosted window, filled with
Thoughts which were also high in their ark.

Early next morning the snow was falling,
Large fluffy flakes, slow and erratic
In their nearby descent. No hint now
Of glowing globe, neither sun nor moon,
In the illuminated dim. In his breast
A burden blossomed into musical syllables
Of what he hoped you would know.
Sometimes a story of beauty
Which surprised him, sometimes
Questions which everybody asks but
Cannot answer. In failing words
He sought to invent that
Forgotten language that both of you
Could understand, that would save you both
From irreconcilable aloneness.

5 comments:

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

My favourite line 'dark spreads in warm water around a tea bag' I love the pesserfness (can't spell that)back to the window and the flakes fall slow and erratic

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

YIPEE JUST FOUND OUT WORD VERIFATHING DOESNT CARE ABOUT CASE

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Sue! Thanks for the great comments. Tell me what you think poetry is to you, how does it do what it does and what is its real value? Looking forward to find out your views. And congratulations on the word verify breakthrough.

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

My contribution to the science of word verrifation, he he

I will think on the other, some one once said it was easyer to say what it was not

Russell Ragsdale said...

On the subject of poetry, I think it can be important for us as poets to examine what we actually believe about poetry in those three areas I asked you about, so I challenge you to see what kind of statements you can make!