Friday, September 22, 2006

Conqueror

I was a gulp of high air -
a bird breathing in,
a black dot on blue paper,
a privileged recipient
of finite sacrament
of souls of flying saints.
That all happened the moment
you taught me splendid roundness
as defined by the touch of your lips.

The other mysteries fell, one by one,
cities under siege,
watched by the terrible army of our love,
filling all the horizon, insatiable, made indomitable
by human frailty and sheer force.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW! You're on a roll, Russell! This is one of the best poems I've read on this blog!

csperez said...

great poem russell!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Aurora! What a wonderful comment. Glad you enjoyed this and thanks for the fireworks!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Craig! Spaceba bolshoi, moi droog! (we're both ESL teachers)

ozymandiaz said...

Speaking of kisses being ever so sweet. Love can definetly change the world.

"the terrible army of her love"

AWESOME!

Anonymous said...

Awesome poem! Thanks for sending it for the ROTB.

Yasmin Waring said...

It's beautiful Mastera.

M. Shahin said...

"The other mysteries fell, one by one,
cities under siege,
watched by the terrible army of our love,
filling all the horizon, insatiable, made indomitable
by human frailty and sheer force."

I also think this is your best poem. It is full of power and especially these lines. I like how it is a love poem but it does not read exactly like the love poems I read. It evokes more the power of love than anything else. And you describe that power by 'cities' 'mysteries' 'army'...great!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Ozy! What a hot comment! Glad you liked this.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Jo! Glad you liked it. Have a great time with ROTB.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi my sweet Scheherazade! Thanks for saying that. You name makes me crazy.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks m. shahin! What a great comment. I'm delighted you enjoyed this.

Anonymous said...

Hi Russell,
The Ringing is posted! Thanks for participating.
http://jojanoski.wordpress.com/2006/09/24/the-ringing-of-the-bards-xiv/

Anonymous said...

What an interesting opening. So vivid.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Jo! Thanks for letting me know and a great big thanks to you for hosting!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks pearl! I've had lots of comments on the last five lines. Thanks for noticing the air and sky in the first part. Thanks for the great comment!

terrymcdermott said...

This was a great poem. Like the line about the black dot on blue paper. Thanks for commenting on my post. I will take a look at your future post.

Anonymous said...

Not sure I can add much, except to say that I agree with the rest that this is one of your best pieces that I have read.

KGT (aka Cagey) said...

Powerful and memorable. Great.

Well done.

Pat Paulk said...

Russell I go away for the weekend and you stir up all kinds of trouble. I love "...you taught me splendid roundness as defined by the touch of your lips". Great line of poetry, but it also ignites fire in the memories!!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Pat! Call me mister incorrigible! Glad you liked that line. I have fallen to my death from those slipery lips perhaps thousands of times.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks kgt! What warm and wonderful words.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Daniel! I'm glad that you agree! Thanks for that!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Terry! I think that image is a personal favorite of mine too. Thanks for sharing what worked for you.

Cathy said...

Are you really in Kazakhstan!?
I am fascinated by the Aral Sea and the environmental issues surrounding what took place there...I'll be back to read your lovely poems.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Cathy! Yes I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I'm looking forward to your visits, Thanks for stoping by and leaving a comment.

Plus Ultra said...

I was thinking of writing a love poem for a change, I guess I don't need to I will direct my visitors to your blog, great poem!!!!!

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

We all fall at the army of love, a great sense of the heat of passion, when the whole world falls away

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi plus ultra! I am deeply moved by such a profound compliment! Thanks so much.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Yes Sue, the great contradiction of the indomitableness of frailty. Thanks for the great comment!

Cecilia said...

This poem deserves a standing ovation, Russell! I agree with everyone that this is the best I've read in here. The content's lived up to the title, played to the tune of the message that Love Conquers All.

(Thank you for your thoughtful message. I am definitely getting better, dear Russell!)

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Cecilia, I am glad to hear that - I was worried about you! Glad you're well enough to come for a visit. What a wonderful comment, too, Thanks sweet Cecilia!

iamnasra said...

All this in you Im amazed...true this one of your best

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Nasra! I am so pleased you enjoyed this. Thanks for the wonderful comment.

gautami tripathy said...

I can feel the spiritual overtones, russell!

Glad I got here after a long time.

I am going to link you to my blog.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks gautami tripathy! Glad you found something you were looking for in my humble words. Welcome and thanks for linking up; I'd like to link to you too.

gulnaz said...

beautiful , beautiful poem!!!
began to choose my favourite parts, just couldnt pick one!

Roger Stevens said...

A particularly fine poem.
Your poems improve as you hone your poetic skills don't they?

Who are your favourite poets?

And did you take the photo yourself?

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks dear Gulnaz! I'm happy that you enjoyed this. Thanks for the warm and wonderful comments!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Roger! I'm glad you liked it so much. I'm reading a lot of David Lehman and some Bukowski at the moment but I like Ashberry very much - certainly one of my all time favorites. Yes, I took that picture.

Natalia L. Rudychev said...

Powerful write! Enjoyed reading it loud!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Ah Natalia, the awsome power of love - the real impulse for creation. I'm glad you got to the music in this piece. Thanks for the great comment!

gulnaz said...

how are you

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Gulnaz! I'm fine, just got a lot to do right now. I'll be more active again once midterms finish. Thanks for thinking about me, my sweet.