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| a grave in the Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow |
Schnittke's Stone
You showed me
a song among
the uncut hair
of Russian graves,
a simple stave
juxtaposed quiet
against a frenzy
of rough granite,
sufficient polystyle
for long wild runs,
miniscule breaths,
ever-present ghosts,
his puberty rights
relinquished
in loud silence
prolonged.
tk/February 2011
Listen as the talented R.A.D. Stainforth lights up and reads this poem:
Visit his eclectic and interesting blog Black Dogs.
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Exquisite M'lady!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Yes...so many interesting juxtapositions here...quite a romp in the old cemetery. Thank you, Tess!
ReplyDeleteThat ending really packs a punch.
ReplyDeleteHi Tess, I love the poem. I think I actually like it much better not thinking about the picture. I appreciate that the photos are jumping off places, and this one, for me, has jumped off to a different place, but certainly one as interesting and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteK.
A very neat, sort of ekphrastic take on Schnittke and - at a guess - the day the music died.
ReplyDeleteManic, the photo prompt is just something to get the creative juices flowing...the fact that writers jump off into various places is my main objective! So happy you did!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I'm hoping someone writes about Jello...
ReplyDeletelove your poem and the picture..jello??? would that be raspberry or strawberry?!..x Kay
ReplyDeleteThe image, a wonderful find. Your words take it even further, to a new level. Very very good.
ReplyDeleteJust that first line alone hits you! And I love the breath Mr.Stainforth takes before the reading! Prekrasniy!
ReplyDeletewhew that last stanza is just fierce...i like tess...great image as well...
ReplyDeleteI can't get that image of uncut hair out of my mind. Solid.
ReplyDeleteSuch an end to such a story!! What a narration!!! Beautiful, Tess!! Sad, but beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting that a poem, beginning in a cemetery and ending in a loud silence could have so much energy moving about. Well written, Tess. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful write, Tess!
ReplyDeleteWow, "puberty rights relinquished" is a strong finish. Excellent write.
ReplyDelete~Shawna
rosemarymint.wordpress.com
Uncut hair of Russina graves...what an image!
ReplyDeleteTerrific.
I love the opening stanza.
ReplyDeleteMany perfect lines in this. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteA toss up between the first stanza and the last for my favorite -- a great write.
ReplyDelete'miniscule breaths, ever-present ghosts' - shivers.
ReplyDeleteperfect! Great image and your poem is wonderful. Jello? I'll give it a second try!
ReplyDeleteThis is a good poem, I liked it very much!
ReplyDeletehttp://wanderwithoutbeinglost.blogspot.com/2012/02/grave-so-fine.html
Wander
The lines are notes on a bar . . the melody is haunting.
ReplyDeleteThe lines are notes on a bar . . the melody is haunting.
ReplyDeleteHaunting...
ReplyDeleteyes, the ever-present ghosts.
ReplyDeleteWow. The photo is so breathtaking I can't write it immediately, like the prism will shatter into my chest somehow....
ReplyDeleteIs this an actual grave? Do you know?
Your writing is, as usual, so gorgeous, Tess... I am speechless yet so deeply touched... in that beyond language, fumbling place....
I googled it. I found it. I need to go there as a lover of cemeteries. Wow. I am literally shaking... THANK YOU....
ReplyDeleteJulie, thank you, yes, it's a grave in the Novodevichy Cemetery. Although Schnittke is buried in this cemetery, this is not his actual stone.
ReplyDeletea great cemetery...great prompt...as is your poem....THANKS
ReplyDeleteWonderfully done, as always, Tess.
ReplyDeleteK
Prolonged silence...a fabulous depiction.
ReplyDeleteMusic in stone and words. Or is that poetry in music and stone? Fine poem Tess
ReplyDelete"the uncut hair of Russian grave"
ReplyDeleteA perfect image.
rel
I like long wild runs! thanks-
ReplyDeleteI love the way the images flash by, re-reading reveals so much more!
ReplyDeleteExquisite write!
ReplyDeleteTess, you take me there ... to a cemetery full of ghosts and so much more.
ReplyDeletelove the..the uncut hair
ReplyDeleteof Russian graves...
You really opened a door with this one Tess. Now I have to find some Schnittke music!
ReplyDelete"the uncut hair of russian graves"
ReplyDeletetalk about a unique image
...and the ending.
Whew.
=)
"The uncut hair of Russian graves." Brilliant. Splendidly done Tess! Nice Job!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding. Oh, yes.
ReplyDeletereally enjoyed this read.. as always, I am surprised by the varied emotions and takes on the same prompt...
ReplyDeletehis puberty rights relinquished in loud silence prolonged...powerful..
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful image which prompts ghostly thoughts and words. Prolonged loud silence summons thoughts of eternity.
ReplyDeleteTess your words start us in one place and lead someplace unexpected...wonderfully crafted!
ReplyDeleteA stunning write Tess....that first line is amazing!
ReplyDeleteSuperb!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
This picture has so much meaning to it in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteGreat prompt. Lovely piece from you too. Heard it read aloud and it reads so well.
I saw a wedge shaped piece of heart
ReplyDeleteA fine tribute to the composer.
ReplyDeleteSuperb. Mouthwatering not just the creative juices it gets running!
ReplyDeleteDear Tess:
ReplyDelete"uncut hair" referencing (metaphorically) the uncut grass of the unkempt graveyard. WoW~!
"his puberty rights relinguished" as most young men are soldiers and barely out of puberty, usually 19 years of age. Love it~!
"in loud silence prolonged" an excellent metaphor of death. Fantastic~!
Always par excellence...and oh so memorable with the Manchesturian candidates low octaves. Merci Ronaldo as well; loved indeed~!
The entire poem is wonderful, and the last lines are magnificent. What a great write for this picture.
ReplyDeleteI don't know of Schnittke, looks like I need to be doing my research :) But I thought this poem was excellent and like many others, loved the line "uncut hair of Russian graves"
ReplyDelete@chiccoreal ... thank you ... always good to take a deep breath and read one of Tess's poems ...
ReplyDelete@Caty ... check out my other blog ... Alfred Harrievich Schnittke ...
R.A.D., thank you for the lovely reading and also for the link to your Schnittke blog...
ReplyDeleteGentle readers, you make writing so very worthwhile. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, not only did I get a wonderful poem but a bit of an education. I googled Schnittke and learned a tad about this composer and his polystyle, which I had never heard of before. Thank you again!
ReplyDeleteLots to discover in this one, Tess. Interesting how "polystyle" for me resonated with the multiple column-like fingers of the illustrated hands.
ReplyDeleteHello!
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Love the POEM! I'm a new bloger/writer and just added myself to your folowers to support you, maybe you'd like to come follow me? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo are you only doing poetry now? I used to like visiting Willow Manor. Not a big poetry fan. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteMoey, stay tuned...I plan to liven things up around here with some new posts...
ReplyDeleteGreat Tess! I've been followoing your blog since 2008. (Blog of Note).
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, wonderful image , inspirational stuff. A pleasure to have made ur acquaintance even if only cybernetically ....Thanx.
ReplyDelete1. You can't fool me, that's the Sorcerer's Stone!!!
ReplyDelete2. I'm with Moey. Poetry is okay, but I like some posts with juicy details.
Ah, this is so crisp and perfect, Tess. I also love that it sent me to the dictionary for stave and polystyle.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your poetry.
A song among the uncut hair of Russian graves...ending in prolonged silence. Wonderful. Thank you.
ReplyDelete