Sunday, August 19, 2012

Still Center

R.A.D. Stainforth contemplates the center...



Anomalous and wind-blown,
I sidestroke through static;

every day a series of beginnings,
packed carefully into little bags.

I want to be caged in perverse calm;
a pretty knack, to find you 

so easy and willing,

like the laughter of children,
in the still center.


tk/ August 2012

Under Windsor Bridge, 1912
Adolphe Valette

51 comments:

  1. Thanks for this poem Tess ... a pleasure to read ...

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    1. I'm very fortunate to have you read my poems, R.A.D. Thank you!

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  2. Making you readers work a little. Well done. I like it a great deal.

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  3. I am one with The Carriage House...

    JJRod'z

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  4. soft, and beautiful, Tess. love the closure.

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  5. every day a series of beginnings,
    packed carefully into little bags.

    nice...actually those first two stanzas as just tight...and i love like hte laughter of children...

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  6. Caged in perverse calm... I also love the laughter of children.
    Wonderful poetry Tess.

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  7. "...a series of beginnings,
    packed carefully into little bags." Very nice, Tess.

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  8. My favourite lines too Tess; actually you have just 'broken my dream' of last night. Now it all makes much more sense. That's what I was doing, packing a series of beginnings, so why was I so anxious about it? :)

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  9. I love this... especially the beginning. Beautiful.

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  10. Lovely. I especially love the reading of "so easy and willing."

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    1. That line was the way into this poem for me ... the key to the whole thing ...

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  11. I love the final lines; a beautiful note to end on.

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  12. Tess- this is quite lovely- especially the last three lines
    "so easy and willing,
    like the laughter of children,
    in the still center."
    Wonderful

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  13. .. 'like the laughter of children in the still center' ~~ My wish ... that all children might experience this. Your poem is magic.

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  14. Love this as I go back to my own little eye of the hurricane next week. That would be Kindergarten.

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  15. The structures in this impressionist art are so very expressive, and very much "like the laughter of children, so easy and willing"... a great interpretation of the prompt, Tess. Thank you for sharing. =D

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  16. beautiful i like the verse every day a series of beginnings,
    packed carefully into little bags. make you realize everyday is a new beginning

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  17. The sidestroking through static describes so well what many of us down and all the small brown paper bags of the day. In my case, they usually hold tea. k.

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  18. "Caged in perverse calm"..incredible phrase...what a path this takes...great!

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  19. Is that what the figure is leaning into, the still center? I like the idea quite a bit.

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  20. The picture goes so well with the poem - - -

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  21. This is bad-ass, Tess:

    "I want to be caged in perverse calm;
    a pretty knack, to find you
    so easy and willing"

    I'm picturing you as a knick-knack on a shelf, so much hiding inside the glass. And also, you have a pretty knack for finding him. Maybe he is easy and willing, or maybe you are. Probably both. Either way, this is crazy sexy. I love the idea of their being an extreme version of calm that is twisted and perverse. And also the idea that you never know what is lurking behind a calm exterior.

    A thought-provoking poem that reminds me what poetry is, how interesting and attention-grabbing it can be. Your poem makes me want to delete mine and try again. That is a compliment, love. You are fabulous.

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    1. It's so very satisfying when someone appreciates the words...the layers...thank you...

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  22. Love the idea of packing beginnings in little bags! Beautiful! :)

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  23. Sidestroke through static keeps you in the swim!

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  24. Wow great lines..all fully packed...loved it....

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  25. I enjoyed the concept of windblown and kept saying it must have been previous to this foggy stillness...

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  26. Just read the O.Henry quote below. I don't like raisins. Are crasins acceptable?

    Like your take. Needed the poetic reminder of a still center.

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  27. As an aeronautical radio operator, I "sidestroke through static" eight hours a day. Sometimes I dog paddle. Some days it's tough to keep my ears above water. Thanks for another dose of you, topped with a dollop of sweet, handsome R.A.D. - just what this day was needing.

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    1. Thanks, Marcheline...yes, the best kind of dollop...

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  28. Perverse calm is an intriguing state. I think I can imagine it almost exactly.

    Well done.

    =)

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  29. A lovely piece...I find it most comforting to be abnormal.

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  31. delicate and telling.

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  32. Sometimes it can be a road to discovery to savor moments of trying times. Great write Tess!

    Hank

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  33. "In the still center-" that is the best place to be. Very nice Tess.

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  34. Lovely. Very seductive, I found this.

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  35. Wonderful. The obvious gets lost in the fog and you give us a glimpse into something much deeper.

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  36. "and if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last , when all are one and ne is all, yeah , to be a rock and bot to roooooolllllllll..."

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  37. Every day IS a series of beginnings - and sometimes that's exhausting. Although I do love bags - maybe that makes the beginnings easier...

    P.S. My dad is the epitome of perverse calm - which made my mother throw things at him when she was mad.

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  38. I love the layers of depth in your words. Love all the verses. Great job!
    Mine is here
    Have you a ROCKING AND WEEK!!!
    hugs
    shakira

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  39. Scoopfuls of layers, deep and sensual...a fine read!

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  40. "packed carefully into little bags..." - I like that!

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  41. Thank you, dear readers, for all the lovely comments. I so appreciate your support. You're the best.

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  42. Intense poem with especial containers - bags, cage - keeping you and your hopes; with moments of soft calm (perverse though) after "blown with the wind".
    The two last lines resume your desire tenderly.
    Hope you can find him!
    :)

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)