Sunday, March 17, 2013

With Feathers




I balk at gestation,
swallow stagnant,
rear back, eyes wild
as a startled horse.

Maybe I'm hungry,
or just thirsty,
or the stars are tossed
like a handful of jacks.

Your kitchen seabirds,
content in their flowers,
hang as a reminder
not to gallop,

that hope is a thing
so coo, forage frequently,
toss in a couple of clams
and call it chowder.


tk/March 2013  



Thanks to the talented R.A.D. Stainforth for reading this poem.

Faun, Horse, and Bird, 1936
Pablo Picasso 

35 comments:

  1. That hope is a thing

    I like that.

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  2. I see him hungry and ready to forage...nice images in the kitchen!

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  3. ...well that emptiness or rather craving for something is really quite hard to define at times Tess... i like that you used kitchen seabirds here... and ah, what an elegant read again... i particularly like how Mr. R.A.D. delivered the part that says 'i'm hungry...' & how he delivered the last two lines without a single break but in just a plain intonation... stunning & it def. adds value to your poem.... smiles...

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    1. Thank you Kelvin...I'm very fortunate to have the talented Mr. Stainforth read my work...and the rich dimension he adds...

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  4. love your stars tossed like jacks....xx

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  5. My you are cooking up startling mood and I love the verse with tossing a handful of jacks!

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  6. your poetry is so visual- love stars tossed like jacks. Happy week to you!

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  7. Really like this, Tess (although not a fan of chowder, always encouraging hope). This line especially stands out to me:

    the stars are tossed
    like a handful of jacks.


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  8. or the stars are tossed
    like a handful of jacks.

    Your kitchen seabirds,
    content in their flowers,
    hang as a reminder
    not to gallop,

    Such vibrant images- right here- hope is written in the seabird's song.

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  9. Definitely like the last stanza. Just toss it in the chowder.

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  10. nice one Tess.....it is all about hope indeed

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  11. Superb write Tess, just superb.

    Anna :o]

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  12. stars like a handful of jacks. wonderful. the reference to Emily D: hope and feathers. unusual images brought together in this poem and i too need a reminder not to gallop.

    Tess, have they started sending out your book? Wasnt it March first???

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    1. Finishing Line Press usually runs a little late...I'm expecting UNPRESSED any day now...your FLP postcard arrived at WM...looks nice Suki...

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  13. this is the first time i noticed the ticking of the clock in the video

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    1. Love the ticking clock...it adds a charming ambiance...

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  14. Really liked the way you unpeeled your words on that.Impeccable hidden rhythms brought alive by the reading.

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    1. Thank you...always try to choose words that play well together...they jump to life with Stainforth's reading...

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  15. "Stars tossed like a handful of jacks"...love that, and all the rest!

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  16. or the stars are tossed
    like a handful of jacks.

    Magic!

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  17. Hope is not just "a" thing, but THE thing! Well penned, Tess!

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  18. Coo
    Kerouac looked up from his bongo drums
    and nodded

    Your finest hour, Tess.

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  19. Hope is the thing with fathers...

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  20. Lovely! The alliteration was subtle and helped to make the point. Maybe we can all forage frequently.

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  21. Sometimes your images are just sooo arresting!

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  22. Call it chowder is a great close! Waiting for your book to arrive .... hopefully soon.

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  23. and I forgot to say...thank you soooo much for ordering my book. you are a dear.

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  24. Simply succinctly superior!

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  25. I think Picasso saw stars and clam chowder as intmately related, spot on, Tess !

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  26. Oh yes, and never give up on chowder!

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  27. "The stars are tossed like a handful of jacks..." I so love that line! Hope is a beautiful (and feathered) thing, indeed.

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