Sunday, October 5, 2014

Harvest




















They spy at windows,
pound open the door. 

Poems are mistaken for sorcery,
intuition as heathen.

There is trial, ordeal by water; 
evidently, I float.

I bob the surface,
fetal against frothy black.

Wicker is made to order,
waist-high nest with a stake. 

They march around me,
army of preoccupied sheep.

Have you any wool?
I decline the blindfold.

Then comes smoke,
my eyes like a startled horse. 



tk/October 2014



A masterful read by R.A.D. Stainforth...



22 comments:

  1. love the previous events...before the smoke!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tess, this one of your finest.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the movement here...possibly the whole play...with disguised sheep....very cool! xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love seeing where differrent voices go with these, who chooses to climb, who descends, those of us who wander are pioneer spirits in a pantheon of elements, half-reactions turning ourselves over to a greater science. What a voice you've given her, history and grace, fetish and birthplace.

    ReplyDelete
  5. loved the imagery in the poem :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. As usual, both inventive and wise...

    ReplyDelete
  7. beautiful -images intensely captivating-a pleasure to read -inspiring

    ReplyDelete
  8. Like Custer trying to ride across the river ......

    ReplyDelete
  9. Masterful write and chilling conclusion.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Must be the season of the witch? Loved the last line horses do get that look. Bravo Tess!

    No one has come to my poetry for 3 weeks! Last week I had 2 people (you included.) I hope it changes. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh no, oh no, I swear she's not a witch! God Speed dear girl, flee your post of barbed-wire and those that encircle you now! My idea of good poetry- when it evokes feelings deep within! Bravo.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I overlooked the smoke - such a subtle part of the prompt and with so much possibility. I love the way you used it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Powerful imagery in this piece, Tess. Very nicely wrapped up in the last two lines.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow, how you went all med-evil on this pic was awesome

    ReplyDelete
  16. Powerful and haunting writing! The end leaves us hanging at the horror.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Strong writing. Love the images in this, Tess.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The last two lines are my favorite and for me the most vivid.

    ReplyDelete

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