The Sky Burial

What I wish for.

A summit in sunlight snow.

Fluted blue shadows and springs of coloured music.

She rests.

Snow in summer.

An arched sky and she is a long fulfilled point above the world.

Crystal breath and thoughts chimed against each other.

Piano key rocks to touch with children’s pleasure.

And the birds japanned against lapis blue clearing higher

Ravens black breeding flight turning against the white in spiralled pleasure

Us in time

Negative positive shapes

Essential to this simple composition.

The notes of played romantic music

And the voices of alone.

The pleasures of solitude, high.

Seen in the laid lines of spooned mixture folded cloud below

The plucks of an acoustic string

And the breezes of cool air inside her head.

The ghost beating of his heart that she keeps

Holding in her hand outstretched to the infinite

Winds fade into stretched silence,

Waiting calm

Praying in her musical memories of coming here before

When he said here, beloved.

This mountain is mine.

Until the eternity bird wipes the last dust

I will wait

This close to the sky content

Until the happy years fade and the world comes around again

Until your heart sings for the height of mine

And the phoenix flies no more

 

 

Author's Note

Japanned is black laquering. A Sky Burial is a sacred solemn funeral rite of Tibet. The photograph is mine and called Passage.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for the journey. I like the Author's note. Allowed me to understand the purpose of the poem. I did a lot of free climbing in my young days. I like the view from top of mountains and to see the free birds fly and animals roam. The description took me to wonderful places and thoughts. Always a pleasure to read your outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Ken Simm.]

And thank you so much for taking the journey Coyote. Its people like you looking that make it worthwhile.

[Dean]

Your work is certainly sui generis! I'm going to be looking in a lot.

[Ken Simm.]

Lost this wonderful comment Dean and I'm so sorry for what a compliment.

[lee von cleef]

Mountains ,their peaks, are portals to memories for me,and this just reaffirms my belief. (I have had the same feeling in a tree top,( Not all tree tops) and looking at twin peaks ,But that is a personal adventure)A Sky Burial , braids beauty and belief into the future of a world without time, to me a beautiful spot.

[Ken Simm.]

Me also Lee, Me also. Thanks for looking at the top of my mountain.

[cartera]

Excellent poem One for reading and reading time and time again.
Alex.

[Ken Simm.]

My sincere thanks Alex. I'm glad you liked it.

[Stella Armour]

i too wonder why i am bothering to write when i read beautiful poetry like this Ken...i will be back to indulge myself again....thank you for sharing your outstanding work,,

[Ken Simm.]

I would hate to think it stopped you Stella. These are such kind words. Thank you so much my friend.

[Stella Armour]

all my pleasure, i assure you Ken..

[Leslie Philibert]

Another fine poem from a learned, literate writer who convinces with talent. Japanned as a verb is great.Fine job.

[Ken Simm.]

Yes I'm quite happy with that one as well Leslie. Thank you for looking and liking.

[Tree]

In the featured review TL uses the phrase "achingly beautiful,'' to describe this poem. I agree, and I'll take it a step further and say that many of your pieces can fall under that description.

Ken I like the idea of a sky burial, as much as I like the Viking at sea burial. It is a good way to make our way back into the elements.

A good poem, Ken.

[Ken Simm.]

I like the idea of my ashes in the winds Diego. Thanks so much my friend.

[ChemicalMadness]

these are the notes of beauty. i can't give you much more than that....just beautiful.

[Ken Simm.]

You are kind CM. I am honoured.

[emmajoy]

'An arched sky and she is a long fulfilled point above the world. ~ Crystal breath and thoughts chimed against each other.' Such graphic words, that sky, that crystal breath; a movement of time somehow encapsulated, recurrent scenes, emotion wrapped, waiting to return to wherever the spirit was born -that somewhere place you know. Tis magic, tis beautiful, tis more than ..

[Ken Simm.]

So she will let him go to the winds when the time is right and he will wait for her. You hve captured the essence perfectly Emma and I thank you.

[Jack...]

The world is ever changing yet as she makes her rotations life comes back at us full circle. Dreaming of newer times to replace what we have is fruitless, reaching out a grabbing that which waits is what makes it all worth while. Very cool Ken and the photo is out of this world.

[Ken Simm.]

Thank you for reading and liking both the writing and the image Jack.