Egrets Poised

ruminations on mortality

Egrets Poised

__________________

finding, minding, the slow unwinding,

emotions-thoughts, frail sentiment binding,

breathless-caught, the slow release

too briefly grasp the precious gift           

of a lifetime fraught with imagery           

where memories line the past in rows,

held close at breast the heart to warm,

caught in each- a life to see,

like leaves that shroud Life’s ancient tree,

great gnarled roots hug long the bank,

drink deeply whence time’s river flows,

as on he rushes languidly.

 

but lives are short and leaves are many,

from Life- the Ancient Tree,                                   

too soon his leaves all swirl and fall,

mount deeply round the knees of burl,

so drift and blow decayed anon,

whence cast upon the browning lawn,

grace rushing brook or golden pond,

or settled deep to dark below,           

passed o’er the waterfall beyond,

there slipped away to deep unknown

like offerings cast, and offerings gone.

 

the snowflake-fey, melts in your hand,                       

proud white peaks lofty- ocean ran                       

gold flecks stream off the miner’s pan                       

past footprints fading with the sand                                   

cold waters race away to span                       

stark egret balanced, poised-one leg                       

stands gazing nigh, and gazing nigh

________________

 

But life begins where memories

line the parlor walls,

the past peers out from captures frame,

eyes beckoning the future-call,

the shrouded mist ahead so grey

though lives are short and leaves are many...

 

Rikkevi Rue Copyrighted. All rights reserved

Reviews

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

There is a lot in this writing to absorb, but it plays to the subconscious roots of all humankind. For instance," like leaves that shroud Life’s ancient tree,great gnarled roots hug long the bank,drink deeply whence time’s river flows," and" but lives are short and leaves are many, from Life-the Ancient Tree." Very earthy, all of humankind`s connection to earth and to each other. I can see the mortality in verse and meaning, but it seems to have an underlying shadow of life renewing.
Intuitus

[Rikkevi Rue]

you track very well, the idea being to capture mortality and at the same time sew it into the larger fabric of immortality and the life continuum of all things. Ironically it was not a "conscious write" but more a stream of consciousness type thing. The concepts kinda just flowed out and unraveled...Thank you for your fine review!

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

Cool! I Totally get what you`re saying.
INTUITUS

[Serenity Faith]

This is such a deep, thought prodding piece. I loved your analogies. What came to me was a giant tree, the tree of life. All it's leaves were people's lives. Like leaves do, they change and grow over time, just like people do, until they die. Sometimes when that leaf drops, it's fossilized for others to examine, to draw conclusions from a person's history or past so to speak. Most times a leaf drops, and it crumbles into nothingness, dust in the wind. This is sincerely a masterpiece of literature. ^_^

[Rikkevi Rue]

yes, indeed that was the concept. but also the ephemeral nature of a single life, seemingly a mere "leaf among many" yet capable of far reaching effects and being deeply profound. sorry for my long delay in responding. I appreciate your review. rr

[Sethnicity]

This is Great! I love it.
the pace is smooth and swift like waves
crashing in cooling sand and sun rays!
Rikkevi this is why I friended you.

[Mockingbird]

beautiful imagery and symbolism. i especially like the last stanza. for me the parlor walls would be the confines of my mind. nice piece.

[Rikkevi Rue]

Well, this is interesting. I was just looking over the reviews for this and it seems that I never answered (or GOT) your review! Sincerest apologies and if you are still around (7 years later!) thank you and I hope you are well!

[Poe Redd]

Deffinately going to read this more than once. Love how it flows, how it sounds, how it feels. Like a silent rollercoaster really. I feel like I should be reading this off of a white page in an expensive book, just saying. Love your style!

[Rikkevi Rue]

Thank you for your thoughts and impressions. Life takes on its different views, and occasionally we get a more candid or revealing glimpse at it I believe.

[Leslie Philibert]

An excellent poem.Like the internal rhymes of the first lines,they start the poem with a lot of energy,as well as the rich vocabulary and the well observed first two lines of the last verse.Great.

[Boldpen]

Beautifully written.
the flow of words is flawless and filled with expressions.
The simple figure of your creation makes it a great delight to read.
Great pace and spirit.
Good job!

[Rikkevi Rue]

Hello Boldpen. It seems you reviewed my poem 7 years ago, but I never got your review! Bizarre! Not really sure why this showed up now on my page, but THANK YOU! And I apologize for not answering you (if that is the case) I will come to your page and return the favor soon. ML, RR

[Tate Morgan]

This has such a classical feel to it.You are without a doubt one of the most sentient writers I have ever met.Your work makes my min go into overdrive.So deep sometimes cryptic.I have to say I read your work when I am good and ready to think awhile. This piece delving into the idea of lifes tree.Is a great winding road of thought. I have set reading and thinking on IT FOR A HALF HOUR. You have such a fluid vocabulary.I have to expand a bit to encompass it . Thank you it reminds me of attempts I made to get my children to move up in age group in sports.The reason being one never gets better playing kids younger or lkess developed .Only by playing those better at the sport do we ourselves push ourselves to greater heights as you dome.

[Ruth]

This is striking..leaves me feeling elated and connected..amazingly woven together...just perfect and shimmering! xoxo

[Larry Dyson]

stark egret balanced, poised-one leg

stands gazing nigh, next spoonbill casts

its random bill for crayfish found.
(just an addition that came to mind..)

[Chris]

A very good flow - and pace.

Not nearly as hard to follow as it could have been.

Chris