Poseidon's bones

sorenbarrett

 Meerschaum, color of bone, hard as stone
Floats on water as a foam
Soft when wet, when dry set

When smoked turns red, yellow, brown colors bled
Absorbed in this fragile home
Fixed to a pipe of brier, will not heat in a fire

Often stored on the end of a gourd
Carved incense burner bright
Fragrant smells its tale tells

Polished, sanded much demanded
Companion day and night
Floating stone, chip of sea bone

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Comments +

Comments14

  • Neville



    Holy smoke .. that's far from elementary my dear sb .. wot would Moriarty think of thee .. I still have my fathers old un and occasionally sniff on it .. 😎👍

    • sorenbarrett

      If anyone could understand this one I was sure you would. I thought yesterday how poets so often try to write of wisdom, passion, love why not of something totally inconsequential,

    • Teddy.15

      So very poetic and I'm going to ask if may be so bold to let me in as I'm not sparky on this one! 🤣

      • sorenbarrett

        Thank you Teddy as always I appreciate your kind reviews. Meerschaum is a German word used in English for Sepiolite a rock like mineral that is used for pipe bowls for those that smoke pipes. It is peculiar in that though rock like it floats on water and has the quality that when exposed to heat does not transmit that heat, so is ideal for pipes. although white in color it is porous absorbing residue becoming amber or reddish or brown over time of use. It became popular to carve pipes out of this in the 1700's. Thought I'd try something innocuous for a change since poetry is usually so emotional.

        • Teddy.15

          That is incredibly kind of you I imagined it was a pipe or even snuff, but how truly wonderful. Thank you sorry if I am the spoiler of this wonderful work, I was also
          moving towards a home being buried in lava so I had to be curious 🤣

          • sorenbarrett

            Being buried in lava? Now you have left me the one with questions. Stay safe

          • arqios

            Thank you for sharing this thoughtful and evocative poem. It also serves as a reminder of the intricate beauty found in the materials that surround us and the transformative power of human creativity.

            • sorenbarrett

              Thanks Cryptic as always I am appreciative of the support. It keeps me going and puts a smile on my face what else could be asked for?

              • arqios

                You are most welcome Soren! 🙏🏻

              • David Wakeling

                Fascinating story about Meerchaum. I got a feeling I actually learned something for the first time in years.Well done

                • sorenbarrett

                  Thanks so much David I thought I would try something not emotional for a poem and that to me is paradoxical

                • Doggerel Dave

                  You are giving Dr Google a run for his money up there, Soren.

                  • sorenbarrett

                    I do that a lot but this time pulled it from knowing an old pipe dealer that educated me on several things. Thanks for the read my friend

                    • Doggerel Dave

                      Certainly a rich write, Soren.

                    • Tristan Robert Lange

                      First, bravo...it is not often one sends me down a 🐇 hole of research, as I am a pretty well researched person. 🤣 That said, I have to confess I did have to look up meerschaum and, wow! I pretty much could figure out it was a sort of sea foam or something of that nature; however, when you got to smoking it...I knew I had to look it up. In this poem I see themes of transformation (soft to hard, color changes, etc.), versatility (represented by meerschaum's multiple uses)...and the interplay between natural materials and human culture and ingenuity (storing pipes in gourds...and using meerschaum as an incense burner). Anyway, multiple layers to this wonderful poem, my dear friend! 🌹👏

                      • sorenbarrett

                        Thank you so much Tristan you are right there are metaphors here but wanted to show that a poem can be written about anything and broke the rule of poetry aout writing about what means a great deal to you. Thanks again for the read

                        • Tristan Robert Lange

                          Oh...heck yes. Rules are very much made to be broken! That said, it is impossible to write a good poem that can't be interpreted multiple ways. So...there's that! 🤣 You are welcome, my friend! Always a worthy read! 🖤🙏

                        • Tony36

                          BRAVO

                          • sorenbarrett

                            Thank you Tony

                            • Tony36

                              You're welcome

                            • TobaniNataiella

                              I really enjoyed this poem reminded me of an elderly couple i used to help, the old fella used to smoke these beautifully carved pipes, said there was nothing better. The wife said at his funeral Smoking might have killed him, but the pipes paid for the funeral, a lovely poem

                              • sorenbarrett

                                Thanks so much Tobani you got the point and that's all that counts. Your comments are cherrished

                                • TobaniNataiella

                                  You are very welcome

                                • Cassie58

                                  This poem is full of intrigue. It is beautifully penned Soren, but the meaning eluded me. I had to scroll to find out further. I am thankful for learning something new today. Delightful reading.

                                  • sorenbarrett

                                    Sorry Cassie it's all about the stone used in pipes. Thanks for the read and comment.

                                    • Cassie58

                                      No need to apologize Soren my lack of knowledge.

                                    • Thad Wilk

                                      My Granddad had a
                                      collection of different
                                      styles of pipes he used
                                      to own!
                                      I wonder if any were
                                      made of, chip of sea bone!¿¿
                                      Awesome read, brought
                                      back some mem'ries. 👍
                                      Best regards ✌️ Thad

                                      • sorenbarrett

                                        Thanks so much Thad. If they were they would look like cast plaster somewhat miscolored.

                                      • Thomas W Case

                                        Tremendous work.

                                        • sorenbarrett

                                          Thanks so much Thomas I appreciate your review and comment

                                        • Mutley Ravishes

                                          Thanks for the info, Soren. I wonder if Mithrandir's pipe was made of meerschaum?

                                          • sorenbarrett

                                            Don't know but Sherlock Holms pipe in the movies was a calabash that had a meerschaum bowl but not in the book.. Thanks so much for the read and comment.

                                          • rebellion_in_sanity

                                            Oh boy, did it make me toil! Chemistry was weak kneed...Meerschaum, well it was something I skipped...now it came to boil 😇😄😤

                                            Absolutely loved it

                                            • sorenbarrett

                                              Thank you so much Rebellion for the read and comment yes this one was out of left field

                                            • Goldfinch60

                                              I used to smoke a meerschaum pipe many years ago soren.

                                              Andy

                                              • sorenbarrett

                                                Thanks Andy for the read and comment some are quite beautiful



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