BENEATH A PEWTERED SKY

Michael Edwards

BENEATH A PEWTERED SKY

 

 

Where curling flames and wandering smoke

left formless layers of blackened ash he stood upon a charcoaled cloak,

quiescent in a forlorn land

with captive tears that failed to fall the hurt he held in ungloved hand

and slowly raising punctured arms

the ashes settled on his feet and on his blistered palms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Edwards © March 2017

 

  • Author: Michael Edwards (Offline Offline)
  • Published: March 21st, 2017 02:00
  • Comment from author about the poem: I had no religious thoughts in mind when I drafted this (they only struck me when I read through it on completion) and, as many of you will know, I am not a Christian. However I do fully respect those who are so if you wish to interpret it in a religious sense you are more than welcome to do so.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 48
  • User favorite of this poem: Goldfinch60.
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Comments6

  • Frank Prem

    Beautiful flow Michael.

  • Goldfinch60

    I do like this Michael, the imagery is superb. A painting with words.
    Into favourites it goes.

    • Michael Edwards

      Thanks so much - I am really chuffed.

    • BRIAN & ANGELA

      Great paintung Michael ~ The C of E own some of the most iconic buildings in the UK. Our Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool ~ in red sandstone ~ is awesome inside and out. Great evocative poem reminded me of Lattimer & Ridley being burned for their protestant Faith in OXFORD. There is a bronze cross ~ set into the carpark outside Balliol College to mark the spot. If you stand on it and meditate you feel the haet ~ AMEN ! In Puebla Mexico one Sunday Morning I was caught in an ash fall out from POPOCATEPETL when we came out of the Church ~ it rerminded me of that too and Pompeii and Herculaneum both of which i have visited. Great poem & picture for World Poetry Day ! Please check my ODE ~ Thanks BRIAN.

      • Michael Edwards

        Thanks so much Brian - will be visiting Liverpool in the next couple of months and will be visiting both Cathedrals as well as Tate Liverpool of course.

        • BRIAN & ANGELA

          Thanks MICHAEL ~ Yes the Cathedrals are on either end of HOPE STREET (One of God's little Jokes !) The Catholic ~ Protestant divide was healed by Bishop David Shepherd Great Cricketer & Shepherd of the Flock) and Archbishop Warlock (unfortunate handle for an Archbishop) ~ their book is called Reconcilliation in the City. Liverpool humour christane the Catholic Cathedral The Mersey Funnell and Paddy's Wigwam ~ because of its shape. In Liverpool every thing and nothing is SACRED ~ BRIAN

        • Christina8

          A wonderful poem. Very descriptive. I love the beautiful watercolor of the church--wish I had that talent!

          • Michael Edwards

            Thanks Christina - not sure about talent but so pleased you liked them both.

          • Tony36

            Short but a well written amd beautiful write

          • MendedFences27

            I'm still working on my interpretation, but so far I think someone is being burned alive, or a volcano is erupting. Though a volcano would be anything but "quiescent." Then again he raised his arms which isn't possible if you are tied to the stake. So, I'm lost. Without further ado, let me say that I loved reading this. Words well chosen, interesting depiction, nice rhymes. All in all a stellar poem. - Phil A.

            • Michael Edwards

              Thank you Phil - I can't help either - I just had this vision of someone standing in a landscape of fire and the words seemed to flow so beyond that I leave it leave it to others.



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