A LIFELESS LAND
Beneath a low imperious sky
the stagnant waters languid lie
a lifeless land where no wind blows
where willows weep and dank grass grows
no water fowl, no rustling leaves
no bird notes echo from the trees
no other sounds are heard invading
only footsteps slowly fading
from the path now scarcely found
which weaves its way to higher ground.
-
Author:
Michael Edwards (
Offline) - Published: May 10th, 2018 00:04
- Comment from author about the poem: Sorry - didn't get time to photo the red poppies - and flowers don't really go with the poem so another of my abstracts.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 61
- Users favorite of this poem: Laura🌻, SLR
Offline)
Comments13
That is a wonderful poem Michael, the desolation it brings is amazing.
Glad to see the abstracts are back, I can see so much in your abstract artworks - thank you.
I have to say that it is one of my recent favourites - so chuffed it resonated with you as well. As for the abstracts they have taken a bit of a back seat of late as I'm involved in a couple of commissions which seem to be taking much longer than anticipated.
Also I am out today sourcing a new camera as my current one is well past it's sell by date and relies on a bit of string to get the battery out and a bit of tape to remain closed - not much fun but it has been in constant use for some 20 years.
A fine write Michael. I was not on desolate land, but was in the middle of nowhere, on country walks, where some tracks ran out at times - not well-trodden enough! Then extra tracks which were not on a map. Ahh, the ideal place to consign my singing to!
I think it was because of your singing that it was desolate Orchi - but an ideal place to practice. Can I join you?
Yes, but mind we don't fall into the Ford, or a country lake!
Great imagery crafted here.
Thank so much - appreciate your comments.
Hello Michael,
A great write, haunting, melancholy and a little sad.
Keep writing
FineB
It is sad haunting isn't it - I do appreciate your comments
Hmm, brought to mind the mother in laws garden. Only difference was, in her garden you could hear faint anguised wailing from a chasm which was her direct communication link with Hades.
I looked up from my screen and once again the sun was shining through my window. I shuddered at your melancholy words having taken me to so barren a place.
Aw thanks Dusk - are all mum-in-laws gardens the same?
An eerie landscape with the perfect picture to go with it....... we have "pocket" areas like this where there may have been a fire and half-burned dead trees stand in swampy bits with buzzards living in them........ right in the heart of beautiful rolling green ...... they are haunted places I think.
We have a few here too but there is usually some haunting birdsong and lots of gnats.
WOW MIKE ~ SCARY ~ You don't know just how appropriate your abstract is to the POEM ! It depicts "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelations chapter 6) !"
The WHITE HORSE represents the ANTICHRIST ~ The RED HORSE is WAR ~ The BLACK HORSE is FAMINE and the GREEN HORSE is DEATH ! The Book of Revelation reads like SF but it is a Prophecy of the End Times and very scary as is your POEM !
A LIFELESS LAND (2100 & Beyond ?)
Stagnant ~ lifeless ~ weeping & dank !
No BIRDS ~ no (animal or insect sounds)
Only H. Sapiens retreating ~ seeking
Seeking for Higher Ground ~ AWESOME !
Thanks for scaring & sharing ! The reason I saw the FOUR HORSEMEN in the abstract is because I am preparing a Poem on them and was looking at appropriate paintings so I had that image in my mind ! I apologise for "spiritualising" your intriguing abstract and enigmatic poem ~ but that is how they spoke to me ~ OK ~ Yours Father BRIAN !
Please check SUMMER LOVIN' Thanks B.
MIKE ~ Look closely at your abstract L to R
and you will clearly see ~ as I did ~
GREEN HORSE ~ BLACK HORSE ~ RED HORSE
Then very clearly WHITE HORSE ~ uncanny !
Also the RAVEN (Left) read to prey on the DEAD !
Some comments Brian and you've made me look at the painting afresh - it's amazing what you can read into abstract works. . And I'm sure looking forward to your 4 Horsemen poem
Michael,
An intriguing poem!
As I read the title and the first three lines, I immediately envisioned the landscape in one of Mel Gibson’s Mad Max movies! I stopped reading and looked at the abstract! It didn’t match the landscape I was thinking of. As I continued reading, my envisioned Mad Max landscape changed to something totally different! After I finished reading the poem (twice), I understood the relationship of the abstract to the poem!
Powerful closing to your excellent poem...
“...from the path now scarcely found
which weaves its way to higher ground.”
An awesome read!
~Laura~
So pleased it means so much to you - it's one of the few of my poems which I know I will be reading to myself on and off for many a moon to come.
So glad I’m in good company!
Thank you for the share!
More lifeless a land cannot be than this eerie verse paints dear Michael
A haunt of a read which pulls out all the stops on the abstract work above it..
Thanks so much Fay - it's one of those which just fell into place without too much effort - they are the ones most likely to endure.
Erm, I'm not lifeless on this Ascension Day. I'm gonna defy gravity and take off to the clouds! I shall grow some wings first and be full of life!
If you are taking off for the clouds first remove your armour. Friendly tip of the day. 🙂
This is to encourage you. At an art show, two dogs made of materials were so life-like that a real dog started barking at them. They were allowed in the marquee on leads. Everyone laughed!
I must write a poem about a painting about dogs - !
I really like the third and fourth lines. Weeping willows have always been a favorite of mine so I love how you worked them in. Very vivid pictures you paint for the mind. Great piece!
Thanks SLR - I appreciate you dropping by.
I've been trying to read as many pieces a day by as many people as possible to try to get a 'feel' of everyone's style and voice. I'm in awe of your ability to switch forms so well and so often. I don't think I have that kind of versatility with my poetry. I'm going to have to try to find a book that describes the different forms and rules for each and give it a whirl.
The best place I know is Shadow Poetry - s an on-line site which describes all the major forms. Sadly it hasn't been active for a few years and I am worried that it might disappear but it's still at the moment.
The flow of words in this brings such a lifeless place to life. You've done well my friend. I quite enjoyed this.
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