Wednesday, January 15, 2014

A Gibbous Moon

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If I were to open
a blue door
into the murmurous silence,
would you rend your garments
and hang upside down
from the yew tree
under a spiritous moon?

Tongues grow wild
and shadows dance upon the walls
in the glow of the candles,
and only blackness
answers
when one contemplates
a gibbous moon.

Brendan, over at Real Toads, set us the task of using the words outlined in bold to write a poem of Moon Madness, as Plath-like as possible. These lines just tumbled out all on their own so I set them here undisturbed, as I have no idea what they mean or where they came from. Just grateful that they came.

Re-posted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry

52 comments:

  1. For whatever reason, this reminds me of a more sophisticated "Where the Wild Things Are" !!

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  2. The second verse is plain beautiful. The blackness answering to the contemplation over a gibbous moon. The relation here of the moon's illumination and the darkness comes out clearly.
    -HA

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  3. Odd, isn't it, that a gibbous moon invokes the wildest darkness? The more we stare into the face of that moon, the spookier it gets. That must be an old, odd sensation for the human species. Loved it!

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  4. The voice in the first verse knows that her if/then is impossible and plunges on into the illuminated darkness to wild voices answering. Sense of great speed here. Surreal.

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  5. Surreal yes, but somehow wedded beautifully with the image, making a whole package.

    Elizabeth

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  6. i wish i had words like these "just tumble out" ~ fantastic & fantastical, Sherry!

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  7. I wish words like these would just come to me!

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  8. Sherry~ Your words do dance... love it!

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  9. nicely done Sherry.. a great poem with good use of the prompt words...

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  10. I really like moon poems and found this one a treat and yes, I would hang upside down.

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  11. Love that first stanza.. rending garments and hanging upside down on the yew tree.. yes!

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  12. These are beautiful words from your beautiful subconscious. Thus the actual meaning is irrelevant, we must just read in a different dimension, outside our rational brain. I envy you when your mind just gifts you with words like these. Pure poetry.

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  13. It is amazing. The lovely words flow naturally from you.

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  14. There is a sense of the surreal...questions often go unanswered when we interrogate the moon

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  15. I can visualize a huge canvas with the vivid images you've painted...a wonderful moon poem......'

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  16. I love the moon, and I love this. It feels so wild and right.

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  17. There is something remarkable in a gibbous moon - we know the whole is there but we cannot see it. You have brought out the sense of unease in your lines, but also some of the magic too.

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  18. I always feel a mystery in the shadows from the candle -an eerie look over my shoulder feel into the darkness beyond. Very nice work!

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  19. Feels very Maurice Sendak-like. A beautiful write, Sherry. I enjoyed the surreal mystical nature of it.

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  20. I love this for I have a passion for the Gibbous Moon! I love that word. ;)

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  21. Only you could 'untumble' words and end up with a lovely poem!

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  22. i really liked the spiritous moon. that's the moon i know. i dig your weave on moon madness. and as usual, thanks for the love at my place. you are such a good woman. peace and love:)

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  23. I like the feel of this - velvety, inquisitive. Happy weekend, Sherry ~

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  24. Wow Sherry-I love yours, so many wonderful lines-I can't pick~ You paint the moon with awe!

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  25. beautiful....every time...I got a more better meaning after reading..thats the spirit of the poem I think...enjoyed...and loved the second stanza....

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  26. I reread and reread. I liked tongues grow wild and I liked the first stanza too...I liked it all very much.

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  27. Beautiful imagery in your poem, Sherry! I like the idea of a 'murmurous silence'.

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  28. Beautifully done, with words that present quite a challenge.

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  29. ...this is intriguingly surreal & sensual, sherry... too many things it brings to mind... smiles...

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  30. how did i miss this earlier in the week...i am sorry...smiles...hey if i need to hang upside down i will...smiles. that second stanza is really cool though sherry...lots of nice elements...and imagery...

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  31. The glow of candles - One tiny light that infuses a whole world, this is very nicely done

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  32. Cool!
    that's some surreal and dark images that came from those 'tumbled out' words. :)

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  33. Hanging upside down beneath a moon seems near-crazy, especially with rent garments. The next level of a full moon would bring something quite interesting, I'm sure.

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  34. a great one... those poems that just pour out are the best. they demand to be written.

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  35. That's a good way of creating wonderful poetry. Somehow one feels the choice of words is in tandem with the way it is used. That is ok! Nicely Sherry!

    Hank

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  36. Moon inspires so much in each of us..beautiful write Sherry. :)

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  37. Ah Sherry--and I am glad to read them this morning--just gorgeous!

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  38. I like to think the universe is speaking through me when words come out that way. Also, it always seems to turn out better than when I write it on my own. I'm glad you were receptive enough to the spirit to listen and write it down for us.

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  39. This is a wonderful composition... great end . you really expressed the moon - madness (or is it lunacy)...

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  40. "...answers
    when one contemplates
    a gibbous moon."
    ...being more than half full...is quite a question to be presented to, for an answer. :-)
    Nicely written.
    ZQ


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  41. luv the theme of moon; and your poem is awesome; have a nice Sunday; thanks for stooping over at my blog


    much love...

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  42. Don't you just love those poems that seem to write themselves? !!! But you are the scribe... and you got it down right!! Beautiful!!

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  43. Love that opening stanza, Sherry...beautifully executed,

    Elizabeth

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  44. I missed this also earlier. Glad i got a second shot well done sherry :) Strong open!

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  45. Rendered speechless by the opening 4 lines. Fab!

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  46. You did this prompt justice, Sherry, as you turn your keen eye on nature, the moon, the night.

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  47. "and shadows dance upon the walls
    in the glow of the candles,
    and only blackness
    answers"

    What lines ! simply love them..

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