She released it like water down a drain spout
gouging out earth just to get
rid of itself,
then she ran down the beach, a long
long wave praying for liftoff.
The gull of her, the hard edges of her wings,
wanted to bank sideways, to vanish into the other
dimension, but the earth wouldn't
let her go.
gouging out earth just to get
rid of itself,
then she ran down the beach, a long
long wave praying for liftoff.
The gull of her, the hard edges of her wings,
wanted to bank sideways, to vanish into the other
dimension, but the earth wouldn't
let her go.
This poem is every reason why I love free verse, well-written, with the sense that the poet is in full control of its direction while the reader is free to fly through the ideas.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerry, I like your comment so much. It's a learning moment for me - the level of freedom a poem can have for the reader when it it open and comes from the center of the poet.
Deleteperfect. all of it.
ReplyDeleteI like the second and third lines especially. I can feel her urgent desire to be unbound, and so the ending is both hopeful and terribly sad.
ReplyDelete"The gull of her, the hard edges of her wings,"
ReplyDeleteI love this, Lorna!!! You've touched on a longing that is painful sometimes...wishing to be released from a sometimes burdensome human form.
Great poem!
I really love the image of the gull and the ending.
ReplyDeleteLovely image, Lorna.
ReplyDeleteOH! This is lovely. Especially:
ReplyDelete"then she ran down the beach, a long
long wave praying for liftoff.
The gull of her, the hard edges of her wings..."
Wonderful.
de
whimsygizmo.wordpress.com
Letting go...a flight I take sometimes with clipped wings...great piece!!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking today, as I watched a raven fly, how much I would love to fly...love this poem. So perfect for all of us who remain earth bound.
ReplyDeleteMmmm!
ReplyDelete"a long long wave praying for liftoff". Fantastic!
ReplyDelete