We’ve immersed ourselves in water for this prompt and the words flowed as if the floodgates were open and left to run free. And yet we made our choices:
WALT’S SELECTION:
I have a partiality to the seashore and this vignette seems hauntingly familiar to me. Marian had captured the scene precisely. It spoke to me in hushed tones and my heart was touched by this poem.
This photo is exactly your poem Marian!
An obvious choice for my bloom.
At the Edge of the Sea by Marian Veverka
She stoops and bends her knees,
draws her hand along the still-wet sand
The tide is turning and the sand
for the moment is newly-born.
She cannot resist the small shining
shells peeking from its surface.
Carefully she slips her hand beneath
them and draws them out.
This sky so intensely blue.
This solemn sea, the sea-gulls
wheeling, crying.. The waves
breaking on the sand without a sound
For a moment all of it is hers…
then gently, she lets it slip
from between her fingers.
WILLIAM PRESTON’S CHOICE:
It’s a pleasure to award my final “Bloom” to RJ for this poem. For me, this piece has its own magic in the form she chose; in the alliteration and assonance it contains; and in the allusion to dance, an art form that is, in my mind anyway, well suited to this poetic form. In addition to that, the poem places the reader in the orchestra pit, alluding to the passive-active involvement that readers have with poems as they read (or hum) along. In short, this poem works on so many levels, including the playful point of view that RJ often brings to her work. In my opinion, this poem, like the poet herself, is a treasure.
Water Magic by RJ Clarken
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” ~Loren Eiseley
You only have to glance at it,
as sunlight glints on its expanse.
Magical enchantment rises
and then, your gaze just cannot quit,
because you’re beckoned to the dance.
You laugh. You laugh at its surprises
and by its shoreline you will sit,
in contemplation, dream or trance.
All’s revealed. There’s no disguises.
You’re in nature’s orchestral pit;
You hum along, your one great chance.
Unscripted time improvises.
Water’s magic’s celebrated
as you’re wholly captivated.
I thank Marie and Walt for the opportunity to contribute to this site in Walt’s absence. It was great fun but it was just one of those things; a trip to the moon on gossamer wings, to borrow a couple of Cole Porter’s lines. Eventually, the garden comes around right again: it is gratifying that Walt is back at the hoe, even as it is sad that Marie is not. In the garden as in life, however, evolution goes on; there will be exciting times as the garden grows—and perhaps changes—under the hands of all of us who love it.
These two poems are homage to the essence of the silvery liquid. Lovely chioices.
I have always loved RJ’s poetry, and recently became a fan of Marian’s, so these choices please me endlessly. Well done, ladies!
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Both poems are beautiful water choices. Marian and RJ wonderful work deserving of the bloom.
Excellent winning poems! Congratulations to Marian and RJ.
Marian – your poem is wonderful. Walt – excellent choice for a Bloom!
William – thank you so much for your kind words! It means a great deal to me.
And please, let me echo what William said about this place. My being able to participate as a wee fill-in for In-form Poet was truly an honor (and lots of fun!) I will miss Marie’s gently hand here on that regular basis, but am really looking forward to seeing what waters Walt steers this fantastic site in.
♥ ♥ ♥
Walt, this photo was used once for an ekphrastic poetry prompt. And you are right, it pairs perfectly with Marian’s poem. And RJ, Will summed it up so succinctly there really isn’t much more to say but “Here, Here!” Congratulations to you both.
Love these poems! Marian, your poem is so beautiful – your words put me right into the scene. Thanks!
Yes. Fabulous choices. But as always, there are others that could just as easily been chosen.
RJ and William: I have no words to thank you for how generous you both were (and continue to be) with your time, how professional, how talented, how kind … Just wow.
Lovely poems. Thank you for the ride. Thanks.
Beautiful selections!! Congratulations, Marian and RJ!!
Congrats to Marian and RJ. Excellent choices.
Beautiful blooms indeed!!
Congratulations, Marian…I can see why that image came to mind Walt…nice!
William it was such an excellent adventure with your green-thumb at work…your encouragement and inspired poetry are treasured…thank you.
Rj…congratulations and thank you for all of the tilling, seeding and tending as you bravely, humorously and poignantly led us through some wonderful “In-Form Poet” times!!
water water everywhere
and not a drop to drink
slimed and greasy
from run off
in the harbours
polluted rivers
chemical waste dumping ground
and who can point the finger
clear cool water
flowing from a tap with ecoli
and cholera in the third world
acid rain smearing
the windscreens
of our petrol guzzling vehicles
water
our most precious commodity
destroyed
by man’s greed and lack of respect
for the environment
the natural world suffering
as a consequence
if an oversized meteorite
struck the planet earth
it would be destroyed
and i ask myself
would this be a bad thing?
Walt – Thank you for linking that lovely picture with my poem. I do love the shore especially when the shore is that of Lke Erie.! Again, thanks for choosing my poem.
Congratulations to Marian and RJ! Wonderful poems!!
Congratulations Marian and RJ! Marian did capture that scene perfectly and RJ excelled as always in form and substance 😉 Thank you William for stepping in to help, for your poetry and wit. Look forward to seeing your poems in the garden. 🙂