I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

11 August 2013

Soltary Gingko Walk, Evening

winter sunlight
an unknown bird
shrieking

late afternoon
purple flowers 
huddle together 

the sun dazzling
just before dusk
birds converse

August afternoon
clouds stipple the sky
behind the mountain

twilight
two girls in tight pants
walking fast

on the far road
small car tows caravan
a mapgie flies over

late winter sun
the sustained chirrups
of homing birds

Sunday evening
the big truck
heads home empty

dots of clover
in the nature strip
the sun lowers

shadows lengthen
the birds get busy
before bed

wattle and bottlebrush
paint the street yellow
dusk falls

the smell of cooking
voices through flywire
dark coming down







Old friends in Melbourne posted on facebook about poetry walks: Jennie Fraine is creating a series of Spring walks for people who like to walk and write at the same time; Myron Lysenko posted a reminder about an upcoming gingko walk (for the purpose of creating haiku). These are group events, and Melbourne is too far away these days, but I decided to take the hint and set off on a solitary walk of my own, armed with notebook, pen and camera.

Submitted for Poets United's Poetry Pantry #162

Some people saw this before I decided to add photos. After reading kind comments suggesting I had made word pictures, I wondered if adding actual snaps was a mistake. Upon reflection, and after seeking some readers' opinions, I have made the photos small and moved them to the end of the poem. I like it very much that the words create pictures in people's imaginations, so I didn't want to interfere too much with that.

24 comments:

  1. A very nice sequence, Rosemary!

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  2. like photographs recording single moments in time... beautiful

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  3. My favorite is the wattle and bottlebrush. Everything is vivid and active,Nice bouquet of impressions.

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  4. pretty cool...like little flashes in a camera, each little view adds up to a whole picture...this is a pretty cool approach...

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    1. ok, personally i like it better with out the pics...its cool, because i get to see with your eyes, but without them i see with my imagination...

      thats why my pics usually have nothing to do with my poem...ha...

      maybe its a preference..but you asked...smiles.

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    2. Thanks Brian, I agree. But as others liked having the photos, I have now grouped them after the poem, so hopefully people may form their mental pictures first.

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    3. hey i like them at the end...smiles.

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  5. Rosemary,

    Thank you for walking, recording and sharing in words, the results of your walk. The photographs paint a wonderful and realistic image, to those who are unfamiliar with your locality. A rewarding insight...

    Eileen

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  6. I liked the addition of photos, Rosemary. Not a mistake at all!

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    1. Thanks, Mary, for coming back to see. I feel they robbed people of the chance to form their own mental images, but as you and Eileen liked them, I have compromised by moving them to the end. (Also took a couple out and made them smaller than the versions Eileen saw.)

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  7. What an awesome idea to do a poetry-walk. I loved this post as it felt as if I had come along for the lovely walk and managed to enjoy the beautiful scenery right along with you.

    I particularly loved the lines about the sun dazzling just before dusk, as well as the clouds stippling the sky. Such beautiful imagery. I will be back to read more of your work. :)

    Cheers,
    Anne

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  8. Thank you for saying so! Yes, in the past I have done that too - walk first for inspiration, and write later. Now I am a bit hooked on doing both at once, and am thinking of seeking other local poets to join me.

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  9. such vivid and colourful details.wonderful.

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  10. I think I have been doing poetry walks more than I realised. Trouble is, often my poetry springs from one impulse which leads to another - sometimes alternative impulse. Love this gathering of poetic cameos. Like bowling small balls of colour and character toward us one at a time.

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    1. There's something different about doing them consciously, though. And in a group ginko walk, participants decide on a theme (so I, doing mine alone, took the theme of evening). Having a theme might take care of any potential contradictions. :)

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  11. Love the results of your walk - a whole "bouquet" as a previous commenter said. Am more inspired to be starting this craze around our gorgeous wild country here in Victoria. Myron leading the second one should be a real treat. Thanks for getting the ball rolling so poetically!

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    1. Well, thanks to you and Myron for inspiring me! It definitely won't be my last.

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  12. I loved walking along with you, Rosemary. Cool idea!

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  13. I always like to have pics! It complements the poem irrespective where these are positioned, beginning or at the ending. When you make it a walking journey it is all the more interesting. We're walking together! Good thinking Rosemary! And great pics!

    Hank

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  14. i liked the sequence of little 'snapshots' you posted. very cool images. :)

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