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.

13 April 2015

The House Is Quiet Because It Has To Be

Riffing off Wallace Stevens

 The night is completely hushed.
House and street are still.
Is there moonlight? No, not tonight.
Quiet and darkness fold my house and me —
because this is my refuge;
it shelters me in its cloak of silence. This house
has just my old cat and me now
to stir it up, but we are not very loud. We can
be whatever we like here, and we choose soft.


 Prompt 12 for 'Poems in April' at 'imaginary garden with real toads' is to 'write a new poem or prose poem inspired by a line, title, verse or style of Wallace Stevens'. The title of this poem is a line from a Stevens poem called 'The House Was Quiet and the World Was Calm'. The line was in past tense but I've changed it to present. The poem is another first word acrostic.
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20 comments:

  1. Maude Lynn13 April 2015 at 00:59

    I really like this, Rosemary.

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  2. brudberg13 April 2015 at 01:58

    Wonderful ways to use the words of Wallace... to live in solitude with a cat is such a nice thing...

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  3. Kerry O'Connor13 April 2015 at 02:07

    We can
    be whatever we like here, and we choose soft.

    What a peaceful existence you have captured here. Lovely.

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  4. Sherry Blue Sky13 April 2015 at 02:34

    I so adore this, the quiet house as refuge, you and the car, "and we choose soft." Brilliant and perfect, Rosemary!

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  5. Sanaa Rizvi13 April 2015 at 03:00

    This was so beautiful...!! adored these lines:

    Quiet and darkness fold my house and me —
    because this is my refuge;

    This gives such a peaceful feeling... sort of makes me want to lie in the darkness and listen to the sounds coming out the window :D
    Have a great week ahead :)
    xoxo

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  6. Grace13 April 2015 at 03:20

    Soft & quiet are good for me too ~ This is a different way of using acrostic, I like it ~

    Thanks for linking up with Real Toads & wishing you Happy Sunday ~

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  7. Anonymous13 April 2015 at 05:14

    So beautiful... I actually read a line that you hadn't written because I was so into the poem (makes no sense at all, but trust me it's a good thing) - I added something to it that wasn't there because my mind was so much in what I was reading... Ah, well... Can't explain. Loved this, in any case!

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade13 April 2015 at 07:57

      I am so curious now! Won't you tell me the line and where it came for you?

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  8. Gillena Cox13 April 2015 at 08:31

    oh another phrase acroustic, this is the secon one i have encountered among my fellow 'toads'; i am yet to try one; a delightful write

    thanks for dropping in today at my Sunday Lime

    much love...

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  9. Ravenblack13 April 2015 at 09:21

    One's house is a place of safety, a place for rest; there's a feeling of comfort in this poem. :)

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  10. Debi Swim13 April 2015 at 09:53

    and we choose soft.... I could be very happy in that place. Love this Rosemary. I see you are still having fun with this. : )

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  11. Outlawyer13 April 2015 at 10:40

    This is just lovely, Rosemary, a new favorite. k. (Manicddaily)

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  12. Jim13 April 2015 at 12:40

    I like reading the 'word acrostic', Rosemary. Yours turned out nice. Our house has become a little quieter again because our street has been detoured around. We have a new patch of pavement in front and some more up at the corner.
    ..

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  13. Susie Clevenger13 April 2015 at 15:23

    "We can be whatever we like here, and we choose soft." A perfect choice. Such a lovely piece.

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  14. grapeling13 April 2015 at 15:42

    gentle, and yet strong ~

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  15. Sumana Roy13 April 2015 at 21:02

    "we choose soft." a perfect attitude to life..sooooo love this form...i'll try it someday...

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  16. hedgewitch14 April 2015 at 01:39

    Sometimes soft is the best way to be--and the sense of refuge and place here is strong.

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  17. Mark Kerstetter14 April 2015 at 05:18

    Great way to use the Stevens line. "We can be whatever we like here" -- love that.

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  18. Susan14 April 2015 at 05:41

    Choosing soft imakes it a refuge to me.

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  19. The Bizza14 April 2015 at 10:17

    And how wonderful it is to be able to choose soft! Enjoyed reading this.

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