(The name "Molonglo" is derived from an Aboriginal expression meaning "sound of thunder") plum-skin lake placid marker of our city: an old river dammed, her soul confined to bed into her blank gaze, the sky is folded daily like sheets // keeper of lilac shadows and the bony dents of mountains her torrents are sent rocketing a manly fountain its spray a curtain for her grief in my dream, she finds thunder again silver sound in massive tumble like cockatoo herds that shred the clouds a thousand castanet tongues knocking fountain's arrows to their sides and rushing on too fast for beached reflections
Written for NaPoWriMo Day 25: “Today, Iβd like to challenge you to write a poem that recounts a dream or vision, and in which a woman appears who represents or reflects the area in which you live. Perhaps she will be the Madonna of the Traffic Lights, or the Mysterious Spirit of Bus Stops. Or maybe you will be addressed by the Lost Lady of the Stony Coves. Whatever form your dream-visitor takes, happy writing!” (Based on an Irish form called an aisling)
What an amazing sight! Did you take the photo? π€©
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Thanks, Ingrid. Yes, the photo is mine. That’s the Captain Cook Fountain in Lake Burley Griffin with the National Museum in the background (an orange hoop just to the left of the water spout)
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This poem moved and swayed as I read it, as if alive. Quite a nifty trick. I think the formatting has something to do with it.
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Maybe. π
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Such vivid imagery. Well done!
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Thanks!
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Beautiful, worms.
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Thank you! π
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I love the photo, Wormsie. The poem creates such a yearning in me to know the beauty of this place as it once was.
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Thanks, Tracy. I find myself with exactly that yearning more and more often.
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Absolutely brilliant. I find your most powerful poems are the ones that capture moments in nature. I love the bit about the sky being folded into sheets. Stunning choice of words in this poem. 10/10
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Thank you so much! So glad you liked it. β€
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Stunning, the whole thing. I love:
“her soul confined to bed”
“a thousand castanet tongues”
π
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Thanks. I really think parrot tongues look a little like castanets. π
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π Well I googled it and I see what you mean!
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