The Find: Poets' Table, 2008 [for mugs]

[LynnDoiron]

The Find: Poets’ Table, 2008
                        for Maggie Flanagan-Wilkie

You will follow blue diamonds
on the trailhead, crisscross wildflowers
and water’s fickle ways down
from Harney Peak. For now, a breeze
trickles southern hills viewed
from the summit; your breath catches,
dangles with the give and take
of racing pulse on the spectacle
                of Cathedral Spires,
                Little Devils Tower.
How is it chance gives you
this place on this day of perfect dawn?
Still, your poet’s pen will seek
to copper-edge, electrify, those
starts and ends of light’s rotation.
Here, raw scars heal to skins of memory.
A moth goes silver in the lampglow,
your table is star-crowded with song.

[Tina (Firefly)]

Lynnie, this may have been written for Magpie, but it is truly a fine gift for all who read it. Even more than usual, your language elevates and shapes the elegance of poetry. When I read :

"Your breath catches, dangles with the give and take of a racing pulse on the spectacle.."

I am simply and profoundly awed that you are able to capture (on paper) such moments as these.

Thank you for the past year of wonderful poetry from your pen. You are loved and cherished. Tina

[LynnDoiron]

Thanks, T. There is a "Poets Table" in Custer State Park in SD that Maggie sent me info about. The park people move the table every year to some unmentioned local with spectacular views . . . the trick is to hike until you find it!

Glad you enjoyed the poem. I loved the love in your carol to eric, just haven't had time to comment -- but will. Love to you and Richard [and eric, too]!

lynnie

[ramadevi]

I just adore reading your poems! They never fial to delight me with thier detail and to augment my appreciation of the art of poetry with their delivery.

This is a beautiful gift for Mags.... and well deserved!

I just LOVE it!

The language is rich and descriptive. Thoguh it flows well in its present formatting, i find it too congested by the time i reach the end. Actulaly, let me rephrase that. It is not congestive,. It is actually fine as is, but the phrases are so outstanding that i would almost prefer to see them oustanding (ie? standing out on thier own).

If this were my poem, I'd keep the first part as is, because the flow and interconnectivity of it works cohesivelty to set the scene and mood. But i would break up the second section after the pivot in the middle. (in terms of spacing)

You will follow blue diamonds
on the trailhead, crisscross wildflowers
and water’s fickle ways down
from Harney Peak. For now, a breeze
trickles southern hills viewed
from the summit; your breath catches,
dangles with the give and take
of racing pulse on the spectacle
of Cathedral Spires,
Little Devils Tower.

How is it chance gives you
this place on this day of perfect dawn?

Still, your poet’s pen will seek
to copper-edge, electrify, those
starts and ends of light’s rotation.

Here, raw scars heal to skins of memory.

A moth goes silver in the lampglow,
your table is star-crowded with song.

Well, it is just a thought. I may very well read this tomorrow and find i prefer the original. (it is late night here in INDia)...off for some z's

Kudos ~

[Ron Wallace (Scotshawk)]

Such a fine use of voice, but you always accomplish that. Your tone takes on an almost prayer like reverence though that just fills the poem with images of great beauty. Although it's all yours in every way, it reminded me of one of my favorites, Edward Abbey who also wrote with such reverence about the west. Loved it. Ron