Poetry Dreams

I dream fragments of poetry, 
	my pen balanced in my hand, 
	journal opened to that page 
	already darkened 
	with blots of frustration,
	asterisks for seemingly important ideas, 
	collections of words and phrases 
	intended for collage and inspiration,
	pleas for clarity.
		 
	My poems appear haltingly, 
	in bits and pieces 
	written in several colors of ink,
	each suited to the nature 
	of the several ideas that flit 
	through my paper mind: 
	vermillion extracted from cinnabar, 
	thinned with vodka for my good days; 
	palest sky-blue from the seed of the avocado 
	bathed in water and lye, 
	for those times when I know I can fly;
	ocean-blue ultramarine 
	ground from lapis lazuli, 
	used carefully when I feel a need for absence;
	brown leached from oak galls 
	steeped in acidic water, 
	yielding ink such that when employed, 
	dissolves the paper 
	beneath the words I have written, 
	leaving a lacework of poetry; 
	yellow from crushed petals of the marigold, 
	soaked in tears for when I am confused, 
	noir-black dipped from the depths 
	of my melancholy. 
	
	The final poems, 
	the ones I can live with, 
	come into focus
	only after passage through 
	the fermentation of language 
	essential for developing notes 
	of flowers, stones, and juniper.
	Only then are they shared.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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A   Avatar
May 8, 2013 at 9:22 PM
Jack, a nice little free verse poem :-) congratulations~ LINDA
Jordan Avatar
May 9, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate your letting me know that I needed to look at the contest results... Jack
Hunter Avatar
May 7, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Jack, this is stunning...I love where you went with it. And i know what you mean with the bits and pieces here and there...to anyone else it would look like a disaster area!
Jordan Avatar
May 7, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Thanks for the nice compliment. Yes, a disaster area. Creativity is a messy process. I was taught long ago that it was linear, but I have never experienced it that way. Frankly, I enjoy the mess... Jack
Kendrick Avatar
May 7, 2013 at 8:19 AM
Very descriptive work about what a poet sometimes goes through to the poem upon the page..Enjoyed reading this morn..I do have a cat and she does enjoy bird snacks..I don't like that but that is the nature of things..Thanks for stopping by..Oh, the cat has slowed down on how many she catches now..She likes chipmonk, squirrel, and field mice also..Sara
Jordan Avatar
May 7, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Inherent traits cannot be forgotten. We gave up on bird feeding for just that reason. Our big male cat was a very successful hunter, but we felt iike we were luring his prey. We miss the birds, but we know the birds still sing elsewhere, and the cat never goes hungry on the cans of food we feed him... Jack
Hicks Avatar
May 6, 2013 at 1:44 AM
It's called Silent Letters, whenever you wish to check it out. Nothing too deep, just me having some fun...
Jordan Avatar
May 6, 2013 at 7:36 AM
Oh... You did post it. Sorry... Nicely done, and maybe you have a good point. Jack
Hicks Avatar
May 6, 2013 at 12:10 AM
I love how crazily your imagination went with this. Though I do admit there were several words I had to look up (perhaps I don't have the best vocabulary... lol). Whenever I get inspired they come in short little bursts. If it's not complete in 20 minutes or so, I will have most likely lost the idea and will not ever come back to it. This is why I believe novels are completely out of my reach.. whimsical writing, Jack! And I will let you know when I post that poem that "played with punctuation".
Jordan Avatar
May 6, 2013 at 7:32 AM
The difference in our vocabulary is nothing more than age, so don't worry about it. I still look up words on a regular basis. Please do post your poem. Jack
Komala Avatar
May 5, 2013 at 9:38 AM
very amazing write dear friend Jack,.. thank you for sharing ...enjoyed your write <3 :) Sk
Jordan Avatar
May 5, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Thank you. I appreciate both the read and comment... Jack
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