Secrets of the Temeraire




Today didn't go off to a very good start (let's just say there was some.. throwing..), but I actually recovered faster than expected. (Also, banana on toast is quite nice for a snack, I would say). After a bit of a lie-in, I was almost back to normal, the sun was shining, and I decided to plant today the mint I had been saying I would plant. So off I went to buy the seeds, and came back with mint.. and coriander, parsley, basil, thyme and rocket. And a flower mix packet for the front yard. I take gardening seriously!

(Actually, I pretty much don't. I blame my lack of patience and gardening commitment on my artistic temperament). But, now and again, I do quite enjoy faffing about in the garden, the herbs are supposedly easy to take care of - I quite like low maintenance plants - and I wanted to add colour to the front yard now that winter is behind us. During all of this, I was, of course, not writing poetry, but I like to think that every moment spent not writing can provide inspiration for another time.. After all, poetry is life, not just words on a page.. But let me not go off on too big a tangent.

Today is the first day of April, which means it is also the first day of National Poetry Writing Month! (And the more general National Poetry Month - you can read poems too..)

I'll be posting my poems here, but I will probably remove some at the end of the month, if I feel they have potential. For my first poem I've decided (pretty much just now, right this instant) to do two prompts rolled in one. The 'early bird' and day one prompt on the NaPoWriMo blog.


If you were smart
people would tell you their secrets.
You’d say, “Hey, I’m not one to judge.”

Artwork: J M.W. Turner's "Fighting Temeraire"

Secrets of the Temeraire

You know
Many things hide in the water
Reveal themselves only
At dusk and when the sun
burns one last moment, cast aside.
A thin crescent moon waiting
delicately in a corner of the sky.

A ship, in a burst of great fiery glory
Rolls its sails one last time
 mast straight and tall, proud,
Guarded and towed in an orange glow
Secrets dismantled with the wood.
In the far horizon, sees a small nod
of its former self, white sails
Telling all to the sea.

--


Disclaimer: These are poems I won't be spending a lot of time on. As such, I don't expect perfection (neither do I need it). However feel free to tell me what you think about them, and if you enjoy certain lines more than others - I'm quite OK with constructive criticism!

Are you participating in NaPo? Do you write poetry? Feel free to comment below and leave a link to your day one poems, and any general comments you wish to leave.

Comments

  1. Hi, I loved this - really beautiful, visual imagery. Suited both prompts well, especially the painting. Planting seeds is clearly more inspiring than you think!

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    1. Thank you very much! This painting is also quite inspiring. Yes, I think those seeds planted (heh heh) ideas in my head! Always nice to get a fellow tiger's comment. ;)

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  2. Great job with the quote. I like
    Reveal themselves only
    At dusk and when the sun
    burns one last moment, cast aside

    Nice write!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Kiana! Your poem about the pen - the first line made me think of Seamus Heaney's "Digging" poem! Good job, and thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. :)

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  3. I like Turner and this painting is one of my favorites. Great poem to complement it.

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  4. Water must be washing through the day's truths. Mine is also water-weighted. I like the communication you create between ship and sea.

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    1. Thank you! It's such a wonderful painting - thought it was about time I wrote about it..

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  5. Well, I really love your description - you have painted in words what Turner did in oils. Excellent ekphrasis poetry.

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  6. a neat translation of the image and so beautifully...

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  7. well penned - you give this a timeless sense ~

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