Eternal Dust
Cradling a handful of Illinois dust,
dry residue of sycamore, deer
and ancient Mississippians,
I splay my fingers like an eagle's claw -
releasing it to the fickle breezes.
A sudden gust of wind
swirls up an ocher cloud -
a cyclone dervish of sand and clay.
My hand, upraised for a shield
ever so briefly vanishes -
veiled by the impatient dust.
Ben Gieske
Very delightful to read and visualize. I think your poetry is more poetic these days. There is a lot of motion in this poem.
Very delightful to read and visualize. I think your poetry is more poetic these days. There is a lot of motion in this poem.
heterodynemind
Dust of an ancestor, no doubt! Wonderful images to think upon.
Dust of an ancestor, no doubt! Wonderful images to think upon.
nimal dunuhinga
Deep and I drowned in your wisdom pit! Many thanks indeed for your great comments...........really appreciated.
Deep and I drowned in your wisdom pit! Many thanks indeed for your great comments...........really appreciated.
robertchoward
Ron, after careful consideration I agree with you. So all you readers out there, when you read "cyclone dervish" be aware (if you would like to be) that it used to say "cyclonic dervish". I truly appreciate all of your comments on this very personal poem.
Ron, after careful consideration I agree with you. So all you readers out there, when you read "cyclone dervish" be aware (if you would like to be) that it used to say "cyclonic dervish". I truly appreciate all of your comments on this very personal poem.
Ron Peat
What a moment to capture. Well done. I love the image " a cyclone dervish of sand and clay" I don't think it needs the (ic) however. I think it would be a stronger image without the (ic). You could even hyphenate the two words if you wanted to make a gerund (verb as noun) . Just a thought. A handful of magic here to set the spirit adrift. I like all of it; each word leads to this poignant "impatient dust". A fantastic closing on this poem. Aren't we all. A poet friend//RH Peat
What a moment to capture. Well done. I love the image " a cyclone dervish of sand and clay" I don't think it needs the (ic) however. I think it would be a stronger image without the (ic). You could even hyphenate the two words if you wanted to make a gerund (verb as noun) . Just a thought. A handful of magic here to set the spirit adrift. I like all of it; each word leads to this poignant "impatient dust". A fantastic closing on this poem. Aren't we all. A poet friend//RH Peat
John X. McCullagh
Very special, bookmarked
Very special, bookmarked
Mark L. Berryann
Dust's content is very thought provoking.
Dust's content is very thought provoking.
Susan Jarvis
Stunning imagery - a truly magnificent poem.
Stunning imagery - a truly magnificent poem.
carol
great images in this poem
great images in this poem
Lynda Robson
Great imagery here Robert, one to read again
Great imagery here Robert, one to read again
poetwithcancer
I love the imagery in this poem. I have read it twice, and I find that it says so much more than it seems to be saying on the surface. This is a deep poem, rich with implied meanings. --Michael
I love the imagery in this poem. I have read it twice, and I find that it says so much more than it seems to be saying on the surface. This is a deep poem, rich with implied meanings. --Michael
Sandra Martyres
great imagery in this well written piece on battling Illinois dust...
great imagery in this well written piece on battling Illinois dust...
I see it...a lovely painting with words. Dorothy Singing Still