Thursday, October 28, 2010

MAGPIE/ Prompt #38

                                            photo/ willow/ magpie tales


SKILL

It's a skill, my father said,
as he engraved,
with fastidious dignity,
the formal letters
on the headstone.

We have done so in our family
since Pope Clement
avoided the plague.

I accepted that I had a talent
with granite,
a serenity
when I grasped the rondel
to carve an angel
on the stone,

then chisel an inventory
of Gothic letters
to mark the day.

Flesh and bones
already boxed and banded,
set below,
sealed in midnight forever.

Time begins a silent race
and who's to know
if stone or bones
will be the first
to crumble into dust.


@copyright/all rights reserved/2010


Another of the weekly challenges from Magpie Prompts..and indeed it was!!  This has brought out the best..please check all the participants!


http://www.minblu.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lynxny







47 comments:

Paul C said...

A great perspective on our creative vitality and mortality.

Berowne said...

"Sealed in midnight forever." Fine writing.

Lyn said...

Hi Paul-
Thank you so much..I strongly felt the presence of creativity and mortality...

Lyn said...

Hi Berowne-
I so appreciate your encouraging words..thanks!

Doctor FTSE said...

This is really good. I mean REALLY good.

Diane T said...

Beautifully written! I was stuck on every word!

Everyday Goddess said...

Great perspective! Artists who inscribe the head stones of the final resting place have quite an honor.

Lyn said...

Hi Doctor FTSE-
Thanks..I certainly appreciate your comment!

Lyn said...

Hi Diane T-
So glad to hear from you..more than kind!!

Lyn said...

Hi Everyday Goddess-
That certainly seems true..such a special thing to do..thanks!

kathi harris said...

Who's 2 know indeed.

MICHAEL said...

ADORABLE AND INTERESTING! SELAED IN

Jingle said...

sweet and smart,
Glad to hear your father's words.
well done.

Lyn said...

Hi Kathi-
Thank you..and of course it doesn't matter!!

Lyn said...

Hi Michael-
Nice thing to say..thank you!

Lyn said...

Hi Jingle-
Glad you like my fictional father's words..all for poetry! Thanks...

Jinksy said...

An elegant offering...beautifully done.

Kay L. Davies said...

Well put.
I particularly like "and who's to know if stones or bones will be the first to crumble..."

Unknown said...

This is fabulous, Lyn. I love it!

Anonymous said...

Good grief! What a fantastic poem... and what an ending. Thanks for sharing!

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick-
Welcome back!! And thanks for the wonderful comment..poems show up!

TALON said...

I loved the imagery..."a talent with granite".

Obviously, a talent for writing too.

Anonymous said...

a well-honed poem - loved the question in the final stanza - who knows, indeed?

Dick said...

A strong authentic voice and a powerful representation of the mason's relationship with his craft.

Tess Kincaid said...

I've always been fascinated with the craft of the stone mason. Excellent piece, Lyn. I loved this.

Lyn said...

Hi Jinksy-
Lovely comments like yours are what urge me on...thank you!!

Lyn said...

Hi Kay-
Thanks for visiting and for your very nice comment!

Lyn said...

Hi daddywasa....
What a great name and what a wonderful comment!! Thank you...

Lyn said...

Hi Talon-
I will keep plugging away, comments like yours, so welcome!!

Lyn said...

Hi gospelwriter-
Good to hear from you, I too like unsolvable questions!!

Lyn said...

Hi Dick-
Thank you...I had to do a bit of research for this one...but I love research!!

Lyn said...

Hi Willow-
Just looking at the letters on your photo brought this on..that's how it seems to work for me..keep 'em coming!! And..thank you!

Martin said...

"..Flesh and bones
already boxed and banded,
set below,
sealed in midnight forever.." Excellent.

Brian Miller said...

ah you get to write the last word on teh life that now lays there...then lay down their pen...

Lyn said...

Hi Martin H-
So good to hear from you and your lovely comment...thanks!

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
Brian, is there really a last word for writers?? Hope you haven't had yours yet!! Always great to hear from you...

Abhilasha-The Desire said...

Lovely imagery Lyn... loved the last line,stone or bones which one dust first...

Lyn said...

Hi Abhilasha-
I appreciate your generous words..thanks so much!

Tumblewords: said...

An exceptionally fine poem!

batsick said...

Cool! I loved this one!!

Lyn said...

Hi Tumblewords-
Very nice to hear from you, and thanks!

Lyn said...

Hi Shigune-
So glad you enjoyed this..Thank you!!

Angie Muresan said...

Lyn, your poetry is always so vivid and well done. I am in awe. Do you publish anywhere? You should get them published.

Lyn said...

Hi Angie-
Thank you for the encouraging words..I do have a book..TWO GHOSTS/poems/Lyn Rochelle.
amazon.com
Love to write..don't much care for the business part!!

Lyn said...

Hi Jingle-
The most generous gestures from you, always..thanks so much!

Helen said...

One of the most unique interpretations of Willow's photo! I so enjoyed this ..........

Lyn said...

Hi Helen
I don't know where this came from. Deep inside , I guess!! Thanks so much!

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