Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Message

                                                                                     
My friend Margaret Gosden created this artwork to celebrate the finding of a message in a bottle many years ago. 
(Learn more of her techniques at http://mgosden.blogspot.com). 
I intended to write a poem about her experience but something more personal evolved.

THE MESSAGE

I am a message,
A message in a bottle.
I am also the bottle.
We are indivisible.

I was cast upon the waters
'In the beginning'.

The glass from which I was fashioned was glossy then,
With a shimmering sheen.
I bobbed merrily
In playful waves.

My message was safe,
On crisply folded paper.

The tides pulled, 
The currents dragged,
The winds toyed.
But my destination was inevitable.

Later came the debris,
The flotsam and jetsam,
The irritating loveliness
Of other passing bottles.
Some collided with me,
For good or ill.

Sometimes storms came.
I rolled,
I dived,
I twisted.
Yet I survived.
My glass was strong;
My message was safe.

Still crisp,
Still neatly folded.

Now hairline cracks appear in the glass!
Will the message be ruined?

 I float towards
The Destination.
I can see it from here.
It is swathed in cloud.

Shall I smash on the rocks?
Or shall I mysteriously
Move into the cloud
And find that I have been wrong all along?

If the 'me' of the bottle smashes
The 'me' of the message will also be destroyed.

And will that matter?
The message is banal anyway.

It merely says 
'I AM'


43 comments:

nonizamboni said...

My message was safe.
Lovely and thought provoking poem!
Thanks for sharing your talent--and your friend's.

Tash said...

Gorgeous art - both the poem and the painting. The poem touched me very much.

Darlene said...

A lovely message; I AM. I guess that says it all. Thanks for the artistic endeavors of your friend and you.

pictureeachday said...

Gosh, I love this philosophical poem. It is beautiful.

Your friend's art is amazing as well. I am going to have to take a look at her techniques!

Margaret Gosden said...

Oh, wow! Totally unexpected and SO thoughtful! Thank you Rinkly. Stimulating, to say the least!

Jane Hards Photography said...

I have always wanted to find a message in a bottle. Perhaps I should throw one of Ramsey Jetty and see if it gets to you.This artwork is intriguing.

Kat said...

After sailing the sea-of-life, could we add " a wonderful poet and person" to the " I AM"

Amy-Baskin.blogspot.com said...

Love your work. You never disappoint.

Granny Smith said...

This a an awe-inspiring poem. I admire your skill. Your friends picture is a good accompaniment.

Old Egg said...

An extraordinarily beautiful poem with the encapsulated mirror of life.
Wonderful!

Christine Darling said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
keiths ramblings said...

This is really beautiful and so different from the work of yours I usually enjoy.

Rosey said...

This is truly deep and meaningful. I love it

Anonymous said...

Very nice poem.

Julie Jordan Scott said...

I love that flotsam and jetsam were included in the message....

Understanding Alice said...

You have thought about this a lot I see... well written and intriguing artwork to match!

Larry McCay said...

Very Ayn Rand - Anthem - love it!

Vagabond Princess

Archna Sharma said...

What a journey! of life. I loved the theme of water. Thank you for sharing!

http://archnasharma.blogspot.com/

Annie Jeffries said...

From "In the beginning..." to "I AM", there is a whole life's story inbetween.

Americanising Desi said...

just toooooooooooooooooooo good!

i love it! every word!

Message-s

Unknown said...

We are indivisible.
Love that line.
Wow.

geeta said...

the combination of the artwork and your poetry is perfect...
Awesome

rxBambi said...

wow.
Stopped by from theme thursday thinking I'd skim your post and move on. Ha. Jokes on me, I am really moved by your work. I'll be back.

Hope that's not too stalkie...

Ed & Jeanne said...

My message says "Sam...Sam I am". Our messages would go together nicely...

Anonymous said...

Good one Brenda, and the art as well :)

Alan Burnett said...

Lovely poem, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Brian Miller said...

wonderful read...

California Girl said...

One of the other bloggers wrote a story which would fit beautifully with this poem. Trouble is, I read that post early this AM and cannot remember whose. If I do, I'll leave another comment. You'll probably figure it out if you go through all the posts.

Anonymous said...

Beautifully done! When the message and the vessel are one, neither can be completely destroyed.

Mine is here.

Jessie said...

hmmmm...i could really do some deep thinking on this one.

well done!
smiles,

Tom said...

I am. Cool. Next time put it in a plastic bottle...it'll last ten thousand years.

Jaime said...

great poem.

C.M. Jackson said...

thank you for such a beautiful post!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Oh wow, does this poem ever bring me up short and make me think. I love the wear and tear as time goes on.......the wondering about the destination....the message: banal yet profound at the same time: I Am. So well done!

Square Corner said...

You tell a great story in this poem. Glad to be part of Poets United to read works like this.

Diane T said...

Truly, the message is NOT so banal. Very nice poem, and I like the way it is shaped too.

Susannah said...

Oooh, I love this. What a beautiful and meaningful poem. It's wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Your poem so aptly describes the turbulent life course that carries us along and tosses us about at will..lovely imagery. And your friends artwork is brilliant...I'm heading over there now!

Lynette

Paul Andrew Russell said...

A lovely poem. :-)

Deborah said...

Wonderful symbolism, so well written!

Ella said...

I love the idea,the message of "I am" no matter what, no matter the toll we endure, our essence,soul is preserved~

Elizabeth said...

So many thoughts ran through my head when I read that final I Am. It is written that God's name is I Am. But then Walt Whitman wrote about our relationship to the Other I Am, that one that speaks from the subconscious mind. And finally the other individual who made the message, sealed it carefully and tossed it into the sea. I love your poem, and will take my thoughts with me. Thank you,

Elizabeth

rashmi said...

Hi Brenda,
Very happy yet thoughtful to read your poem.You made me think about the whole life....Yes what you said is true..Only the message matters "I am".Great poem dear...