Monday, May 7, 2012

Landscape Artist


LANDSCAPE ARTIST

I was the first! When the world was new,
I did what all great rivers do.
I found my way by rock and hill,
This way and that quite free until
I bubbled up among the reeds.
I didn't follow any leads,
I merely babbled as I went,
Designing to my heart's content.
Shall I go right? Yes, there's a way;
I'll coil around that lump of clay.
Shall I go straight? All clear ahead!
Wow! I'm creating a river-bed!
Here's a great tree; I'll pause a while;
I'll curve and loop for another mile.
The ground is flat; I'll grow more wide;
I'll stretch and stretch from side to side.
Here's a gorge! I'll be compressed.
But I'll still rush on without a rest.
Finally, I will reach the sea
And pose myself as an estuary.
In time, when I am in my place,
Someone will invent the human race.
Men will place houses where I bend,
And think that it's a designer trend.
They'll 'take advantage' of my attributes,
Finding my gracious curving suits
Many ideas they have in mind.
And, silent still, I'll onward wind
Giving 'river views' to wealthy clients,
Who never question my compliance.
I'll smile as I follow my usual route;
A Landscape Artist of Repute.
*
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FLIGHT

Though the earth give way beneath our feet
And the coming day be hard to meet,
We all have wings to make life sweet.
So fly.
*
Some may fly on the wings of song;
Their voices may ring out clear and strong
On bell-like  tones they may fly along.
So fly.
*
Some may fly on the power of word
Imagined, spoken, written, heard.
Every syllable like a bird.
So fly.
*
Others may swoop on wings of art.
A simple line may be the start;
A splash of colour may reach the heart.
So fly
*
Others may seek the notes of strings;
A violin says many things.
An orchestra has gossamer wings.
So fly.
*
All these things can make us fly
Way up into a clear, blue sky.
Never seek to ask 'But why?
Just fly.
* 

15 comments:

Mimi Foxmorton said...

Some very beautiful words.......

Kathe W. said...

I love your idea of the river being the artist.
and yes! we should all fly. Lovely.

Berowne said...

Have faith in Rinkly, O my friends!
Some time before this old world ends
She’ll deal with all the worst and best.
(Surely that’s an acid test.)
She writes of life with lines sublime:
Perfect meter, solid rhyme.

Tess Kincaid said...

Charming...I did what all great rivers do...

JBinford-Bell said...

I like how you wove the forming of a poem into the birth of a river.

EG CameraGirl said...

Your imagination is so wonderful. I've never thought of a river as a landscape artist before.

Dave King said...

The opening couplet of "Landscape Artist" could hardly be bettered. It had me excited from the beginning. I was not disappointed.

Helen said...

River on a mission ... great poem!

ND Mitchell said...

Loved the rhythm of "Landscape Artist". It's full of energy, just like the river itself...

Brian Miller said...

ha a landscape artist for sure....there is much for us to learn from the river....just finding its own way

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Nothing like water to shape the landscape, very nicely captured images in this poem.

And "Flight," all I can say is absolutely gorgeous! This may be my favorite of all your poems that I've read!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Two very beautiful poems! I especially love "so fly"!!

Peggy said...

I like that you wrote from the river's point of view and that you made the river and artist! Excellent!

Anonymous said...

I love the way this flows and the creativity behind it. Water is a powerful force.

Tori said...

nice POV. Playful. thoughtful. I like it a lot. :)