Sea Gulls
E.J.Pratt
For one carved instant as they flew
The language had no simile--
Silver, crystal, ivory
Were tarnished. Etched upon the horizon blue,
The frieze must go unchallenged, for the lift
And carriage of the wings would stain the drift
Of stars against a tropic indigo
Or dull the parable of snow.
Now settling one by one
Within green hollows or where curled
Crests caught the spectrum from the sun,
A thousand wings are furled.
No clay-born lilies of the world
Could blow as free
As those wild orchids of the sea.
and, now plundered....
one carved
language
Etched
unchallenged
against a
parable
settling
curled
caught
furled
free
For one instant
silver
tarnished
wings stain the drift
of snow
one by one
within green hollows
a thousand wings are
born......lilies
as free
as wild orchids
E.J.Pratt
For one carved instant as they flew
The language had no simile--
Silver, crystal, ivory
Were tarnished. Etched upon the horizon blue,
The frieze must go unchallenged, for the lift
And carriage of the wings would stain the drift
Of stars against a tropic indigo
Or dull the parable of snow.
Now settling one by one
Within green hollows or where curled
Crests caught the spectrum from the sun,
A thousand wings are furled.
No clay-born lilies of the world
Could blow as free
As those wild orchids of the sea.
and, now plundered....
one carved
language
Etched
unchallenged
against a
parable
settling
curled
caught
furled
free
For one instant
silver
tarnished
wings stain the drift
of snow
one by one
within green hollows
a thousand wings are
born......lilies
as free
as wild orchids
....with thanks for another helpful and quirky prompt from expressivesubjects; this was a lovely reflective experience. I look forward to my next attempt.
ReplyDeleteNice poem harlequin, it reminded me to when larvae convert to butterflies, specially if they do it all at the same time. Beautifull image.
ReplyDeleteI liked following your plunder through the original (the zig zagging) and the lovely imagery that emerged from that. Especially liked "silver
ReplyDeletetarnished wings stain the drift of snow" Lovely :)
You are really branching out with your prose doll. I look forward to every visit here just to see what you have created.
ReplyDeleteI like what you have taken from the original and converted. Pratt and his gulls you and language. compared and comparable.
ReplyDeleteGreat, love your play and your plunder, think I prefered yours).
ReplyDeletenice!
ReplyDeletei've gotta agree with selchie, i think you showed pratt up with this one...
great newfie poet that he is...
thanks for playing along!
Mariana-- thanks for the lovely images in return
ReplyDeleteDerliwall--- I liked that bit as well.. it seemed to show itself right there in front of me
Jimmy--- thanks for this sweet comment.. from such a consummate writer as yourself ;)
WM-- thanks for the comments and for keeping Pratt and the gulls in mind; I just love the images he paints in this poem
Selchie.. play and plunder... I had fun with this; glad you enjoyed
Jon--this was a different experience from what I expected... you've really got me thinking! thanks for the kind words; much appreciated.
You should be very pleased with that. Many good things there. Well done.
ReplyDeleteDave-- glad you enjoyed.... nice to see you!
ReplyDelete