Thursday, January 04, 2007

PT: A Gumball Poem


This is a true Gumball Poem, written by Mary Fisher, who works in a used bookstore called the Marginalian in Salt Lake City, Utah. I don't know Mary, or the Marginalian bookstore, but we Slick City folks have to stick together!


Stellar
for Q


So much about breathing and the body.
Soon the stars will come and we will know them
as well as we know each other.

The water reads like a drawerful of maps.
You've never seen the Pacific Ocean.
I've never seen millions of bats fly out at once.

Danger is a hymn I have forgotten how to sing.
I choose the wonder of your subtle damage,
the tiny bites. The songs that never repeat,

and in their newness become ancient.
Opus. Opera. The first level of uncountable infinity.
I am not confused. I am not vague. Those strange

words rise out of my heart like white owls
and need not be held in my mouth.
I am counting stars on your breath.


(I wish I had written this.)
Photo Credit: Corey Ford Gallery, Stellar Nursery

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

How absolutely lovely, this poem. The picture takes you away.

Tammy Brierly said...

"Counting stars on your breath" was wonderful and what a beautiful photo. XXOO

Anonymous said...

Ooooh, this is a nice poem. Thanks for sharing it today.

Anonymous said...

white owls...an uncommon but so vivid image!

Such a cool pix too!

Pris said...

This really is a fine poem, and the photo so intrigueing! Thanks for posting both.

Anonymous said...

Lovely poem - thanks so much for sharing it. White owls are mystical creatures, in my opinion.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Thanks, everyone. I think she is a pretty good poet--this one has a lot of really good imagery in it. I'm glad you liked it!