Saferoom
Wrinkled pansy sky,
a sunshadow day
where you're constantly
shaking
the clouds out
of your eyes;
wrapped in a raincoat
of insect
and bird bubbles,
earthcrumble fingers, a
sway-bending partner of shovels,
slide-pusher of rake backs,
leveling the world
to make a saferoom
for what's born
to blow away.
~May 2013
posted for real toads
Challenge: Words Count with Mama Zen
The terse and tres talented Mama Zen's challenge today is to 'Imagine yourself in the safest place you've ever known,' and write about it in 53 words or less. I have actually come in *under* the word count, for the first time ever.
Ah, this is glorious - what a word-rich garden you have growing on your blog, Hedge. Each line is full: sunshadows, shaking out the clouds, raincoat of insects and bird bubbles... and a rake to level the world.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kerry. I'm glad you found a saferoom yourself after your less than wonderful workday.
DeleteThis is beautiful, I felt held in safety and beauty. Great job
ReplyDelete"earthcrumble fingers, a
ReplyDeletesway-bending partner of shovels,
slide-pusher of rake backs,"
Ache, ache, ache--
sweating, insect bit, and yet
SAFE as Gardener and
Leveler. Very Cool.
Your words are gorgeous references to the garden's beauty. Dance with bees made me smile after I got over the awe.
ReplyDeleteFeeling the safety in your words surrounded by nature!
ReplyDeletea natural gem. I read your first line three times before moving forward. There is a - savor the words slowly- feel about this poem from the start. (as there ought always be, but i often read too quickly) The voice in the garden is so infused with this place I almost lose where clouds, insect coat, and earth are differentiated from the speaker. For me, the light hold on the safe room at the end speaks of unconditional love and a real surrendering to what Is. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. Your own gardening poems have been very inspirational and satisfying for me, and I'm glad you liked this one.
DeleteOh I think I needed to read this right now--to be held this way by your words--somehow feel each line flow through me --it was a gift today--Thank you
ReplyDeleteshaking the clouds out of your eyes...smiles...i like that...also like the word sunshadow...a natural contrast...lovely little plot of land you have created joy...
ReplyDeleteOh, Hedge! It's nothing but perfection.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - the perpetual gardener, and nice to be reminded there's a positive way to look at the constant turning of the earth. I saw a quote today on twitter that someone attributed to Einstein: 'Life is like riding a bike, you must keep moving to stay balanced.'
ReplyDeleteIf Einstein had said only half the things attributed to him apocryphally, he would be the Buddha of our times. Thanks, Mark.
DeleteI love "shaking the clouds out of your eyes".....took me back to my gardening days. I so loved my huge garden - the entire back yard was planted, to feed four hungry kids and a very fat rabbit! (who got to nibble his way happily up and down the rows and would nap beside me as I weeded.) Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is rich ... as rich as the soil in your garden must be. I had a lovely time getting lost in your word garden today.
ReplyDeleteshaking
ReplyDeletethe clouds out
of your eyes
I am having a migraine fight and this is a saferoom pen for me to concentrate on and it sure does help. this extract above does that thing that you do where you can take something I feel like I would know too well and award it some freshness with context and arrangement that has some magic to it. You make it new somehow.
leveling the world
to make a saferoom
for what's born
to blow away.
is just pure and impacting beyond its limits.
transcending it's own conveyance in delivery
and translation.
saferoom/painkiller
peace.
Thank you A. Be well. You are always welcome in my earthcrumbly fortress of safe.
Delete:) safely placed...
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of gardening...I love gardens, but I don't have a green thumb. I admire those who do.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful my stepdad enjoys gardening and my in-laws also. I however enjoy digging just mindless digging and weeding sometimes I haven't got a green thumb more like a thumb of necrosis unfortunately because I love plants =)
ReplyDeleteOh my, Hedgy!! The sound play throughout and the wow-punch of these lines,
ReplyDelete"to make a saferoom
for what's born
to blow away."
So GOOD!
Finding a safehouse in giving warmth to others! Very very profound here and speaks volumes of a kind heart!
ReplyDeleteI so wish my gardening could make anything safe! After reading your lovely poem, I may just try it again!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful poem - a lot of combinations that are like the unfolding of petals and beautiful combination of the shielded earth and the blowsy ephemeral. k.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Joy Ann Jones, you are amazing. "a saferoom for what's born to blow away" is absolutely wonderful. I love this!
ReplyDeleteK
Gorgeous, word perfect imagery! I love this.
ReplyDeleteFabulous images...and how beautifully you've decorated your safe room!
ReplyDeleteI loved the entirety of your poem. Just had my hands in the dirt today. Absolutely love that last phrase beginning with "leveling". It blew me away!
ReplyDeleteOh if only we could level the world ...
ReplyDeleteWonderful imagery in your poem and pretty photo. I love colorful pansies :)
Joy Ann, a beautiful tribute to gardening. Your word choice here is perfect. I am not inclined to be very skilled with gardening, but I watch some of the magic my husband does. I have missed reading your verse, I always mean to come by and then inevitably something gets in the way and I forget. I hope all is well with you.
ReplyDeletePamela