Monday, January 2, 2012

A Magpie Tale on Change



What dies out of you and me, our creations,
out of our landscapes and gardens
will come back as a reflection,
to impress us,
to improve us---
the empty sunflower heads,
the used to elegant now torn milkweed,
the  once full of sprouts with birds now tough little trees,
the bitten cat-faced tomatoes,
coffee grounds,
empty sidewalks
…
Compost will shape our future.
The turgid brown mountain boils,
Emitting the devil’s breath of methane,
Cooking castoffs and moments of regrets:
Dog vomit, rotten potatoes,
Failed squashes, polluted river,
Salted cucumbers, broken eggshells---
snatches a rapture of well rounded humus.
Rich soil to dig in for first class clothing,
Fancy dirt is ready for the gardens
of all citizens,
including the queen and the king.
Take a walk around the naked mountain,
Think of summer thoughts and water fountain,
you will have the vision of everything,
the change in earth unspoken,
the colorful and the plain…
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45 comments:

  1. Kathe W.January 2, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    hoo boy- this time of year always seems so grim and battered to me-
    and yet life comes out come spring!excellently written

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  2. TeresaJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    You certainly do capture the cyclical nature of our world. Great write.

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  3. anthonynorthJanuary 2, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    Lovely words on nature.

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  4. MonikaJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:01 AM

    So powerful images flattering at one time, grieving at other. Makes one travel on a journey along. Beautiful!

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  5. ChristineJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:38 AM

    failed squashes, terrific metaphor, we have hope in seeds, plant them, then throw out the produce when we have no time to do something with the intended creation, love this

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  6. Laurie KolpJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:47 AM

    I really like the first three lines... and such vivid images throughout. Thank you.

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  7. MaggieJanuary 2, 2012 at 11:59 AM

    This is really a wonderfully vivid write. Love it.

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  8. Sasha A. PalmerJanuary 2, 2012 at 1:49 PM

    How I wish I could 'have the vision of everything!' Where's that 'naked mountain?'
    Seriously, it's a beautiful poem, thank you.

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  9. UnknownJanuary 2, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    Like nature, people must sometimes suffer what appears to be total devastation in order to grow into a better version of themselves, to evolve to the next stage of personal development. This is the lesson prompted by your image-filled, lyrical poem.

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  10. UnknownJanuary 2, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    Like nature, people must sometimes suffer what appears to be total devastation in order to grow into a better version of themselves, to evolve to the next stage of personal development. This is the lesson prompted by your image-filled, lyrical poem.

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2012 at 1:20 AM

    I love this...in it, I find the idea that humility brings beauty, even greatness, and entitlement brings an ugly existence.

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  12. Brian MillerJanuary 3, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    nice...i love the grit in this...compost yes it may be that shapes our future...if only we were more biodegradable...smiles...cat face tomatoes...nice i like that...

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  13. Celestial DreamzJanuary 3, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    it's beautiful ... vivid imagery ... loved the ending.

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  14. Ostensible TruthJanuary 3, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    many great lines throughout here - lyrical at times - the second stanza is my favourite for its brilliant descriptions - love "Compost will shape our future." nice work and thanks for your words on my blog :)

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  15. Doctor FTSEJanuary 3, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    The idea of compost shaping our future is apt as well as being a lovely poetic notion.

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  16. Jeannette,January 3, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    we always find something good from something bad...your poetry never fails to amaze me. thank you for sharing!
    happy new year!

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  17. Janet MartinJanuary 3, 2012 at 8:51 PM

    Great optimism and vision! Love that last two lines.

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  18. Sherry Blue SkyJanuary 4, 2012 at 12:44 AM

    I love the gritty description of compost - and "take a walk around the naked mountain". Awesome images.

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  19. aayanmanJanuary 4, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    Quite beautifully composed - the choice of words have a nice impact.

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  20. dsnake1January 4, 2012 at 7:50 AM

    awesome imagery! i like how you described the grittiness with such detailed and vivid images :
    >> coffee grounds, broken eggshells..

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  21. RaivenneJanuary 4, 2012 at 8:03 AM

    Wow! Such amazing imagery. It took a second read to fully enjoy it all.

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  22. Brian MillerJanuary 4, 2012 at 9:46 AM

    swung back through on the theme thursday loop since i saw you were up early---still appreciate the grit smiles.

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  23. Rek SeshJanuary 4, 2012 at 12:29 PM

    From compost to compost...a dirt infused poem with the right words to create the perfect image of urban back street chaos.

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  24. PatJanuary 4, 2012 at 4:54 PM

    images that go right to the heart of any gardener - right now, in the depths of cold January, the gardens seem so far away as they sleep under a layer of snow.

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  25. JudieJanuary 4, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    This is a lovely piece of writing! I am so excited when I see a volunteer pop up in the garden!

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  26. ScarletJanuary 4, 2012 at 5:29 PM

    I like the images that you wrote here..failed squashes, polluted river, salted cucumbers...all rich soil and compost to shape our future.

    Meaningful reflections ~

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  27. daphniaJanuary 4, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Loved the nitty gritty of your poem. The getting down and dirty, and saying it as it is. Why do we humans have to be so obscure. Thank you for sharing!

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  28. UnknownJanuary 4, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    The imagery is fabulous. From out of chaos beauty stirs. I enjoy seeing green shoots appear where all was bare. Thank you for sharing.

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  29. Susie ClevengerJanuary 4, 2012 at 6:58 PM

    This is great..somehow you made compost so poetic :) You have so aptly described the cycles of life.

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2012 at 8:27 PM

    What a beautiful cycle of life.
    Old Raven

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  31. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2012 at 9:11 PM

    You have really given us a unique look at the garden.

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  32. anitamombanitaJanuary 4, 2012 at 10:55 PM

    So interesting. Wish I had a green thumb. Happy New Year...and happy composting!

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  33. AnnesphamilyJanuary 4, 2012 at 11:02 PM

    Great writing! I like to find interesting posts and this was one today! Thanks for sharing! Anne

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  34. TeaJanuary 5, 2012 at 4:25 AM

    Lovely, I love walks. There is always something different. Missed my walk yesterday. Wasn't feeling well.

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  35. MrsupoleJanuary 5, 2012 at 9:17 AM

    Compost will shape our future is one of my favorite lines. It just seems to be a nicer way of saying, "Shit happens." or at least that is what I think.

    This is a beautiful poem and it says so much about how life is and how it can change. Really nice. I enjoyed it.

    Thank you so much for sharing this with us for our Change Theme Thursday. I hope I can continue to give such great prompts. See you next Thursday.

    God bless.

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  36. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2012 at 1:15 PM

    I love your description of this cycle of life.

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  37. LolamouseJanuary 5, 2012 at 1:20 PM

    You capture the circle of life well in this poem. I love the image of the "bitten cat-faced tomatoes!"

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  38. Rocky Mountain WomanJanuary 5, 2012 at 1:24 PM

    very well done...

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  39. Kris McCrackenJanuary 5, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    A lovely journey!

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  40. 21 WitsJanuary 6, 2012 at 3:31 PM

    This year is different so far in Minnesota...it's 43 degrees out right now...the sun is shining and we don't have any snow in the forecast for days....you really have to look for snow right now...!

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  41. MaryJanuary 6, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    "Compost will shape our future." Yes, could not agree with you more. And I AM trying to think summer thoughts here mid-winter!

    http://inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/2012/01/change.html

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  42. Kodjo DeynooJanuary 7, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    You really went for it and I followed you through, nice work here

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  43. Denise MoncriefJanuary 8, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    Wow what a heavy take on change--comparing regeneration of life and hope to tossing old worn-out refuse on the compost heap. A strong metaphor. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful and elegantly written post.

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  44. JennyJanuary 11, 2012 at 10:23 AM

    Wow.

    Wow.

    Impressive writing and visualization.

    Powerful analogies.

    I'm very impressed here...and many of your words spoke directly to my heart.

    Thank you.

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  45. Anjum Wasim DarMarch 2, 2012 at 4:45 AM

    nature inspires us -this is beautiful in expression and observation

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