This Poems is a Conflict of Earth and Water

This poem is a conflict, between two 

 you’d think should be allies –

two who need to live together 

in mutual support, in symbiosis, 

in give and take, ebb and flow, 

in response, adaptation … in balance.

This poem is a conflict between the two.

This poem is earth silting over,

piling up, drying out, earth

being shovelled, rearranged

by hands and machines,

becoming inhospitable to water.

It is earth discharging its garbage –

being made to discharge its garbage –

to crowd water, to infect water. This poem 

is earth in conflict with water.

This poem is water overflowing –

overflowing the sky in enormous rains;

overflowing the seabed which can

no longer contain it, to bash at the shore

and overwhelm the shore; overflowing

the rivers and streams with violent roaring

to crash over fields, against bridges,

through houses, to inundate the earth …

to change the earth, and the lives

of all those who live on the earth.

This poem is water in conflict with earth.

This poems is a conflict of earth and water.

In fact it is many such conflicts. Some

are the vagaries of Nature, or so we’d

like to think. Some of us like to think them

acts of God. But most are caused by the acts 

of the human race, which depends

on the integrity of earth and water, the way

they act with each other, react with each other.

This poem is the conflict of earth and water,

very much brought about by the conflict

of humanity with its surroundings, its basis, 

its vital support, its only home. This poem is 

a conflict, deadly for us who need earth and water.

The NaPoWriMo prompt is to write about two things fighting which seem unlikely to fight. The Poem A Day prompt is to write 'an earth poem' (today being Earth Day). 

This is written in the Boomerang Metaphors form invented by Hannah Gosselin. 

Boomerang Metaphors, invented by Hannah Gosselin

 As it has become difficult to access the instructions for this form, I post them here:

Boomerang Metaphors (invented by Hannah Gosselin)

* Create three, “This poem is a ____,” statements.

* Support each statement in separate stanzas, (one can choose the length of the supporting stanzas and whether or not to rhyme or employ free verse).

* Restate the statement that’s being supported in the last line of these supporting stanzas, (as mini boomerang metaphor refrains).

* Then name the list of three, “This poem is a _____,” statements again as a boomerang metaphors closing refrain.

Note: One may choose to state the closing refrain slightly morphed but mostly the same. As it seems, words that go out into the world do tend to come back touched – slightly transformed.

* The title encapsulates the three listed elements, “This Poem is a ____, ____ and a _____”

For examples, check the label in the right sidebar of this blog.

This Poem is Storm, Ink and Love

 

This poem is a storm forming on the horizon.

This poem is the inky colour of thunder-clouds.

This poem is my love of the brooding before the eruption 

(and of the eruption).

This poem is a gathering darkness, both threat and promise.

When the storm comes, we know it will be explosive,

wild and shattering, in a way that stirs the blood …

and that afterwards there will be clean air, sunlight, peace.

This poem is dark grey, or smokey blue, deepening to black.

This poem is made of ink and passion, sensual arousal and observation,

elements collecting at the edge of consciousness until,

with a roar and a flash of light, they overflow onto the page.

This poem is the way I love the hunkering down of the sky,

love the birds, alert and aware, hurrying to safety ahead of 

the coming downpour and relentless wind – and afterwards

love the re-awakening of cleansed earth, clear sky, birdsong.

This poem is a necessary clearing of the air; a burst of inspiration.

This poem is all the ink staining my fingers in many years of writing.

This poem is my love of words, my love of feeling, my love of life.

This poem is written for Friday Writings #94, Storm, Ink, Love, at Poets and Storytellers United, in which Magaly invites us to use these words in a piece of writing.

I thought this prompt was tailor-made for Hannah Gosselin's Boomerang Metaphors, a favorite form I love to return to from time to time. As it has become difficult to access details via link, I post a summary here.

The Goddesses of Shining Light

The Goddesses of Shining Light

This poem is a circle of women shining their light.

This poem is a sisterhood, a holding of hands.

This poem is a group of Goddesses in velvet cloaks.

This poem is a prayer for peace in the world.

It is the visualisation of a six-pointed star

sending golden light onto the planet,

and focusing in – to this country, this town, 

this building, this group, this individual heart – 

then out again from our collective hearts….

This poem is a circle of women shining their light.

This poem is the stopping to hug when we meet in the street,

or the smile and the wave if we haven’t got time to stop.

It is preparing meals for the one who is sick, when she can’t,

or driving her to her medical appointments.

It is speaking the names of those who are absent, with love.

It is a sound bath of healing for those we place in the centre.

This poem is a sisterhood, a holding of hands.

This poem is a swirl of dancing colours,

This poem is music and moving feet.

This poem is rising and falling arms

like a wave, or a forest, or a flutter of scarves.

This poem is a meeting of hands, in turn, around the circle;

a gazing in turn, deeply, into each other’s eyes.

This poem is a group of Goddesses in velvet cloaks.

This poem is a group of dancers whose velvet cloaks catch the light.

This poem is a sisterhood, a holding of hands to connect our light.

This poem is a circle of women shining our light, bathing in light,
sending light out to our world. This poem is the Goddesses of Shining Light.

Written for 'imaginary garden with real toads' – Wordy Thursday with Wild Woman, this time featuring Hannah Gosselin's Boomerang Metaphor form. (In this poem I have made some slight variations to the form.)