willows are green along the shore –
Here no Ox can hide!”
Sun blots the landscape
soaking the faraway view to a faded wash
eyes forced to a squint, slit-eyed I watch
reeds and trees stand up against the glare
silhouettes sooty as after bushfires
a fine art drawing in red chalk and charcoal
blotches of citrine light and shade
shape-shifting into dappled hide of ox
In the salt marsh toes wriggle and churn
like burrowing worms
I’m casting cares to the calm west wind
foot stepping through soft soapy brine
white is the tideline marked with cloven hooves
a printed line made evident and foolproof
though the two-footed devil is cloven too
yet here are four steps a time and heaven
nearer than we imagine
Thoughts settle the way flies do
how unsettling all these ticklish diversions!
shunned and shunted with a pendulous swish of tail
for there the errant bull is grazing unawares
half hidden, face first in the willowy furze
whist I in this all-but-blinding light
have opened up my eyes to second sight
Note: As the poems progress the bull becomes more visible(!) and in my photoart I’m using a drawing courtesy of Arline Wagner – see her website for many more art prints
Third poem of the series interpreting the ten oxherding pictures of zen meditation – see Poetry Project: 10 bulls
And I’m offering up these verses with others who are gathering today in the Poetry Pantry
Wonderful images here, Laura!
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The imagery is a given but a fun task to elaborate
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Laura what another fabulous poem in this series….the perfect image illustrating your amazingly detailed words creating images of this most elusive creature…..I love these words as they seem to resonate for me that first sighting, that first awakening that the world is a different place as we first get a glimpse….and the knowledge that he will remain elusive unless we are resolute in following our path to our truth.
‘I’m casting cares to the calm west wind
foot stepping through soft soapy brine
white is the tideline marked with cloven hooves
a printed line made evident and foolproof’
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Heartening to have you in tune with this Donna – many thanks x
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Luv where your steadfast gaze took you
Happy Sunday
Much love…
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Staying focused wins the day!
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The painting is so mystical. I like.
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Thank you – the photo art is important part of this project
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Your welcome
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Oh I love how your bulls become more and more visual… solid almost.
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That is what happens with meditation and then something else appears – watch this space
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Who would have thought that this subject could be so intriguing? You have brought it to life.
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am bringing to life my way through sticking close the picture story of meditation and all it’s stages
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“with blotches of citrine light and shade
shape-shifting into dappled hide of ox
In the salt marsh toes wriggle and churn
like burrowing worms”
my favorite section
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Thank you – our first sight of the bull! Standing barefoot in the mudflats of salt marsh 🙂
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What a cool idea for a series of poems! I love the imagery in this poem. Very lovely.
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I suppose I was inspired to do this series as so taken with the inherent imagery
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opened up my eyes to second sight… that is the perfect line…when you scan the bush to find the animal, you learn to look again, through the colours… I think it’s also how I went back and read your poem again..beautifully done.
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Precisely – thank you for your incisive words
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Your words rise from a deeper self and take us there. A beautiful meditation. “I’m casting cares to the calm west wind” Love the alliteration here and its cooling effect.
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I have only glimpsed what I speak of but know you understand Sumana
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In the salt marsh toes wriggle and churn
like burrowing worms………………….. this line is so descriptive. Fantastic imagery painted through out. Certainly a great read, for me.
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Lovely comment Julian – thank you
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An interesting project, Laura, and the poem sketches and fills and embellishes what emerges as “second sight” — something that comes from the work of seeing carefully. There’s an Etruscan elegance here, mythical and natural.
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Love the Etruscan reference- as you will see in later poems it is an elegant bull (courtesy of the artist)
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Love the art you have chosen to accompany this exquisite poem! Yes, the bull truly springs out alive as we near the end especially love; “Thoughts settle the way flies do how unsettling all these ticklish diversions!” Beautifully rendered.
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As I work on the photoart I try to visualise a poem and not be distracted 😉
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