1.
Four walls, one door, keep me from the storm.
I breathe a sigh and turn the key. Home
is a name, a centre, a refuge but now the road
running past, has called me out. On a spin
of fortune’s wheel, the compass points.
2.
South, through the back garden gate.
Woodland parasoles the place and there
a migrant cuckoo roosts, desert secrets sealed
in the dust of grey wings. How pallid my skin,
itching to sweat in some such bone-dry heat.
3.
Eastwards, the earth spreads. Flat and forlorn
trudging field to the measureless marsh. Last
calls of lost souls heard in the Curlew cries,
shrill as the wind. Willow whips the face
of wanderers, like me, forsaking company.
4
Northern byways with travellers. Behind
a caravan’s canvas door watching winter lanes
slip past. Kettles, pans and dry sticks jangle
to a slow pony trot. I’m eager for evening
a brew and burnished faces in owl light
5.
Walking West to a rise of yellow hills.
Facing each new sun square on, joyful
as a vaulted lark. Breeze blown in buttercups
and clocks of dandelion, I count back through all
these wanderings. Still conjuring home.
For my MTB prompt: Five Leavings From Home we’re writing in quintains with a choice of structure (crown cinquain) or unstructured as here.Taking inspiration from Herrera’s poem and my earlier MTB prompt “Writing the Five Directions” but this time round we are changing direction away from home. I’ve made use of 5 phrases from Herrera’s poem: a name; desert secrets; the earth; canvas door; yellow hills as well as referencing my original poem Five Compass Points Home with a phrase taken from each stanza.
I really felt that each direction was also a new story waiting to be told… love the conclusion tying it back to returning.
thank you for your thoughts Bjorn – each direction is a story almost untold
Love how each direction unfolds a new vista. And of course the circling back to home in the closing lines.
yes it was fun imagining what lies in those five directions that the home leaver was taking
“called me out. On a spin
of fortune’s wheel,”
and the yellow hills are gorgeous
much love
thanks Gillena
p.s. still not able to comment on your blog – have to sign in with google but the link takes me nowhere – might need a different browser
Sounds like a beautiful place to be! Well done! 👍 And thanks for the awesome prompt! 🩵
thank you for travelling round here
p.s. you found an awesome poem in the prompt!
Much Love ! 💛
The beyond of the safe four walls called and you answered the call. Each instance providing a way to be. Loved it.
many thanks – I like how you see the poem as outside safe walls – adds to the adventure
Sometimes it feels as if wandering is our natural state. (K)
maybe so though sometimes I do more wondering than wandering
I wander in a very small area myself. And one can wonder and wander at the same time…
This is a wonderful prompt and your poem also inspires me to write. Home, departures are very much at the heart of my life. You conjure this up magically with your words. I particularly line the eastwards,
I very much appreciate your appreciation
I loved ” Last
calls of lost souls heard in the Curlew cries,”
and also, the return to home at the end because however different the places we visit, are we not always conjuring and comparing to home…
yes Andrew home would be on my mind wherever I wandered – as a child I loved to recite Stevenson’s lines from ‘Requiem’
“Home is the sailor, home from sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.”
With the weaving of the different sources it seems that poetry is your home Laura 👍
Shaun you have made my day with this wonderful comment – thank you
I count back through all
these wanderings. Still conjuring home.
Home sweet home certainly Laura! There’s always the strongest pull. A great close!
Hank
thank you Hank – yes wanderlust is as transient as any such – home is the centre of the compass
Laura, this was a joy to read … I took the journey slowly so as to savor each emotion, observation. Thank you for an intriguing poem and challenge.
Helen you are a very generous reader with your time – thank you
Beautiful lines …the last stanza is exceptionally beautiful!
many thanks for your appreciation – I’m glad it ends well
Excellent poem! Well done
thank you – much appreciated
Love it 📌
❤
Reading this brought vidid images to my head, even though I haven’t walked with you ❤
Thanks for the virtual walk with me