Friday, April 12, 2013

I Wish I'd Written This

Constants
By Benedict St Quentin Fitzpatrick

Turning I saw you
once
so clear
shadows move the grasses
silent winds
sift the debris slowly
around your feet
the red earth
moist
crossed with signs of night
tracks that soften
and fade
still
you remain.


My online friend Ben is an Aussie poet whom I first encountered — like so many others — on MySpace, back in the day. It seems to me that his poetry just keeps getting better and better. 

I first knew him as a writer of beautiful haiku and tanka. As you see, he also writes longer poems. Many focus on the Australian landscape and his close relationship with it since childhood. I love them for this reason, and also because they are poems of understatement and deceptively simple language.

I also love the mystery in the poem I've chosen: its quiet acceptance of the ineffable.

If you're on facebook, you'll find this and other poems in his Notes there. Also he has started a poetry blog on Wordpress. 

Another of Ben's passions is archery. He lists his religion as Buddhist. I always think there is a Samurai-like quality in the clarity of his poetry. 


Poems and photos used in ‘I Wish I’d Written This’ remain the property of the copyright holders (usually their authors).

11 comments:

  1. Gentle and sweet and simultaneously sensuous. Nice share, Rosemary.

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  2. Very thoughtful writing here, Rosemary. I like the seeming simplicity of his style.

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  3. I really really like his understated style :-)

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  4. first time im reading him and loved the sweet simplicity..

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  5. What a wonderful offering this is. So beautiful and direct. Thanks, Rosemary - you bring us poets we might otherwise not come across and that would be our loss. Love this poet!!!! Glad he has started a blog. Maybe we can encourage him to visit Poets United?

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  6. Love this poem :) Very moving and atmospheric

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  7. So glad you all enjoyed this beautiful poem!

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    Replies
    1. I would like to thank you all for your comments and support.
      xxx to Rosemary

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