POEMS OF THE WEEK ~ Boomerang Poems by TONI, KIM AND SARA

I have always loved Hannah Gosselin's Boomerang Metaphor Poem form, and  used it some weeks ago for a prompt at Real Toads. All of the responses were wonderful, and it was difficult to choose only three for this feature. These poems, written by  Toni Spencer, of Kanzen Sakura, Kim Russell, of  Writing in North Norfolk, and Sara McNulty, who blogs at  Purple in Portland, really touched my heart. We hope you enjoy them.  It seems a lovely way to begin our week, contemplating the beauty of the earth.

THIS POEM IS MOON, STARS AND SUN

This poem is a moon reflected on black water.
This poem is the sun rising over the ocean in an explosion
of red.
This poem is the stars floating in the black night sky.

This poem is a green forest rising from the mist.
This poem is green cedars against pure white snow.
This poem is tiny white flowers hiding in spring green grass.

This poem touches us with wonder and awe,
it makes our breath catch in our throats
and look about our feet to not crush those tiny white flowers.

In our wonder and awe we look at the small animals
hiding beneath and under the cedars seeking nourishment and shelter.
The stars fall silent as dust in a dying blaze of fire.
We see the tiny white flowers beneath our feet too late
as we crush them into oblivion.
We weep in sorrow at the death of tiny flowers.
We weep in joy at the rising sun and the night stars
and the moon rippling on the water.
This poem is joy and sorrow,
silence and starry music,
this poem is about living in partnership with the earth.

Sherry: This poem is beautiful! Such lovely images, such a beautiful world!

Toni: I was afraid I was not going to get the form right.  I find many forms difficult because of my dyslexia.  However, after my morning walk, the poem basically wrote itself.  I have written “This poem is….” Before.  I took another walk and thought about the beauty I encountered on my walk, the everyday beauty. The blue of the skies, the shapes of the blades of grass, the clouds, the birds singing and the bark of distant dogs.  I thought of all I could lose if the changes to our world kept occurring.  So I wrote from my heart.  In essence, the poem was about living in harmony with the earth, about honoring the seasons.

Sherry: The way we are meant to live, since we are part of nature. Sigh. Thank you for this beauty, Toni.

Let's take a look at Kim's take on this form.

ThisPoem is a Hill, Indigo Water and Whiffling Geese

This poem is a distant hill.

This poem is a welter of indigo water.

This poem is geese whiffling overhead.

This poem is a rolling, breaking wave

of corn the colour of honeycomb,

washing against the grassy spine

of an ancient sleeping dragon,

a landslide rinsed green.

This poem is a distant hill.

This poem is a lively chatterbox of a river

flouncing skirts of blue and glassy grey surges.

This poem is a welter of indigo water.

This poem is a rush of air through wings,

white as Arctic snow, a flash of blizzard

twisting and turning,

climbing and falling

metamorphosing shapes.

This poem is geese whiffling overhead.

This poem is a sleeping dragon of a distant hill.

This poem is a chattering welter of indigo water.

This poem is air through geese wings whiffling overhead.

Sherry: I love the sleeping dragon of a distant hill, and the whiffling of geese overhead. So lovely! This form seems to bring forth wonderful flights of imagery. This is beautiful, Kim.

Kim: Since linking this poem up to your wonderful boomerang prompt, Sherry, I have added a final stanza to complete the boomerang, following your instructions and the beautiful example you gave us. 

In this poem, the hill represents my daughter and grandson, who celebrated his first birthday on 6th March.  They live in the undulating hills and downs of Surrey in the south of England, whereas I live in Norfolk, in the east of England, which has a flat landscape with lots of water and wild fowl, including geese, which fly in amazing expansive, expressive skies. The poem represents the pull between both places; I would dearly love to live closer to Ellen and Lucas but, after twenty seven years in Norfolk, eighteen of which have been spent happily in our cottage with its garden full of wildlife, it would have to be a very special place to tempt us to move away. I’ve recently returned from a visit with them and I had forgotten how crowded together the houses are where my daughter lives, and how busy the traffic is. When I arrived in our little village, I took a very deep breath!

Sherry: I know that feeling so well. I adore living in a village. However, we get a million tourists here every summer, and then things get rather crazy! Thank you for your beautiful poem and for sharing your thoughts with us today. 

Sara wrote a poem full of gorgeous nature images, which really lifts the heart. I note on her banner, she has written: Each day is a beautiful gift. Open it. What a wonderful philosophy!

Of Waterfalls, Sunflowers, and Breezes

This poem is a waterfall
sliding down mountain walls
in sunshine.

This poem is a sunflower
opening its eye to greet summer.

This poem is a breeze
fluttering leaves
on a sycamore tree.

This poem trickles tickles
my nose with water mist,
watches couples kiss,
and make a wish.
This poem is a waterfall
sliding down mountain walls
in sunshine.

This poem boasts brilliant
pineapple petals framing
a chocolate velvet eye.
Catches sun, bending
in the breeze, having fun.
This poem is a sunflower
opening its eye to greet summer.

This poem flit-flies between
leaves and flowers in
garden bowers, encouraging dance.
This poem is a breeze
fluttering leaves
on a sycamore tree.

This poem is a waterfall
sliding down mountain walls,
splashing on rocks, so small.

This poem is a sunflower
raising its lashed eye
toward sun, praising.

This poem is a breeze
fluttering with ease
through the sycamore’s leaves.

Sherry:  I love the sunflower raising its lashed eye. And you are so lucky, to have two dogs!

Sara:  I am honored to have my boomerang poem featured. The sunflower has always been my personal favorite. That wide eye, and bonnet-clothed appearance softens my heart. When I lived in Portland, Multona Falls was a short trip away, and breath-taking. It overlooks the Columbia River. Breezes make me feel alive, touched by an unknown force. This poem is about three of my favorite parts of nature. 

Sherry: That is it exactly: being touched by an unknown force, so much larger than we are.  Thank you, Sara, for this beauty, for writing it, and sharing it.

Thank you, ladies, for three absolutely breath-taking looks at the natural world. I think I love the boomerang form so much because it so often brings forth these images of a very beautiful world.

Do come back and see who we talk to next. Who knows? It might be you!