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i am lost and you are lost so maybe we are not lost

 

i am writing again 

because a crow  

has appeared 

on my windowsill 

its leg is injured 

its beak is smashed 

there is blood in its feathers 

a plastic crow 

pristine and beauteous 

would be better 

a plastic life 

a coat of melancholic gloss 

to smear over the acne scars of life 

i wonder if 

like the inuit weaklings 

sent out to become men 

under the lens of the frozen gods 

my ruined, perfect crow 

is simply moving on to better things 

I am writing again 

because of crows and hope 

and tiny green shoots  

looking to the sky

◄ everybody is talking but nobody is saying anything

umeboshi/autumn ►

Comments

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Stu Buck

Sun 5th Mar 2017 18:14

thanks very much david, glad you enjoyed it. all my poems could be classed as hastily scribbled, i rarely spend over fifteen/twenty minutes on a piece. i think this is what allows the pieces to flow.

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David Redfield

Sun 5th Mar 2017 16:20

Love the fluidity of this Stu.
It manages to balance the moment as it is experienced with language that indicates the moment reflected upon: "pristine and beauteous", "melancholic gloss", etc. Not easy to pull off. The apparent absurdity of the thought process is thoroughly human and beautifully humane.

If this is "hastily scribbled" I'm mighty impressed

Cheers

Dave R

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Stu Buck

Wed 22nd Feb 2017 15:27

cheers all, such fine responses to such a hastily scribbled ditty. as ever, much love and appreciation

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raypool

Tue 21st Feb 2017 22:55

Achingly poignant and resonant Stu. It holds a subtle message , lovely.

Ray

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Laura Taylor

Tue 21st Feb 2017 13:28

Excellent once again Stu. Is the crow a reference to what's-his-chops?

Ooo a meeting of Buck and Thomas - that will be something to behold ? ?

<Deleted User> (13762)

Tue 21st Feb 2017 13:28

excellent poem Stu. Really like this one. There is an openness in the dialogue which I personally think offers multiple interpretations to the reader through the imagery. All the best, Colin.

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Graham Sherwood

Tue 21st Feb 2017 13:25

I like the circle of this.
Birds tend to fly into windows (especially bloody stupid pigeons) as a form of aggression, seeing their reflection etc.
The fact that you have linked this act to a rite of passage thing is very clever (who would have thought of that).
And then the return to your writing again.

Good work as always Stu!

best regards, Graham

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Stu Buck

Tue 21st Feb 2017 12:16

thanks both, much appreciated!

cynthia - i will be at sale in april, i am really looking forward to it. i would really love to be able to attend more but i just dont have the finances to be able to do it. i hope your there in april as i am looking forward to meeting you too.

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Tue 21st Feb 2017 12:11

Splendid - absolutely fabulous. Love the reference to the Northern Society. Marvellous choice and use of diction to create your imagery and its message. Your opening four lines are a catching intro.


Maybe it was 'my crow'. Isn't that weird - our having two 'crow' poems possibly within hours.

Are you at Sale tonight. I'm so keen to meet you. Others I know have already made your acquaintance. I am such a fan.

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Paul Waring

Tue 21st Feb 2017 12:07

Stu, I really like the construction and flow of this, and the original idea to open and close it as though part of a letter. Great fusion of the crow as death with life/hope/optimism as the green shoots of spring.

Paul

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