Thursday, October 27, 2011

Friday Flash 55 - "Springtime's Song" & dVerse


Springtime's Song

Black Forest walnut
ticks in the corner
dancers leaping
spinning

accurately, reliably
hours kept
cuckooing days,
months and years.

Timidly I search his eyes
and wonder,

"Does he see me as I am,
now, this minute
or as I used to be?"

The music plays
time marches on
value increases
as springtime's song is sung

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, October 27, 2011

This is for dVerse "Meeting the Bar: Critique & Craft"  The topic tonight is "Conflation"  WHAT is that you ask?  Well, Click HERE to find out.  It is to help poets break out of a "rut" ... which I am often in.  It is to have at least two different, wholly unrelated themes.  And to challenge us further, be a bit revealing about ourselves...   It is thought that perhaps a Cuckoo bird was chosen (not for its beauty) but for the fact it was the fist voice to herald spring (and springtime is thought to be the time of love)... so that is how I kind of linked the two together (I mean, after all, isn't "true love" forever young?)  ha ha.

Hmm.  Well, a cuckoo clock and my upcoming birthday... 46! this year.  UGH.  Well, I am not sure if I met the challenge, but I know it is 55 words, so it qualifies to be linked to "Mr. Know It All's "Friday Flash 55."


26 comments:

Janna said...

Seeing things made of walnut always reminds me of my harp.
It's an Irish folk harp, carved from walnut... I feel kinda guilty that I play it so seldom these days.

Anyway, this was lovely.
Thanks for doing Friday 55!

Mine's here. :)

Mary said...

OK, I have found it. Your poetry. Good question...if he sees you as you are today or as you used to be. Perhaps he could ask the same question? Well written and thoughtful poem.

G-Man said...

Margaret Bednar...
Once again you raise the bar for The Friday Funfest.
And 46? HA! I got SOCKS older than you!
Loved your 55 My Friend.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End

Brian Miller said...

woot...very nice margaret...does he see as i am in this moment or..there are some things that just get better with again...wine, grandfather clocks...and of course wives...smiles.

Anonymous said...

For me, this was a poignant reflection on aging love. From my perspective (older) I can certainly understand the wondering. Beautiful, Margaret.

Anonymous said...

an inanimate object that is there for so much of our life starts to take it's own personality.

Alice Audrey said...

Which would you rather he saw you as?

Margaret said...

Ah Alice... interesting question! How about a mix? I guess as long as he's still lookin' at me, maybe it doesn't matter! Of course, he is almost blind with his glasses off... so maybe the question is - do I want him lookin' at me with his glasses on or off? ha ha.

Claudia said...

smiles..this was a homeplay for me with the cuckoo clock..i'm living close to the black forest - reminded me of a story of a colleague of mine..together with his brother they set the cuckoo on fire when they were boys because they thought it's fun to watch when it goes in and out, burning and singing...but then the cuckoo stayed inside and the whole clock started burning and the neighbors called the fire brigade...ha..

somewhereamelody said...

"Timidly I search his eyes
and wonder,
"Does he see me as I am,
now, this minute
or as I used to be?"

So poignant! I love how you connected forever love and spring to the
"hours kept" - "accurately, reliably"
amd the image of the cuckoo.
Inspired.

Anonymous said...

Lovely verse, and I think he see's how you've grown. Beautifully written.

izzy said...

I like your verse!- not sure I follow
the rest-in the sense that most things are linked somehow -? I did read the explanation must be my Friday confusion...I did get how both reveal something about you.
Thanks.

Laurie Kolp said...

Margaret- I love all the comments so far. Now you have me wondering how my husband sees me- then or now. Great poem!

Margaret said...

..Laurie - the whole concept of how do we see each other after 21 years came up because I commented on John's hair being dark (black). The kids guffawed and choked and laughed and I was confused... I guess he is starting to bald and is grey... who knew? :)

Izzy - Antique cuckoo clocks are cherished and loved and valued more with time. I'm getting older. And the last stanza I guess could relate to both.... It WAS a fun, but hard challenge... others did better with it that I managed to do.. :)

author.nara.malone said...

I'm betting he sees you with way more than his eyes and finds the composition--judging by your poetry--is breathtaking.

Anonymous said...

Nice write to hit two prompts and an interesting central question.

Mystic_Mom said...

So nicely done, love the question...and I ask it too!

barbara said...

Neatly done (though love is usually a little coo-coo)
I turned 64 last week, and your question resonates, along with "will you still need me, will you still..."

Vagabonde said...

Nice poem and I like the picture of the clock. We have a cuckoo clock somewhere put away as my husband was tired of hearing the cuckoo. Time goes faster as you age – you are a long way from aging. Happy upcoming birthday!

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Lovely stuff - I am sure he sees you as you are as he will have aged with you, yet at the same time you will have never changed for it is what is inside of us that matters.

Anna :o]

hope said...

Nice one.

And for the record, having a birthday is better than the alternative of a dirt nap. :)

cj Schlottman said...

I'm new to conflation, but I think you nailed it. Of course he sees you as you are today, as did he see you as you were yesterday. Wonderful read.

Namaste............cj

PS - Thanks for your nice comment on my virgin trip down conflation lane!

Margaret said...

Ha Hope! Yes, it IS better than a dirt nap. Thank you, everyone for commenting! It makes my day :)

Jannie Funster said...

Only 46?? You young young thang!!

You are always good with challenges. And remind me of me. Worrying a bit it will not come together -- then knocking it out of the ballpark.

If I had not eaten all those darned Almond Joys I think I'd rush to the nearest fine cake shop that would ply me with some Black Forest Chocolate Cake after reading this. Extra Kirsch,please! :) And EXTRA extra whipped cream.

xoxo

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed your 55. Thanks for sharing - and thanks for stopping by mine, also. :)

Ginnie Hart said...

I actually love it, Margaret, always a fan of cuckoo clocks.

And...congratulations on turning 46 this year. I'll now remember that you are 20 years my junior, whatever the year. :)