The Cast Away

The Cast Away

Beneath waves of Aleppo bricks
a baby girl's reborn -

from dusty womb
she leaves Mother and Father behind

her shipwrecked cries
a deliverance from hell -

or perhaps (after all) another surrender

as drone of fighter jets return
to tremble earth and sky.

by Margaret Bednar, September 30, 2016

and here https://youtu.be/63PCZktePrY is another heart-rendering video.

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Fireblossom Friday's - Emily Dickinson - Shipwreck"   I hope my poem loosely qualifies for the theme - I have been disturbed lately by a number of videos similar to this one - one was of a little baby being dug from the rubble - I was also moved to see (on Fox News) a Syrian refugee family in California very thankful for being here...  they had to wait for three years to be vetted and arrive in America.  The father is "studying" and learning so he can work at a gas station...  and wants to be independent as soon as possible for his young family.  Lots to think about.  

"Goldenrod"

 Goldenrod

Banished from genteel yards,
I find her plumes quite glorious -

blazing boldly with arching heaviness,
pendulously draping gravel path.

Inviting me

to linger like the Monarch butterfly
fluttering and flirting upon Autumnal breeze -

to seek asylum in radiant fields
of magical golden fleece.

by Margaret Bednar, September 27, 2016

Linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - The Tuesday Platform".   One of the many trails and sights along "my" Blue Ridge Parkway mountain trails.  I hope to share many with you.

"The Rocking Chair"

The Rocking Chair

Tonight's lavender sky and golden hues
of speckled, dancing light have lured me -

find me comforted within curved back
and double scooped seat

as wooden floorboards hypnotize,
rhythmically soothe -

and I, wrapped within knitted afghan,
cradled in memories and fanciful thoughts,

sigh.   I could sit here forever.

by Margaret Bednar, September 22, 2016

Linked with dVerse "Open Link #180"

"Sleeping Beauty"

My son admiring the Batta-Piatigorsky" Violoncello
at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Sleeping Beauty

"I played the "Batta" for a long time before appearing in concert with it.  
In solitude, as is befitting honeymooners, we avoided interfering company 
until then." - Gregor Piatigorsky

Seductive.  Curve: generous.
Bearing: regal if not a bit mysterious.

Passionatley longs for fevered fingers,
desires to "slip on" a song writer's prose,
surround her lover with mellow notes.

Unable to court, unable to woo,
the poet circles the encased sleeping beauty;
tilt of his chin, palm of his hand
an invitation she's unable to accept.

by Margaret Bednar, September 1, 2016

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Artistic Intpretreations - The Met's Musical Instruments Exhibit.

Just as Stradivari's career began about 1665, there was a major advance in string making:  the development of gut strings overseen with fine metal wire.  With the availability of these new strings, Stradivari was able to reduce the size of the cello, thereby improving its acoustical qualities and making it easier to play.  Of the approximately sixty Stradivari cellos that are extent, about twenty are of this smaller size.  The "Batta-Piatigorsky" is considered one of the best examples of this smaller, improved model.

I don't believe any of the videos are of the "Batta", but certainly the genius of the man, Gregor Piatigorsky, shines through.

You Tube Gregor Piatigorsky plays Bach Bourses:  https://youtu.be/z4__cFiaFJY
You Tube Gregor Piatigorsky plays Tchaikovsky Waltz:  https://youtu.be/4txRGrOrUyU
You Tube Gregor Piatigorsky plays Chopin Sonata:  https://youtu.be/OqipjgPDYxk