Ice

Cherry

By Philip Sidney

Fri, 05 Jun 2015
  • 6467 reads
21 comments
 

I think of it out there, at night

creaking, weighty, floating

dreaming of the next transformation

 

hydrogen hydrogen

oxygen

loosening bonds

 

the slow melt

into liquid or reaching

the sublime state of vapour

 

mineral, crystalline, geometries

slipping away in the

bright, quiet, sunshine

 

but not now, in the dark

cold winds whipping ancient molecules

that have passed this way before

 

I feel the longing of liquid

biding its time

saline, briny, tainted

 

holding

the impurity

of memory.

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by socialeaf on

This is a great poem Philip! One that I shall be revisiting a lot. Beautifully written! 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks socialeaf!

Submitted by Pat G on

This captures everything in its atoms and impurity. Yes, life is here. And so few words to say it all.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

smiley

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I was fascinated by this, I presume a picture of an iceberg, but couldn't quite make out the ending, I felt it still referred to the 'berg, but it's the sea water that is saline not the iceberg itself, so is it referring there to the sea water? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

It's cyclical, salt in the water and us teary creatures and briny rivulets on the ice.  Who knows where some of the molecules of our bodies may end up.  Hope it makes a sort of sense. :)

Submitted by VeraClark on

Drifted away with this. Luscious use of language.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Oh my goodness! I decided to call my Iceland collection 'Drift'! So glad you like this and think I'll stick with the title. smiley

Submitted by VeraClark on

Very fitting title. Are you submitting it? I feel excited.

 

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

Very fitting title. Are you submitting it? I feel excited.

 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I'm going to do it!  one more poem to write...smiley

Submitted by Deliberately Ev... on

Beautiful description of the transformation of molecules from ice to liquid. So fascinating. 

The beat of your heart is the mellifluent rhythm to my soul.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank Accident.

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

When I read this, I was pretty sure it was part of the Iceland collection. I can remember driving down the road and suddenly coming upon the icebergs - very surreal.

It is a lovely poem, and I'm pleased you will be having it all made into a book.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Jean.  The picture is a photo that my son took from the side of the road, I'm haunted by the idea of them.  I don't know if my collection will become a book but I'll give it a go. :)

Submitted by Bee on

There's anxiety in this and loss; a longing in the slipping away. The coldness and fluidity add to the movement - everything leaving, but there's coldness, too, in the almost scientific description - like an unwilling acceptance of death. Filled with threat. Great piece!

Bee

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you for such a sensitive reading. :)

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Bravo Sir Philip

I Really, Really, Eeally Love this piece!

Perhaps my duelism of ths element brought me to reading your words at the most relaxing part of my day... perhaps within the flow of least resistance also held me back to Wait, at least until the initial crowd had passed over the page, as you so rightly observed of Water

Wow... your words have transformed my day. Thank you for sharing your great talent.

A wonderful read.

Rob

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much Rob, what a lovely response. :)

Submitted by Stephen Thom on

wonderful poem Philip, and how brilliant to hear there is a collection in the works. I will look forward to it. i think Bee has covered very well thoughts to take from this, a definite depth and angst, but again I am v much enjoying these ideas transmitted with such ecomony of words fastened together in beautiful combinations - 'cold winds whipping ancient molecules'

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Stephen, I'm perhaps being a little premature on the collection, but it would be nice. smiley