I Want To Tell You Things

Gold cherry

By onemorething

Wed, 22 Apr 2020
  • 7668 reads
22 comments
 

The swan in her doctor's coat

eyes me from the bank side,

she ministers to the jade fabric of it,

windblown, creased and

overhead, the sun disappears 

as wounded as love can be,

oppressed to a scarlet tear.

All these things that we have forgotten

in this business of remembering,

that we must make room for now.

I imagine the glide of affliction

as it settles the virions of itself,

but the air was never sanctified

and the river is not holy water.

We borrow old saints and angels,

we look at each other differently 

and I want to tell you things

I have not told you before.

 

Image is my own from my current swan stalking obsession. 
https://soundcloud.com/user-567085844/i-want-to-tell-you-things-m4a

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Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I love how you carve out the image of the swan appearing like a doctor in her white coat, and how it appears windblown and creased...what a great imagination! 

The word virions I have never heard of before, I wonder if you could tell me what it means, I'd be interested to know.

You are so right about making room for those things that are missed so much from life at the moment. Can't wait to get out and about and walk around lakes, it's the one thing I miss so much.

By the way, I loved your reading this poem, it brings it alive.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Hi Jenny, very glad you liked it and my swan doctor. A virion is the name for an infectious particle of virus outside a host. So I was imagining them unseen drifting in the air. Thanks very much for reading it and your lovely comment. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Quite apart from the beautiful imagery, I love the way this captures present uncertainties.  Old saints and angels indeed, and the things we have forgotten.  I would love to know what future historians will make, not only of these weeks and months, but of what comes after.  

Thanks for posting this.  

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks very much airyfairy, and for the cherries. Yes, if it wasn't so tragic to be a witness to it, all we would be left with is fascination at what's happening and what's to come. Thank you for reading it, and your comment. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

A very clever imagery of the white-coated swan as a doctor and the related reference to the virus. Truly apposite to the current situation.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Am very happy that you enjoyed it. Yes, it suddenly occurred to me yesterday that they wore white coats like doctors. I took my (they are my swans now...) nesting ones some lettuce so really it was me ministering to them. Thank you for reading and your comment, Luigi. Rachel x

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thanks for letting me know what a virion is. A scary thought to think that a partical of virus can live outside a host and be spread so easily, like the Corona Virus.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

You're welcome. And no, not a very nice thought! :)

 

Submitted by littleditty on

on the river for a while...I'm moored by a Coots nest and the birth of 6 healthy little punk scruffs 3 days ago was lovely to see! Papa and Ma brought them over to visit today :) Your poem reminds me... the space for the remembering, borrowing old saints a perfect idea of needing familariarity, set against you last lines on the renewed way of seeing, ace poem....loved it. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

So happy that you liked it. Thank you. Very jealous of your punk babies too! How cute. I check daily for cygnets like the mad swan lady that I have become. Thanks for reading it. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by Ewan on

Imaginative, full of imagery, layered and thoughtful. This is our well-deserved Pick of the Day. Why not share and/or retweet if you like it too?

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you very much! The swans will be delighted too. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

I loved the doctor image too. For the record. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

I think it's important to have this on record. (Thank you.) :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Sorry to be so repetetive, but I loved the serene swan doctor too, ministering the bank with her beak :0) I had not heard the word virions before either. It has a liquidy sound from all the vowels. The borrowed saints made me think of people in the past, frightened of another huge illness sweeping through the population would have maybe had the same feeling of urgency to speak their hearts

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Di. No need to apologise, am glad that you liked the image too. And certainly, both swans are supporting my mental well-being at the moment. It does have a liquidy sound, you're right! Yes, the borrowed saints were a cast back to people terrified of plagues and blaming comets and seeking refuge in faith. Thanks for reading it and your lovely comment. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Beautifully done, and a perfect daily pick. Swan stalking obsession eh? I wonder if there's a helpline for that. Seriously though, I once had the privilege of having a swans' nest at the bottom of my garden, and watching them build, then guard and finally watching the egg break open, was the most amazing thing ever. I hope you manage to see it too. They won't be aggressive if they know you. Good luck!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you! Yes, I am desperate to see the cygnets. Someone who was feeding them today when I was there told me that there are 9 eggs...I'm hoping that I will get to see them not long after they hatch thanks to my daily vigil.

 

Submitted by celticman on

lovely. words that bewitch. images that travel. wisdom in poetic form. 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you! I like the idea of witchy words. :)

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Beautiful, both in words and pace. Again, your last lines are worth waiting for.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Hi Catherine, thank you, that's a lovely comment. I'm really pleased you liked it. Rachel :)