Foss

Cherry

By Philip Sidney

Fri, 03 Apr 2015
  • 3973 reads
12 comments
 

Goðafoss lies at the side of the road

a lucky horsehoe left behind

in the earth´s rush to change itself

an easy walk for such a prize

bluely iced, it rumbled

we shrank in its presence

drank hot chocolate in the souvenir shop

fingered elves´shoes, bone buttons, crocheted snowflakes

 

Dettifoss does not care for the tourists´gaze

we crossed the snowy desert

buffetted like black rocks skittering across ice

a campervan in the carpark

its driver followed us

we waded through thigh-deep white-blue snow

stumbled up slipped down

liquid in our lungs, the ticking of our hearts

told us we were alien

flesh in this place of rock and ice

 

we climbed onto the plateau to watch

water plunge into a basalt gorge

we stood, the falls fell

we spoke of the fiery sky and earthquakes

that had shaken this ground a month earlier

thought of being tossed into the foss

 

we trudged back

the man chattering

the earth and I did not listen

 

how strange it is to be.

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It sounds a beautiful place to visit, dressed warmly! A privilege, your holiday.
Getting off the beaten track reminded me of a beautiful waterfall in Wales that takes some walking through woods to get to, not frequently visited, but you can walk behind the curtain. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It sounds a beautiful place to visit, dressed warmly! A privilege, your holiday.
Getting off the beaten track reminded me of a beautiful waterfall in Wales that takes some walking through woods to get to, not frequently visited, but you can walk behind the curtain. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

It is so beautiful, one of my sons lives in Iceland and I can see why.  There are parts that reminded be a little of Wales.  There´s something special about going to those hard to reach places.

Submitted by hilary west on

Lovely cascade of poetry, very descriptive!

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Hilary :)

Submitted by scratch on

Excellent last line to conclude a fab poem Philip.  

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks scratch smiley

Submitted by Geoff Smith on

I like the 'We verb-ed' sentences. I think they help to emphasise the environment's disinterest, I think.

Thanks for reading. I am grateful for your time.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Geoff. smiley

Submitted by Parson Thru on

There's a stillness and calm in how this is rendered that I seem to have lost for the time-being. Wonderful to read.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Parson Thru, hope you find some rest this week. :)

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

Another beautiful poem - descripting the place so well. We were there in early September, so no snow around, so it must have been even more dramatic when you were there.

Jean

Jean Day