Porcellana (Cowrie Shell)

Porcellana (cowrie shell)

Lucky I didn’t clatter to Earth

when you dropped me;

for this porcelain frame

would have shattered into a million shards.

Tempered from clay and powdered glass

my strength, hardness and toughness

would have become mere dust particles

to be blown to the four winds.

If I had landed hard upon your rocks

my shattered form would have split asunder

to be swept away in the raging sea

of your hatred.

It was my reading of the chart,

the triangulation of the stars

with my sextant,

my celestial navigation

that saved my soul.

And as I fell from heaven

on that gentle zephyr,

sent by my guardian angel,

I looked back in distain.

 

28/11/13

Author's Note

Reviews

[Susannah Rae]

your writing has such a force and power behind it. I especially like your precisely chosen words. Words matter very much in our "profession" and you picked beautiful ones.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Susannah.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

You've written with conviction, John... I felt the resilience in your words...
I detect a bit of a rebellious tone as well... Nicely penned!~xoxo~

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Robbie

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Well done, my friend....it's been a pleasure, indeed. ~xoxo~:)

[ferousfinite]

A brilliant write! Great variety of wording and vocabulary used. I can always appreciate a colorful, yet stern idea.

"my celestial navigation
that saved my soul.
And as I fell from heaven
on that gentle zephyr"

That is GOLD my friend!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you FF.

[ferousfinite]

FF?
What is FF? I am a bit behind on the pop culture references...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Your chosen WC name! Ferous finite!

[ferousfinite]

Aha. Thanks. The Ferrous Finite is a Quantum Formula I devised. It relates to Toroidal-Magnetometry; The perfect Number of 64 and how every atom is connected with another...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So you are a scientist?

[ferousfinite]

Yes. I am 31 and I will not be forgotten when I have left this Earth.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So are you studying aircraft wing structures?

[ferousfinite]

Portable Power Sources for Homes & Businesses. I am always looking for help

[Tom]

You took it like a man, then with fortitude and steely resilience moved on !

A poetic parable full of pathos and character !! Splendid indeed !

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Tom

[Mark]

I like the imagery. Did you mean to use distain or should it be disdain?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Mark, Thank you. Disdain is used more commonly in poetry. As in seeing someone with the colour you once saw removed.

[Mark]

Distain is what you wanted then, but it's a verb I think.

[Lydia Shutter]

Sometimes it is difficult to read the stars as another does. Are we destined to become "star struck" in life? Are we meant to be paired with the one who is born at precisely the correct time and place to interact with our birth? Not sure I believe that. The metaphor here is great. Good thing the guardian angel was there to save you......in hindsight we see things we never noticed before. I wonder.....is it good to have a porcelain frame? To be so sensitive to what another says or does? In some ways it is....in others, it is deadly. Beautifully written poetry, John. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Lydi, thank you for such a considered and wonderful review.

[MsJewel]

You have a wonderful gift. There are so many wonderful lines worth remembering. I'm saving this one!
:) Julie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

My goodness Julie this is an accolade and I am both grateful and humbled. Thank you; I am so pleased you enjoyed it.

[Leigh]

Great descriptions and references that all pull in to give a sensational feeling, experience and thought sequence, I liked this very much

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Leigh for such a lovely review.

[Leslie Philibert]

John is a poet I know well. I like his work a lot when he concentrates on a wide range of themes, this is very good, and proves he can write about a lot of subjects !..

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Leslie, hope all is well with you. I am not having quite so much time to spend on WC these days. Many thanks for your very kind comments.

[Lyn Anderson]

I loved it. Beautiful imagery. Mmmm makes me think of someone disappointed by someone who puts too much faith in horoscopes. distain (intentional? or no? as in disdain mixed with distance?)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you KLG. Distain is more often preferred in English language poetry. As in removing the colour (value) you once saw in someone, recognition that you have withdrawn that attribution.