Egrets Poised

ruminations on mortality

Egrets Poised

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finding, minding, the slow unwinding,

emotions-thoughts, frail sentiment binding,

breathless-caught, the slow release

too briefly grasp the precious gift           

of a lifetime fraught with imagery           

where memories line the past in rows,

held close at breast the heart to warm,

caught in each- a life to see,

like leaves that shroud Life’s ancient tree,

great gnarled roots hug long the bank,

drink deeply whence time’s river flows,

as on he rushes languidly.

 

but lives are short and leaves are many,

from Life- the Ancient Tree,                                   

too soon his leaves all swirl and fall,

mount deeply round the knees of burl,

so drift and blow decayed anon,

whence cast upon the browning lawn,

grace rushing brook or golden pond,

or settled deep to dark below,           

passed o’er the waterfall beyond,

there slipped away to deep unknown

like offerings cast, and offerings gone.

 

the snowflake-fey, melts in your hand,                       

proud white peaks lofty- ocean ran                       

gold flecks stream off the miner’s pan                       

past footprints fading with the sand                                   

cold waters race away to span                       

stark egret balanced, poised-one leg                       

stands gazing nigh, and gazing nigh

________________

 

But life begins where memories

line the parlor walls,

the past peers out from captures frame,

eyes beckoning the future-call,

the shrouded mist ahead so grey

though lives are short and leaves are many...

 

Rikkevi Rue Copyrighted. All rights reserved

Reviews

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

There is a lot in this writing to absorb, but it plays to the subconscious roots of all humankind. For instance," like leaves that shroud Life’s ancient tree,great gnarled roots hug long the bank,drink deeply whence time’s river flows," and" but lives are short and leaves are many, from Life-the Ancient Tree." Very earthy, all of humankind`s connection to earth and to each other. I can see the mortality in verse and meaning, but it seems to have an underlying shadow of life renewing.
Intuitus

[Rikkevi Rue]

you track very well, the idea being to capture mortality and at the same time sew it into the larger fabric of immortality and the life continuum of all things. Ironically it was not a "conscious write" but more a stream of consciousness type thing. The concepts kinda just flowed out and unraveled...Thank you for your fine review!

[Sue Ellen Walker-Koenig]

Cool! I Totally get what you`re saying.
INTUITUS

[mattavelli]

Hello, Rick! :)
This is lovely thoughtful poetry. I read it three times and enjoyed each. Thanks for sharing.

[Rikkevi Rue]

Thank you Matt for your review! I apologize that it took me so long to answer, but that doesn't mean your review was any less valuable!

[Philip Muls]

Conscious connection with universal intelligence. This is life according to Eckhart Tolle and that is what your poem brings out to me.

Immortality in mortality.

[Rikkevi Rue]

haven't been here for a while so just saw this. Thank you I'm glad you like it. it does sort of have that whole philosophical vibe i guess!

[Justine]

I like the comparisons of life cycles with change of seasons, especially the old tree that has lived through so much and holds wisdom if only some would heed. Though the outer may shed leaves and wither, if the roots are healthy, new life emerges. "Lives are short and leaves are many" is a deep reflection of how much life changes, and we change along with it, as experience etches on our souls. This is really well written and every time I read it I gain something new. Justine

[Rikkevi Rue]

Justine, Glad you enjoyed. I like to overlap an analogy with some aspect of life and then draw the comparisons...sometimes it correctly conveys. The fun really is in the write and the journey it takes one on, though i like it when others can appreciate the creation. Glimpses into the worlds of others they seem, sometimes the thoughts are well enough illuminated to be clearly visible

[Sami Khalil]

With your piercing wise eyes you reveal the stratas of mortality and with your sharp intellect capture the frames of its mystic aspects while you pass through its shrouded mists. The deep unknown will give way one day gardens of joy and happiness where grace rushes in brooks and mercy floats in rivers offerings...A splendid read and write from your pen...:)........

[Rikkevi Rue]

Glad you enjoyed and thank you for your kind words.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)....................

[Great Aunt Astri]

Again, I did not completely undersatnd this. But I loved reading it, and loved all the mind pictures it evoked. If you hadn't actaully said it was about our mortality I think I would have thought it was all about all our good intentions that have 'passed o'er the waterfall.'

[Great Aunt Astri]

I felt this was a poem full of energy. I felt the energy of the flowing river and the tree, (which will replace its lost leaves) I like the 'conclusion' of the last verse. Well done.

[Rikkevi Rue]

Thank you :-)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

But life begins where memories
line the parlor walls,
the past peers out from captures frame,
eyes beckoning the future-call, -- for me these are the most powerful lines of the piece, metaphorically. I felt the impact of the entire concept really fuse together here.

I liked this one...you write with emotion, and I really like your use of language and wordplay. Great message, concept and the execution was quite nice as well. Glad to have come across your work.

[Rikkevi Rue]

thank you and here's to a mutually beneficial acquaintance!

[Trigorin]

Well, you do manage to get your message across fairly well, but I do think your language choice is a little cluttered. I understand what you're going for but I think this is quite a bit too much detail, which makes it look eclectic and unfocused.

[Rikkevi Rue]

Thank you for your review. To each his own my friend!

[Dear Cayman]

Knees of burl and the snowflake-fey! Where your mind must travel.
Thanks for this.

[Rikkevi Rue]

travel indeed...if only you could go there with me! But then isn't that the whole purpose for attempting to convey ones inner view?

[Dear Cayman]

It's angel's luck any time the inner view is seen by someone else the way our purpose hoped. Rushing languidly, I would certainly go with.

[Rikkevi Rue]

I'm not sure what angel's luck is but take that it is a good thing! I believe that our inner view is timeless and can be both rushing and still at the same time. And didn't someone say that thinking is the best way to travel? :-)