CANADIAN SHIELD

07 19 13

Quintessential pestle of nature
and slave to the spite
of its stone puppet hands
A volcano fashioned in their own image
obscured by their evolutionary grudge
A Precambrian craft not allowed to budge
only bleed

Icy fashion from an Arctic adolescence
shredded by adulterated histories
into tasseled arteries
of teal and metallic turquoise

A frost diamond network
of obsidian avenues shriveled
into ant farm novelty
Down came the fist of geology
from bored nature
on hospitable potential

Compromise immigrated down
to the reaches of an heir-splitting river

Funneled disembodiment
honoured by a pair of
superpower-wannabe provinces
with a perpetuity of tug-of-war played
tongue-tied in Babelized rhetoric

Author's Note

Canadian Shield: The extensive region making up much of northern and central Canada underlain by Precambrian rocks that have been eroded to produce a low shield-like profile. - Dictionary.com

St.Lawrence River: "...connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It traverses the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario...." - Wiki Answers

Quebec and Ontario: the two most-populated and politically-influential provinces in the country...the former is predominantly French, the latter is predominantly English...you get the idea.

Reviews

[KAOlmsted]

"...heir-splitting..." Why are you so clever? All I really know about Canada is what I learned from a Loverboy album ;-) (oh s**t, not THIS again xD) Seriously, though...I know that northern bit of Canada is a lot like Alaska so I get that aspect of the piece...the political mishigas going on with Quebec (those b******s *laugh*) and Ontario is a bit above my pay grade. I used to summer on the St. Lawrence (1,000 Islands) Holy cats that sounds pretentious...

I am about to start gushing so I'll hit submit before Frieda scolds us ;-) I know you know how I feel about your work. And this is no exception. Incredibly well done, pet. xoxoxoxo

[kublakhan27]

Haha You wanna know something funny? I've been spinning their stuff on a regular basis since that last discussion we had...I have all of the albums, I'm not sure if I mentioned THAT ;D

I spent four months working in the Territories many moons ago, and I really wanted to take the bus over to Alaska, but I just never got the chance...summering on the St.Lawrence actually has a nice ring to it haha But yes, I don't wanna get Mrs.R upset with me ;) You need not say another word my dear, I'm just happy to have you stop by, and I'm happy that I'm able to entertain you with my words...thank you Kim for everything :) xoxoxox

[KAOlmsted]

Ah, Loverboy xoxo That is awesome. I youtube them every now and then and wonder...why in the HELL was I so in love with Mike Reno??? xD

My pleasure. For everything. And I know you know I know ;-)

[kublakhan27]

LOL And you don't think he was swooned over in his home country? ;D

Love and hugs as always :) xoxo

[KAOlmsted]

xoxoxoxoxoxo

[Lyn Anderson]

This is so great. It is so vivid. Immediately the rocks around where I grew up came to mind ...

[kublakhan27]

So glad I could conjure up those memories for you, thank you K.

[quixotic_rose]

This was interesting, I like that I can understand it even without your note :). It actually made me think. OY thinking haha :) nice work!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks again bud, I'm glad and a little relieved to hear that I was in fact able to relay the visions of the poem in an interpretive way, without assistance from the note haha Your support is appreciated more than you know. You always inspire and humble me with your kind words :)

[quixotic_rose]

i'm glad my words show their support!

[Kleio13]

"Quintessential pestle of nature
and slave to the spite
of its stone puppet hands"
This drew me in. i love it

[kublakhan27]

Glad you liked it, thank you :)

[Kenneth The Poet]

You described Ottawa, now describe Washington D.C.

I jest, but you have the vocal prowess of Gord Downie, I think.

[kublakhan27]

Most Canadian writers would do a better job of describing the latter...one of the things that gets bemoaned up here is a lack of identity...if our artists actually spent some time exploring our own country, that might not be a problem...oh well...very cool to know I have elements of Downie in my writing...thanks my friend.

[Kenneth The Poet]

I would say that Downie has done an excellent job describing Canadian life. Thanks to him, I have learned a lot about Canadian culture. Peter Mansbridge called The Hip "the chroniclers of our time". That's a well deserved compliment. Not a problem at all.

[kublakhan27]

I agree wholeheartedly...I've seen them twice and their ability to rock out and educate at the same time is off the chart...guitar rock is a dying art form but they're keeping it going.

[roy k austin]

Read with interest. Dont forget to conjunct for variable metric rythm in free verse-I humbly suggest.
Simplicity to say the complex too. ie Frost..
"The frost performs it's secret ministry" or R Frost..
" I've got promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep" I am always fascinated by how simplicity works?
Thank you for the poem..Roy..

[kublakhan27]

Thank you for reading and for the input Roy.

[roy k austin]

most welcome i'm sure

[Robbie~xoxo~]

"Icy fashion from an Arctic adolescence
shredded by adulterated histories
into tasseled arteries
of teal and metallic turquoise"~ What an awesome imagery you have painted, Steve!
I've fallen in love with this vision... am awestruck indeed! I can see the cool metallic surface of the
Canadian Shield (region)...you've made this an epic vision. Imaginative write indeed!XX :)

[kublakhan27]

Thank you my sweet :) This was not an easy write cuz I had to factor in the historical facts and write around those, so I'm glad the imagery resonated with you so much...glad you enjoyed it Robbie :) xo

[Rebecca Buller]

I enjoyed this because it wasn't only poetic genius, but because I learned something about your beautiful Canadian land. Thank you for sharing a piece of your home with us:)

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Rebecca :) I've wanted to write something Canada-flavoured (note the "u" haha) for a while but I always seemed to have other things on the go...I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[Rebecca Buller]

I did very much, and you're welcome:-)

[Pete Langley]

You paint a fascinating picture of your land, Steve....as if, despite the inherent ambition of it`s inhabitants, the land itself dominates even the civilised. A very interesting piece I`ve read and reread, finding more each time. P.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you my friend, I'm glad that I was able fascinate you to that extent with this one...I've read in a few different places that we're possibly the most geographically-influenced country in the world...we never did totally conquer this land, but it has never totally conquered us either haha

[Dana Alsamsam]

some very interesting images here! the volcano "A Precambrian craft not allowed to budge
only bleed" is such a different perspective and very thought provoking. this whole thing was beautiful descriptive writing. i wish geography books were written like this :P

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Dana, you humble me with the extent of your kind words :)