Linguist's Daughter

My fathers chiseled symbols in

red clay stones and elevated grunting

squatters into men, married picture

and meaning within fine etched

lines- digging grooves inside time

capsules. They marked the water

hollowed hills, raising filament to

stars. Chanting around clairvoyant-

hearkening fires, they sent smoke

rings hurled with tight fists against

tomorrow's floating parchment

sky, spiraling hope

across night.

Their wheels sought purchase along

an unseen horizon, rut churning,

mud sprayed plodding toward a

setting sun, to loft bottled messages,

flung hard and high around imagined

camber notions, spherical- immortal prayers,

to future mirrored gods,

a yearning tossed against miles

of flat, unbending earth, 

over the silent, yielding bones

of lesser men. 

Reviews

[DrD]

I don't know how I have missed you but it's probably because I'm so frequently truant. I simply want you to know that your uncanny skill in word selection and use; the elegant formation of metaphor and the depth of imagry is nothign short of magnificent. This work soars over almost everyhing I have read in this and other sites. I applaud your work with every ounce of sincerity I can muster.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Wow did I ever need to hear that today. Thank you so much! I so appreciate you reading and sharing your thoughts.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow this is good...our fathers...not the ones who founded our country with the declaration of independence...

but the ones who came way before, the ones who forged the first fires, who wrote on the walls the poetry of prehistoric times...the very first fathers who led the way to who we are today...

to us, they are gods...but they are real...grunts turn to language to turn to poems.


and here we are today, doing our version on computers...banging keys with fingers...not chisels and hammers.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Yes indeed! Thanks so much! :)

[Kristina Moulaison]

This review is so beautiful Jacob!

[K.N. Lorenzen]

I think I have expressed my admiration before :)
But this is stunningly good! You are an incredibly gifted writer.
what an impressive guirland of words and images, so accurate and evocative.
And you have said so very much, within these lines.
There is no "over-use" of metaphors or images, but rounded with refined hand.
Glitters like ivory.

"camber notions, spherical- immortal prayers (Yep)
to future mirrored gods,
a yearning tossed against miles
of flat, unbending earth, (Very good!!)
over the silent bones
of lesser men." (wonderful ending)

Pity the lesser men, who do not admire this for what it is: A fountain of talent.

Thanks for the amazing and inspiring poetry.
B.T.W: I love the title ;)

K.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thank you so much! If I could live inside your reviews, geez...your words are so thoughtful and very appreciated!

[Chris]

This one... this - one... leaves a proudness and sense of worthiness to live up to ...behind. You did good.

[Kristina Moulaison]

Thanks very much!

[Chris]

you take care...