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| The Great Wave of Kanagawa - Hokusai |
She drank an ocean of English words
Filling herself up with each one, drop by drop.
Their heritage wide and wild as the world.
She packed them into her Ox-bridge-loving
soul along with her favorite sweater,
her sorority cap and sweatshirt to
take to an island nation so she could blow them
like iridescent bubbles
to little Japanese children.
How could she know they would flow
with the tide and rolling back
overtake her
as she tried to escape on her bicycle,
a huge wave of words in the vast sea
returned to capture her forever.
In Memoriam and in honor of Taylor Anderson who died in the Japanese Tsunami
March 11, 2011.
March 11, 2011.
(c) Gay Reiser Cannon * 2011* All Rights Reserved
Exquisite, Gay-- the tide in this poem, the suffusion of imagery pull me in. So evocative. xxj
ReplyDeletewow .... so sad but yet so beautiful ...thank you
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute in a tragic occurence.
ReplyDeleteAs Ann said, a beautiful tribute, Gay.
ReplyDeleteFrom source to source, a brilliant dive into the sea of language which we swim in, to ends we have no control over, like the restless, margeless seas. I so identify with the first part's education in the word, all of that reading like so much drinking, so much sailing ... and the parallel pouring-out of what's been given exactly when that other sea taketh all away is so bittersweet. As everyone else has said, a beautiful elegy ... Brendan
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! Beautiful! This is just amazing:
ReplyDeleteHow could she know they would flow
with the tide and rolling back
overtake her
as she tried to escape on her bicycle,
a huge wave of words in the vast sea
returned to capture her forever.
Wonderful poem, lovely tribute!
Sorry guys. It may be a few days before I get to comment on your work. There is a lot going on for me right now. I will be reading on my iPad as I get some time but I'll respond on computer all later. Sending love & appreciation.
ReplyDeleteOh, so beautiful a tribute! Well versed my friend!
ReplyDeleteMy Post Is Here
gay this is amazing - such a beautiful tribute and such fantastic imagery..i think that's one of my favs by you so far..
ReplyDeleteThis is both measured, and sincere, very musical in rhythm and feel--a sad music, but with dignity. Excellent writing,Gay.
ReplyDeleteOoo, I like the bicycle twist! Sends me on a new journey. Cool.
ReplyDeletebeautifully written poem, so tragic but a wonderful tribute as well
ReplyDeletea wonderful tribute to Taylor Anderson, Gay. one of many losses that day, but one of the few where we know what happened. beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteEmotional. Too much to take in on one read. I love the phrasing.
ReplyDeleteNeat
ReplyDeleteLoved the story between the lines...
ReplyDeleteSo many wasted lives. Her parents were told at first that she had survived. I like the way your poem seems to surge and then fall back ... like the tides. And then the final engulfing wave...
ReplyDeleteI thank you for your comments on my blog about "blank" verse. I would like to attempt to write one and I would love for you to critique it. That is if I succeed in creating one. Thank you!