Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Obituary Of A Summer Day

I looked out my window
at the stampeding hordes of ghost raindrops,
not a single leaf flinching
from the memory of their falling.
The Sun scraped dust-bleeding claws
down flakey bark-skin, and
bent-back blades of Bermuda—
begging a drink for dignity’s sake.
There was no mercy in her breathless denial,
nor Holy tears to bless the dying.
Day drowned in a pool of fire,
night mourned the darkness of its soul.

21 comments:

polona said...

WOW! wonderful, pat!

jel said...

that's what I say WOW !!

Kai said...

so how are u pat?

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Nice poem Pat. Loved it actually. Did you spare a little of your beer?

moonlight said...

wow! nice post,keep it up

MB said...

Day drowned in a pool of fire

Interesting imagery! Fits the weather around here, too. Oof!

Anonymous said...

You know, Pat, I've been thinking all day of what to say to this poem, and nothing that does it justice comes to mind, so I'll just say, Well done.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

"Day drowned in a pool of fire"
I love that! It perfectly describes our weather.
It's funny how all those people in the north are going crazy about the heat -- it's a normal thing for us. :)

Tupelo Honey said...

Pat, we took a vote while you were out and decided you aren't allowed to die...ever...or go anywhere...or otherwise deprive us of your talent. Sorry - that one's a dealbreaker - we won't give in!

Neoma said...

We have been having some heat here in GA, lately huh? No wind, no breath of fresh air, just heat, heat, heat.......ghost raindrops.......here also.

Elena Horowitz-Brookes said...

"Not a single leaf flinching from the memory of their falling." Very haunting effect these "ghost raindrops" have Pat. Very haunting! "dust bleeding claws down flakey bark skin" Now you're really getting into imagery which you know I can appreciate. I love it all! You've managed to take the ordinary everyday and suck every inch of the unordinary out of it. And the result is fantastic. I love the last finishing line. Really beautiful Pat.

dumbdodi said...

Player of words.....
'Day drowned in a pool of fire'
Excellent

Pris said...

I love this! You amaze me, you're so prolific AND good.

Masago said...

...a veritable fountain of eloquence!

I suppose I'd better get back to trying to send you some of this rain we've been having up here. :-)

Russell Ragsdale said...

You have harnessed the raw power of these words. From each image it is as if sleeping giants have come awake and you have taught them to march. This was beautiful, Pat!

Neetee said...

This is an amazing piece pat.
While reading this I hear slow, hot, Blues in the background with whiskey sinking just as slowly in a Mason jar.
You have tapped in on the soul of the "Obituary Of A Summer Day", beautifully.

Thank you.

Pat Paulk said...

Polona, I love WOW's!! Thank you!!

Jel, WOW's are good!! Thank you!

Thank you Kai!!

Don I didn't spare any beer!! Thank you!!

Thank you moonlight!!

Thanks MB!! Supposed to get some rain and a break this weekend, maybe.

AA, thank you for thinking about it all day!!

Thanks Andrew!! The hot humid South!!

Shannon, I can go along with that. I'm holding you personally responsible for my health!! What a wonderful compliment, thank you!!

Nea, I guess this is normal, but the older I get the more it effects me.

Boulies, you just rubbed my ego like a puppy getting its belly scratched and my legs are kicking like crazy!!!

Dumbdodi, thanks for coming by and commenting. Please come back!!

Pris, now I'm blushing. Thank you very much!!

Vaughn it would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

The heat has been pretty raw. It needed exposing for the low life character it really is! Thanks Russell!!

Now, Queen, I can't imagine you've ever drunk liquor from a mason jar.
But a thin cardboard fan stapled on a blasa wood stick would fit nicely with the image you painted. Now if you would pass that jar back around...

Plus Ultra said...

Very Very strong last two lines, the imagery is fresh, diction is wonderful...I am the 19th to comment, an indication of how good you are, I wish I could write you, your verses are so spontaneous, never forced or contrived...absolute freedom of a high art!

Anonymous said...

Dad, WOW...there is something really great about this one.

dumbdodi said...

I surely will Pat, thanks for making me feel welcomed

Yansidara said...

summer...
what a great poem pat!