Hi grasshopper,
A fine poem - that does amazing things! Not only do I find echoes of things
like The Tempest, Robinson Carusoe, and how many other voyages into the
exotic and unknown in it but it also creates its own narrative as well. I
love the way it carries its own history with it, how it states things just
so matter-of-fact, suspends disbelief, and makes the surreal seem just how
these things are.
At the moment, in the phrase: "and let him fly//over trade-routes, trails
and dragons" the word "trail" feels sort of almost-contemporary in
comparison to the trade routes (the old silk route) and the "here be dragons
of medieval maps - I mean the Santa-Fe Trail (a century or so old) the Inca
Trail (a sort of tourist-business invention of a name). Is there another
word - a word not so much commandeered by the holiday business - more in
keeping with the mythical/ancient nature of the poem?
(Or is it just me, hurriedly trying to sort out holidays and con the Bank
Manager, who sees the word Trail in so many adventure holiday brochures?)
I love the "small winged stowaway" as well! A bland description? No way! To
me the words just feel so right!
Bob



>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: New sub: Grounding
>Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 22:34:19 +0100
>
>
>
>Have at this, please:
>
>
>             Grounding
>
>When the hull grated against an island,
>we both cursed crossings, hot-breathed
>as buccaneers.The startled parrots flapped
>and flakked. A wiser, worldlier pilot
>
>would have avoided this sad scrape,
>but our navigator thought more
>of air than water. Instead of calculating
>angles, he was flirting with the stars.
>
>I saw him drop my steely sextant
>into the moon's reflected gaze
>when we passed through the Azores.
>He pleated sea-charts into butterflies
>
>and lanterns, and played darts
>with the dividers. Well, I will light
>a fire on the beach to melt pitch,
>and caulk timbers, while you hammer
>
>at necessities. We will re-launch
>into a fair wind. Later we may discover
>a small winged stowaway, bright-eyed,
>amongst the ropes and canvas.
>
>Do not scold him. Lift him gently
>into the arms of Zephyr and let him fly
>over trade-routes, trails and dragons
>into the wide uncompassed day.
>
>                     grasshopper

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