Jill,
Saskatchewan has some fabulous writers/artists colonies. Was just at St.
Pete's, a monastery in the middle of the prairies in the middle of
February. A heathen in a hermitage (rustic cabin on the edge of the
woods). Had to snowshoe back and forth to the main buildings for food,
showers, conversation. Great for gluts and for poetry. Drafts of 25
poems in 12 days. Here is one of them. Still a snapshot as I haven't
touched it since....I think it really needs to be "read" aloud.
Cheers,
Mari-Lou
P.S. The muse was a great horned owl.
Hermitage Poem - Day 12
Owl Syntax
Nightwalk back under moon's crescent grin
creak of steps on snow hardened by wind
ideas for poems seep out through soles
with each brittle breath of crystals inhaled.
Imperfect rhyme, non-iambic
swoosh swoosh of snowshoes
interrupted by the owl's
Oohw hooo, Hoo oowh, Hoo
I answer Hoo, Hoo, oohw Hoo
wondering if the lost syllable
means anything personal, unsure
of owl vocabulary, syntax,
Oohw Whoo Hoo
he calls back, three plaintive syllables
I answer, too ardently perhaps
yet it goes on like this down the path
around the corner through the trees
call and response, two creatures speaking
our yearning across species, the language
of night and sound.
-----Original Message-----
From: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to poetry and
poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jill Jones
Sent: March 22, 2005 10:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: snapshot
Hi Mari-Lou,
It all depends where one's standing.
Thanks - looks like next stop must be Saskatchewan. Someone was trying
to talk
me into New Zealand today - a very enticing prospect - but I can't go
past sun
and socialism.
Best,
Jill
> Jill,
> Great poem and also wonderful to get it the night before the morning
it
> was written! I love how time zones and wind wreak havoc. Especially
> wind, having grown up in Saskatchewan... a place synonymous with sun,
> wind, snow, socialism.
>
> Mari-Lou
>
> Mari-Lou Rowley
> Pro-Textual Communications
> www.pro-textual.com
> Tel 604.708.8512
> Fax 604.708.8512
>
> Recent Books
> Interference with the Hydrangea, Thistledown Press
> Viral Suite, Anvil Press
>
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