Thankyou for the Winter Solstice tip. I had a hunch that candles
nearly always do represent something mystical, particularly in special
occasions. I liked the poem as well - I'm 47 so the date chimed. the
third verse is particularly affecting.
Roger
On 4/25/07, Cindy Lee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Kasper - you have made a million of my days! I opened your message with an
> "it'll be good for you" clenching of muscles...and then.... your comments
> are as unexpected, as they are renewing. Thank you, also, for taking so much
> time with this poem.
>
> Roger - the candle history is fascinating. I didn't know it; I was trying
> simplly to juxtapose the 'lightness' of birthday candles, with the
> sombreness of lighting candles for the dead.
>
> Out of interest, I also understand that on the pagan precursor of the
> "Christmas" Tree, each hung bauble commemorated someone who had died in the
> preceding year. I haven't googled this, but it was from a learned source!
>
> Cindy
>
>
> > the tragedy in this is beautifully, lightly, subtly masked. everything
> > points towards lightness: the title, the lines "candleless / for we
> > are not religious" (which I found funny because it implies that the
> > tradition of having candles on a cake is made out to be religious),
> > the image & consonance of "in the garden gaudy...", the clarity &
> > williams-like freshness of "the sea breathes / a weight of silver"...
> > the only part that actually hints at remembrance of death is the final
> > stanza, which also stands apart nicely because of the longer lines;
> > but even there, due to the rich metaphorical language of the poem
> > prior to this part, the 'shawl' & the 'bones' are not automatically
> > literal.
> >
> > even the lack of punctuation is done seamlessly, & it adds to a
> > nagging foreshadowing of the blank immediacy of death.
> > besides which, the imagery of this is great. branches, bees, sea wind,
> > flowers, bones. outstanding work.
> >
> > KS
> >
> > On 19/04/07, Cindy Lee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >> Your forty seventh April
> >> candleless
> >> for we are not religious
> >>
> >> in the garden gaudy
> >> branches float
> >> with early bees
> >>
> >> the sea breathes
> >> a weight of silver
> >> there is no horizon
> >>
> >> in three days the flowers
> >> will fall three times
> >> since your last April
> >>
> >> and we will sow a pale petal shawl
> >> to warm your bones as they drag and furl
> >> beneath the ice bright water
> >>
> >> Cindy - very rough, and any comments delightedly received!
> >>
> >
>
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