30 Slices of Toast

[Steven]

Transfiguration


There is an oak on top of the hill
That we walked to just to see the land:
The timbered church of Little Stretton beneath the tower hills,
Caer Caradoc and the Long Mynd.

The sweep of valley daffodils,
And barley taking flight inside the wind.
Our faces shone with the sun
Or streamed with the rain.

This morning, the oak spreads out its strong-decrepit arms
As if waiting to be dressed in Spring.

[Janet]

Good going, Steven. Loved the oak like an earth goddess waiting to be dressed in Transfiguration and found Eclipse powerful, especially the hypocritical sun in the final stanza.

[Julie]

"Thickening the world.
And things change."

!! That's great stuff.

"But when I arrived at the scene of the explosion
Only the door was there."

Love this. What a great image.

"Like a crawling-insect gown of heat."

What a horrifyingly perfect image. Gah.

So much to like here. I'm glad I came by!

[Steven]

Hi Julie and Janet,


My efforts seem to have fallen behind but I'm very grateful for your support.

[Steven]

Sleepy


Two birds flying
In an eggshell sky,
Ghost-blue with green veneer,
And spotted black.

They are found inside a morning web,
Flitting from field to field,
Vulnerable, yet free,

Near flimsy villages
Warped tight with twigs
Safely hidden.

As hedges nest around the fields
Under layers of lost significance,
These bramble and country lanes,
May also wait to crack and live.

[M]

Steven, I'm just now making it to your thread, but I'm so glad I did. You've got some really cool stuff going on here. I adore Explosion and Birdsong. I could feel the shock of finding the door and hear the birds. Eclipse was very lovely with well developed images throughout. Religiously was an astute observation, and I enjoyed pondering it. I've enjoyed it all so far, and I'll be back around. Thanks for writing!

[5th column]

Hi Steven, there is such a strong tie to nature in these poems you can feel in the words. There's nothing here that seems contrived.

Transfiguration is probably my favourite of the thread so far. It's wonderfully understated and has two especially beautiful and strong images in: The sweep of valley daffodils, / And barley taking flight inside the wind. - Plus - the oak spreads out its strong-decrepit arms / As if waiting to be dressed in Spring. I really enjoyed reading this poem over and again.

[Arlene]

Steven, I do hope you're alright. Such beauty as ever in your poems. They always make me miss England and long to see the parts I never have.

[bop]

Steven,
You have a talent in showing the beauty of nature in your poems. I love this line from 'Transfiguration'
'... This morning the oak spreads out its strong-decrepit arms
As if waiting to be dressed in Spring...'
'Sleepy' makes me think of early morning. The poem is so active but peaceful too.
Best wishes,
bop

[beeswax]

Hello Steven. Spring is late here in Scotland so your word pictures resonate with me. Winter sun indeed (I’d just like to see a little more of it). Transfiguration is lovely.

[Steven]

Hi,

M, Neil, Arlene, Bop, and Bees.

Thank you so much for your comments. Unfortunately couldn't complete the month but I really appreciate your support and helpful comments. Some of these poems I've already revised and all thanks to you.

[Arlene]

Glad you're ok.