I used Read Write Poem’s Wordlicious prompt for this one. I am in New Mexico now, but Mike is still in Turkey, and I’m surprised that I didn’t use moribund.
That Stick, That Wind
It was a long drive from the city
through the string of farm towns,
and then onto the high plains,
and up and through the hills.
There were cars behind me,
but the road ahead was empty,
an abstract stroke on vellum.
The wind picked up, and clouds,
untethered, gray and barren,
scudded across the horizon.
Near home, three girls,
kneeling beside the road,
drew a stick through an anthill,
disrupted the pattern, and watched.
Your absence is like that stick, that wind.
I scatter in a thousand directions.
Magnificent. You had me at “scudded.” OK, you had me well before scudded. I love that turn at the end. I got chills reading it.
First comment of the day made my day. Thanks!
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Dana, thank you so much for the plug!
Beautiful. Good use of the words, too.
Nice poem! Nice lines
great progression from beginning to end. that last line is a very effective punch to end the poem. the imagery throughout the first stanza sets up quite nicely. my first of yours and it will not be my last.
I love the imagery in this. It plays out so nicely and the contrast between the immensity of the road and the 3 girls at the ant mound “disrupting the pattern” is amazing. I think about the 3 fates. “Disrupted the pattern.” Wow.
Thanks so much, James. I hadn’t even thought of the fates. It is always great when someone gives me an insight into what I have written.
Thank you, everyone. You know, I almost didn’t post it – felt pretty tentative about it. But you have given me a great boost and a dose of courage today. Thanks so much.
Great image here — love the final lines.
The imagery is just beautiful, and the last two lines really resonate.
Seemingly diverse images converge. That is the beauty of this poem.
x-y-z: all three axes
but the road ahead was empty,
an abstract stroke on vellum.
This is just wonderful. The whole poem is good, but these lines especially.