Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Severe weather warning

After days of faltering orange
down comes the drear
quick as a fit
rinsing cattle, turbines, whole villages
in bloodless pastels.
Only the red fox
eyes grinning, tongue-flopped
as he lollops by
makes reference to the copper rods
welded to my knuckles.
Days, cold and ceaseless, shiver
like small dogs,
gods mumble in an arbitrary way –
Bring down the rains again, I hear them say.
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26 comments:

  1. someone28 February 2012 at 08:24

    This is very beautiful. I love the "bloodless pastels" and the funny sounds like "tongue-flopped [...] lollops". The colours are amazing! Good job!

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  2. The Linnet28 February 2012 at 10:35

    Peter,

    I really love this beautiful new poem! It rolls as I read it aloud, like the landscape I imagine it is written in.

    From 'faltering orange' to 'Days, cold and ceaseless, shiver
    like small dogs,' I felt as I do reading from one of Mr Astley's books... 'Gods mumble in arbitary way' is near on perfect.

    Abi :)

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  3. Peter Wilkin28 February 2012 at 11:48

    Thank you so much for your lovely comment, V ~ & thank you for taking the time to visit my blog ... very much appreciated :)

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  4. Peter Wilkin28 February 2012 at 11:51

    Hi Abi ~ I'm so pleased you like my poem & thank you for your fantastic comments ~ they really do mean a lot to me :)

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  5. Louise28 February 2012 at 13:03

    I love the way you've added colour to the 'drear' & the last two lines are great 'gods mumble in an arbitrary way –
    Bring down the rains again, I hear them say.' ..it really does feel like that here in dreary England, waiting for Spring to come...beautiful poem, Peter :)

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  6. Peter Wilkin28 February 2012 at 13:46

    Thanks ever so much, Louise, for your really lovely comments. It took a lot of energy & willpower to write this one ... there are other unpredictable 'storms' constantly brewing inside my psyche that, in theory, could 'break' at any time ~*

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  7. Scarlet28 February 2012 at 13:54

    What a creative take on the weather...you made it really come alive ~

    The closing line was perfect and gave the clue ~

    http://a-sweetlust.blogspot.com/2012/02/muse.html

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  8. Peter Wilkin28 February 2012 at 14:13

    Thanks you, Heaven, for your lovely comment

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  9. marousia28 February 2012 at 15:33

    Oh I love the red fox - a patch of colour and life amidst the drear of winter - yay for the red fox! Your metaphors are superb - so visual - I could see and feel the whole scene you paint here

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    1. Peter Wilkin29 February 2012 at 02:15

      Hi Marousia ~ & thank you for your lovely comments. When I first began to create this poem the red fox came slinking into my study so I knew there had to be a major role for him :) Really, really pleased you connected with my poem ~*

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  10. Brian Miller28 February 2012 at 18:13

    nice...the fox is a great touch...esp with the symbolism it carries...days shivering too...and arbitrary gods...well writer sir

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    1. Peter Wilkin29 February 2012 at 02:16

      Thank you so much for such positive feedback, Brian ~ very, very much appreciated.

      Delete
  11. mrs mediocrity28 February 2012 at 18:55

    this has been february for me, that sly fox always creeping through...
    really wonderful imagery here.

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    1. Peter Wilkin29 February 2012 at 02:17

      Thank you so much ~ really pleased you enjoyed my poem.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous29 February 2012 at 01:37

    What color and imagry you give us in lousy UK weather, Peter! washed out pastels, tongue-flopped, grinning fox, haa! I can see that! I can feel the moorish cold, shivering like small dogs. Vivid, three dimensional, and very effective work. Brrrr....!

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    1. Peter Wilkin29 February 2012 at 02:18

      Hi Jacquie ~ and thanks for all your super comments. Very, very pleased that you enjoyed my poem.

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  13. Unknown29 February 2012 at 14:49

    I love foxes and what they have to say. The way that you include nature and self is very effectively rendered, and I get a sense of wholeness from it. The matter of fact waybyou tell it reminds me of Chinese poetry or haiku, creating an effect from what's not said but only hinted at.

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    1. Peter Wilkin1 March 2012 at 02:55

      Thank you for such encouraging & descriptive comments, Charles. I tried to wrap a much deeper & personal issue within the more obvious 'hints' ... hopefully, I've managed to do that without burying it too deeply.

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  14. Ed Pilolla29 February 2012 at 16:14

    a lot to like. my favorite was: 'days, cold and ceaseless, shiver like small dogs.'
    one right after another...

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    1. Peter Wilkin1 March 2012 at 02:56

      Thanks Ed ~ I appreciate you reading my poem & thank you for your positive comments.

      Delete
  15. poetjanstie1 March 2012 at 02:26

    Super poem, Peter. Love your style of writing, the continuity, the good grammar.. and the mystery. Can't get enough of your poetry stuff.

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    1. Peter Wilkin1 March 2012 at 02:57

      What lovely comments ~ thank you ever so much, John ... very much appreciated.

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  16. Beth Winter1 March 2012 at 03:04

    Your imagery and use of simile engages the reader. "shivering like small dogs" love it. Wonderful share.

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    1. Peter Wilkin1 March 2012 at 04:52

      Hi Beth ~ thanks for reading & for your lovely comments ~ so pleased you enjoyed it.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous1 March 2012 at 08:31

    Yesterday in NYC we had icy rain much of the day. If it was as beautiful as this poem I don't think I'd have minded a bit. You truly captured inclement weather in a well crafted net. You are some kind of word magician, Peter.

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    1. Peter Wilkin1 March 2012 at 12:23

      ... & you are such a lovely person for keep visiting my blog & writing wonderful accolades, Heidi ~ yet again, sincere thanks for your heart-warming comments.

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