Stately Stones ~ a Terzanelle ~

And rise again they have. Great allusion and wonderful images.

I'm indebted to you for your kindness. Thank you, Chris.

I loved this poem from line one. The last line is superb.

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured and tweeted.

Do you ever tire of hearing me say "Thank you for all you do"? I think you know how appreciative I am...
Don't ever think otherwise... (Yes...that is an order!) :)

:)

THANK YOU FOR SHARING AT SURREAL CIRCUS!

No offense, but you must realize these comments are meaningless to anyone but you. They are a slight to anyone who takes the time to share their work at your group. They deserve more. But thank you for your insightful comment.

Absolutely. I dislike generic comments that say nothing about the piece....

CL, you have the skills to comment on literature. Let's hear your voice, even if it means you make fewer comments!

I'm sorry ... I didn't realize my comment was so offensive.

But, sometimes I just do not have adequate words to submit ... I often just leave a :) when I enjoyed a piece or it actually brought a smile to lighten up my face. It is an acknowledgement of that. Or of you personally, the author.

By no means is is meant to be just a generic statement. Just like - I don't smile for any reason all the time & I don't talk for any reason likewise. That is me.

If I desired to get into a 'comment' & not just be 'pencil whipping it' (or keyboard whipping it) I truthfully would. I am not a poet & I am not moved by all poetry. As much as I may like a piece - it does not reach me the same ALL the time.

Please excuse me again - I will try to be more thoughtful & more considerate.

":)" really isn't a comment, in my mind and also the minds of many others. i don't rely on comments to get up and feel like writing. How you comment personally, is up to you, of course, but you are a moderator, as I am a moderator, and as such, should really go that extra mile to compliment and encourage those who labor to write something from their soul and share it with others. For some, this is the fruit of their day or week, and often the only inspiration they have to keep on writing. EVERYONE loves to receive positive feedback to feel validated. That is your role as a moderator. A smiley face just doesn't cut it. Or a link to your website where we have to read a page pr two to feel uplifted by your personal views. We are cheerleaders...offering encouragement to others who pour out their soul at times and we are privileged to share it. I you can't dig in and find some of that inspiration you dish out in buckets in your own web page, perhaps you should rethink your role as a moderator. I know you can do it. A comment shows the authors that you've read and considered it. If all I want from my day is a "smiley face", I can look in my mirror.
You didn't offend me...exasperate is closer to the truth. We are moderators. Lets give them what they deserve. You may not like the content. So what. What are we ...in high school? Our job it to keep them writing..make them feel appreciated. You can't tell me that if you DID write poetry, and posted it here, you wouldn't want the same. Why do you direct everyone here to your website? Because you're proud of it. There is something thrilling about seeing you work there, posted for all the world to see. Even more thrilling is a compliment. You know this. I know this. That is the role we fill.

THAT is a point well taken Stephen ... & I will consider it MORE of a privilege to moderate & not be so complacent. I value your comment on this as well as any others also ... we can all become 'better' at what we do here in Gatherland!

Even though I must state that I don't moderate or gauge my own works on others opinions - it is what it is. But, I do understand we are not all the same & likewise ... THIS communication of such 'comments' has changed my perspective in behalf of others. Of which, I thank you kindly!

Still friends, I hope. You are right... We can all do better, including me.

CL, I sometimes visit John Doyle's posts just to see your comments there and hear your real voice. You are incredibly supportive of artists when you do comment.

Awwww ... Stephen ... I still consider you a terrific talented poet & still my Gatherland friend ... always. BUT you know what, I am not using that :) anymore because I can see that it is really not the right gesture to comment by. THANK YOU for helping me to see clearer!

And Ann, that is a lovely comment you added ... see, I don't really realize the impact of my comments. Now, because dear ppl like you & Stephen have shared from your heart ... I can now show my heart in a clearer portrayal.

I do not object to the smiley face in your comments. I use them often after I've made some outrageous jest or comment...to assure the light-heartedness of the thing I've just said. I object to them AS a comment. They do help to convey nuance in a form of communication devoid of it. Do that and you'll be an encouragement to everyone who posts.

Ad me'ah ve'esrim shanah!

CL, yes, it's your heart we want to hear from. There's no need for you to critique art or lit-- just react to it. All reactions are valid, and that's what artists want.

What language is that? It looks beautiful, but then again, so does "Du bist so hasslisch (minus an um laut) :) <----- note smiley face... :)

Google translate has a "detect language" option.

Simply stated ... in Hebrew ... "May you live to be 120" ... :)

Funny...I used that and the translation came up as the same as what I was trying to translate.

Thank you, but I can't think of is anything worse than a 120 year old dirty old man. :)

Now you do deserve :)

..it is your writing that continues to rise and inspire. My! Such beautiful visions!

Thank you, my sweet friend... I appreciate your compliment and comment...

I love stone walls and find myself throughout New England photographing them. Last year I was particularly obsessed with the beautiful old walls in the Narragansett area (Bristol, Tiverton). Researching those walls, I found most of them were made by the slaves brought over in the Triangle Trade. Although they still retain their beauty with moss and vines entangled, I can't but think of the brown backs and hands that labored to build these walls.

There is always a story in every instance. It may not be the one we want to] find but with each there is a lesson. Negative history, hopefully, will help us create a more positive future. I feel exactly the same way you do Liz.

It wasn't the story I wanted. In my mind, I pictured a New England farmer and his family toiling over their piece of crusted earth and removing stones trying to create a small farm to sustain them. Instead I found the history of the area built on the backs of slaves. But you are right, Barbara, knowing the negative history of the place reminds us to create a more equitable place for all...not just the few.

I lived in Ontario, Canada And there are many stone walks there... They weren't built by slaves...but as you wished they were... Farmer's hard toil. I've never heard that about slaves, but it shouldn't surprise. sannya Barbara, CA has beautiful stone walls theough the city...all built by convicts.

Thank you, Ladies... you are much too kind...but don't stop! :)

Very very good, Stephen

Thank you, Kushal. Nice to see you again.

I remember each spring as a kid...the soils would be turned to plant seed. But the first crop was always rocks. This is a quality poem. Thank you

I've really done that...walking behind a tractor-drawn wagon, picking stones and piling them in the wagon to be hauled out of the way. I was a city kid. I thought it was FUN! :)
Thanks for your wonderful comments.

Very nice

Thank you, Diane. You say volumes in a few terse words that make my imagination spin... :)

I started writing a comment to this one yesterday, but I was, as I am always and invariably, interrupted... everyone seems to be needing me more and more these days... anyway this is what I meant to tell you on my first reading of this.

Your poem does very well in furnishing our imaginations with the full story of your stones, their origins in the bosom of the earth, into the hands that placed them into the wall, the living things that cling to them, the poet that saw their worth, and the other poet that took it all in, ruminated as he sat upon it, and turned it all into this marvelous terzanelle. Bravo.

Stephen, what are your thoughts on this form? Usually you do not submit often to Mindful Poetry, but this month I've seen three so far. I know you like rhyme and you must like meter as you're very ably managing your iambs.

At any rate, this poem references Frost and astutely so. Did you read some of Frost before writing this? I certain was aware of his flavor with your work here.

Featured at Mindful Poetry!

I don't post often because I don't always write in form. What I do write in form, I post. You don't usually comment on my posts. It is very nice when you do.
I do read Robert Frost and have read the poem about the stone walks from which I gleaned the quote, but I haven't read him lately.
Thank you for commenting and for the feature. Life is looking up. Thank you.

:-) Yes, I'm sure you've read Frost. :-) I wondered if you'd read some of his work immediately before writing the above as it has a Frostonian flavor. But I see you didn't.

Also, the ONE comment that passed through my head after reading this, I neglected to add: a stunning poem. This one reminds me of the fluid verse you wrote last year as you claimed winner with Granny Janny's poetry contest. *That* poem was memorable, too.

I'm going to boast here on Steve's behalf, because I know he's too shy to mention this. When I tweeted this, it was picked up by 6 electronic daily journals. That's nearly a record for my tweets. (I believe one of Barbary's poems holds the record at 7 journals).

Stephen, do you think Ann's trying to nudge some of us into some friendly competition? Who can generate the most pick-ups?

No, no. Not ~that~ kind of pick-up! ;-)

Susan, you hold the record for the most blog hits when I featured your poetry. I think it was over 200, which is good for a newbie blog. Barbary is second, with about 150 hits.

:-)

You are quite the ambassador for us Gather poets!

You girls are out of my league. I'm not even good enough to get a post ON her blog! :)

BTW, Ann, thank you for your aegis, but I don't think " shy" is the right characterization of me. I think "self-contained" or "quietly self-assured" are more apt.

;-D

Steve, you have at least two poems that belong on my blog. This is one of them.

Two out of over 600...you're tough. :) "Should be" and "are" really aren't the same, Ann.

Carpe' diem.

I've noticed that I mostly feature poets after I've written a critique article about their work. That way I can convince myself that I really know what's going on with their poetry. I guess I need to get over that.

If you don't want to feature this or any, then you shouldn't. Regrets are hard to live with. I know from experience.

This is an issue of mine. It's got nothing to do with your work, which is well worth featuring.

Beautiful poem, Stephen, as usual. I like the way you added the last line in contrast to Robert Frost's quote.