Water Under the Bridge

Cherry

By Turlough

Sun, 06 Aug 2023
  • 2058 reads
21 comments
 

I can’t go out

Sky unloads

To end our drought

Thunder explodes

Across the Thracian Plain

An afternoon’s incarceration, rain

A temporary recluse

The perfect excuse

When your neighbour’s name is Zeus

To stay at home

Spectate as pools of water boil

And steam

As droplets drench scorched soil

The doorstep cat looks out, recoils

Deciding not to venture there

Dawdles back to empty chair

Pages of a book

Read aloud

Not heard

A bridge of paper

Crossing chasms to the past

Lightning flashes everywhere

Through my mind

Through the sultry summer air

There have been so many storms

But just as many rainbows

 

Image:

Every image I use is from a photograph I have taken myself. 

On this occasion – Dyavolski Most (the Devil’s Bridge), a sixteenth century construction spanning the Arda River in central Bulgaria to link the Aegean Sea with the region of Thrace.  

Certificate U
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by sean mcnulty on

'When your neighbour's name is Zeus' 

A terror.

Great stuff.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

And he's got about a hundred kids. And he treats them all like gods. Pah!

Thanks very much for the cherries.

Turlough

Submitted by seashore on

Wow, that was quick! Well done Turlough.

Just been watching This Mortal Coil on YouTube. I also see we both posted the Sinead/Terry Hall combo - mine is on Facebook. Julia met him through her work for Mind.

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you Seashore.

I never actually met either Sinéad or Terry but saw them both performing live, though not together. I loved them both and I've loved Dana's song since I was wee and living in Ireland and she won the European Cup for us with it in 1970. So that video has allsorts of special things woven into it.

I used to talk to Julia about the Cocteau Twins but in those days without the internet when you had to read every single page of the NME to keep up with what was going on in the music world I didn't know about Elisabeth Fraser also singing with This Mortal Coil. Until Julia told me, and lent me the record. It's a CD now and sometimes Spotify when I'm too lazy to get out of the chair, but still a fabulous work.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A pensive poem that's thoughtful, especially in those lines:-

Dawdles back to empth chair

Pages of a book

Read aloud

Not heard

A bridge of paper

Crossing chasms to the past

Lightening flashes everywhere

Through my mind

Through the sultry summer air

I'm finding it harder and harder to get around these days, which is why it's lovely to sit and read with dreams of fitter times, which is how your great poem spoke to me.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I can understand that Jenny. The tropical deluge yesterday aftenoon limited my movements and left me stuck in the house feeling frustrated so I have great sympathy for you and the restrictions that your health has placed upon you. I hope you continue to be able to get around at least a little but, when you can't go anywhere, it's great to be able to sit and read and think; just the things that I was unable to do during the days when I was busy with work and kids household chores.

I do hope you keep well and I really appreciate the time you take to read my words and leave your comments. 

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

That's so kind of you, and I really appreciate your words.

Thank you. 

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Good on you Jenny. 

Turlough

Submitted by marandina on

"Thunder explodes

Across the Thracian Plain

An afternoon’s incarceration, rain..."

An atmospheric, brooding, evocative poem. I could visualise the imagery as the poem unfolded. A really nice blend of narrative and description. Enjoyed. Paul

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Many thanks for your kind words and your time Paul.

Your encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Turlough

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Better not go out in the torrential rain that even deters the cat from venturing out. Much more desirable is to stay indoors and reminisce about past events, good and bad, that happened so long ago that they are now 'water under the bridge'.
A good take on the I.P., Turlough
 

Best, Luigi
 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Ah, thanks very much for that Luigi. The comments of one who knows are always much appreciated. 

Strange it is that the rain's stopped and the sun's beating down on us again, so now I find myself reminiscing about yesterday.

Turlough

Submitted by Di_Hard on

So much sense of dramatic change! I liked the rhymes at the beginning very much, specially how you have "rain" at the end of a line. Then "A bridge of paper/Crossing chasms to the past" is BRILLIANT. And glad you conclude with "rainbows" after all the turbulence. It stands alone, but added to your previous poem, it is very moving too

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Thank you Di. 

There's a bit of a link between the two.

So often you see things in my writing that I'm not sure of myself. I love that you do that.

Turlough

Submitted by Turlough on

 

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

it's nice to read when the sky weeps. But when it shines that''s also a good time. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

You sound more like Elmore James every day Celticman.

And thanks be to Killie.

Turlough

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I was able to enjoy picturing the scene without enduring the heat and then thunder. But not experiencing the personal rainbows for those there either! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Kind words Rhiannon.

Thank you.

Turlough

Submitted by monodemo on

Turlough, those cherries are well earned. The piece you wrote really spoke to me! Some of those lines...legendary.

niamh

Submitted by Turlough on

It's really good of you to say that Niamh. Thank you very much.

 

Turlough