Vessels ply the river of shadows
flowing like wind through willow branches
not crawling over mud and stones
and not a stain on the world
They are nailed together with effort
and brushed with the color of imaginings
They carry north the trembled souls
to the hope of that rarefied air
That corona that flows from the sun
as smoke glides from the captain’s corona
and rises to the top of the bluffs
to confound the fugitive catchers
/ / /
This poem was written in response to Wordle 60 at The Sunday Whirl.
Sadly Waiting for Recess 
Very nice!
LikeLike
Susan, thank you.
Richard
LikeLike
This is a lovely use of the wordle words. I like ‘ply the river of shadows’.
LikeLike
Daydreamertoo, thank you. Glad you like it.
Richard
LikeLike
Haunting landscape and snippet of story. I also like “ply the river of shadows”, “not a stain on the world,” and that wonderful “fugitive catchers.” Immediately thought about a possee seeking stray poets, who take liberties with words. I know that sounds weird and was not your intent, but nothing seems all that strange of late. besides, we readers have the freedom to choose our own associations, lol. Thanks for this one, Richard,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Elizabeth, I’m glad you thought the landscape was haunting. I like your interpretation. It wasn’t what I intended, but it works. It’s not strange at all.
Richard
LikeLike
I loved your use of metaphor, and the story aspect of your wordle poem.
LikeLike
Viv, thank you. I find a lot of my wordle poems end up a story or a character study. This one was a story.
Richard
LikeLike
Tantilizing hint of story and nice painting of images.
LikeLike
Peggy, thank you.
Richard
LikeLike
Nice story here, Richard. Vivid imagery.
Pamela
LikeLike
Pamela, thank you.
Richard
LikeLike
Excellent setup for a longer story – a great vignette and a wonderful use of the wordle.
LikeLike
Traci, thank you. This is a story I might return to.
Richard
LikeLike
I had trouble with corona and you used it three times (including the title) –
‘flowing like wind through willow branches’ a wonderful weave.
I offer my wordle and a companion piece here:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/06/sunday-whirl-60-maiden-voyage.html
LikeLike
Jules, thank you. I appreciate your feedback. I see now how using corona with two different meanings in the poem itself could be confusing.
Richard
LikeLike
I wonder if WP has been affected by sun spots? I remember reading this comment several days ago…
Hope you are enjoying your summer 🙂
LikeLike
But THAT is part of what was great about it! Why ever, ever should a word in a poem mean just one thing, or be used just one way?
LikeLike
Very nicely woven wordle words Richard … a different take from anything I’ve yet read and I like the whole sea-going, fugitive chasing aspect … “not a stain on the world” – that idea appeals to me very much …
http://aleapingelephant.blogspot.ca/2012/06/black-webbed-claw.html
LikeLike
Thanks. I like that line too. And I appreciate your comments about “the whole sea-going, fugitive chasing aspect” of the poem.
Richard
LikeLike
This piece brings a feeling of liberation – a theme I find myself attracted to quite a bit lately. I really like this.
LikeLike
Teri, thank you. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Yes, it is about liberation.
Richard
LikeLike
The river of shadows is intriguing, as are the fugitives. There is an aura of mystery surrounding your words…and it feels gray and misty.
LikeLike
Brenda, thank you. I think perhaps I was a bit too mysterious in this one. I think it needs revising and expanding.
Richard
LikeLike
OK…me too: LOVE the “river of shadows” — such a fun image to imagine. 🙂
LikeLike
Paula, thank you. I’m gratified that you and others liked that image.
Richard
LikeLike
I enjoyed this, Richard, especially the last stanza… Great wordling..
LikeLike
Mary, thank you. Those last stanzas really have to work, don’t they?
Richard
LikeLike
Love the rhythm of this poem, and the visions.
LikeLike
Diane, thank you.
Richard
LikeLike
Yeah, Richard! What they all said! And add brilliant from me.
LikeLike
Walt, thank you. I’ll take “brilliant” any day.
Richard
LikeLike
I love that many of you actually used corona as in not beer. I would have been less imaginative. Well done.
LikeLike
Thanks. I looked up “corona” to make sure I was using it correctly, and found another meaning that I was not familiar with. So, I used it both with both meanings in my poem.
Richard
LikeLike