Tuesday, November 8, 2011

When I was young and empty

I'm joining in at Poetry Jam this week. The idea was to write a poem about windows. This, a piece I've re-vamped and dusted off, actually came from a line of a Galway Kinnell poem titled "Flying Home".
I used the line as a lead-in title and ended up as my childself, staring out the window.




When I was Young and Empty

Chandeliers hung outside my bedroom window.
These were the stars, but I did not know that then.
I held light on the tips of my fingers, my palms
pressed against the pane, my hands spread open
on the glass.
Penlights illuminated each nail.
And within was a fire of my own making:
my blood rising to redden the strata, gathering
light into a lifeline.



For more poems and some lovely photos of windows, visit Poetry Jam

6 comments:

  1. 'I held light on the tips of my fingers' ... what an incredibly lovely concept.

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  2. Nice poem. I remember doing this to my fingertips. You have summoned a beautiful image.
    Glad to find you via Poetry Jam.

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  3. Very nice scene created here. I love "gathering light into a lifeline."

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  4. Thanks for the lovely words, Twinkly and Mary.

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  5. hanging stars outside your window is surely lovely.

    beautiful imagery.

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