six countries north of the equator
coffee black as owl wings
arTificial light
“i cannot see his face” is dressed in rags
wrapped in bridge shades, unaware
of how i cRasH,
all–traffic lights are ghosts as i bike by
.
…a musical sevenling for day 2 of dVerse poets pub’s 5th anniversary celebration – see you there at 3pm EST?
Oooh, excitement, excitement, you’re out of retirement, my dear Claudia! I missed you. (Even though I’ve been in semi-retirement as well, as I’m moving back to the UK – at just about the worst possible time historically, other than the Civil War in the 17th century.)
How nice to see you back! And on your bike too!
I really like the closing line….it adds the’ shivers’ element for me and makes me reflective. The allusion to the instructions in the psalms in the title as well…of course knowing the story as well…keep praying for him…I want to hear more of his story..and you never know..
Don’t we all…crAsh
The final lines put it all in perspective, and I also like how your list of threes are so reduced from obvious… so nice and excellent to read your words again… They have been missed.
What a delight to read you and hear from Brian also. You are both missed very much……I LOVE “coffee black as owl’s wings” and sense a story behind this poem.
The image of the ghostly traffic lights is so vivid.
So wonderful to have you back!
I admire your title and specially: coffee black as owl wings. Those traffic lights are indeed ghosts ~
Thanks for the lovely paintings as our muse Claudia. A pleasure to read you again.
Wonderful abstract! Glad you are back!
You have been sorely missed and this poem lets us know why. The title immediately struck me. The last line chilled me. Great to read your work again. Please don’t be a stranger.
Your words echo in my cortex like a beautiful ballad. I follow your art life on FB, but as others express, we all miss your poetics. This is complex, abstract, & lovely. I used one of your paintings–the lady & the cello, for my image.
Always a poem like a Picasso painting. And just as outstanding, Claudia! Great to read your words again!
Coffee black as owl wings — wonderful line!
PS: last be your paintings!
Ugh – fingers slipped – should say LOVE your paintings!
… finally found U again, friend C … almost gave up on U … how r U? … Love, cat.
Surprised and pleased to see you here. I have been to your site where you have your art. I missed your wonderful writing. Thank You for this. 🙂
Oooh I love this 😀 I can feel the thrill and excitement in your lines.
Beautifully penned.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Love the “Coffee black as owl wings” and the ghostly traffic lights…how refreshing to read your words again, Claudia.
loved the owl’s wings… glad you’re getting time to paint
Welcome back to the blog land shack. We all sure crash sometimes, let’s just hope we never become a ghost.
So wonderful to see your words again…hope all is going well for you and yours.
You’ve created such atmosphere in this, Claudia. Most often your poems are longer but you still show such skill in so few words. Love the last line. And thanks for the interview and all you share. xo
I agree with Brian about the final line adding shivers and especially love the line ‘coffee black as owl wings’. .
Delightful, Claudia. The final line is musicality itself
Traffic lights are like ghosts, indeed. Lovely to see you – keep working at that marriage – an endeavor of epic proportions.
I big-time miss your writing, girl.
Love these lines especially:
“coffee black as owl wings”
“‘i cannot see his face’ is dressed in rags
wrapped in bridge shades”
The title, and then the final line beginning with “all” – gives this somewhat of a “responsive reading” feel…or perhaps a psalm for the cyclist. Lovely to read your words again!
lovely sevenlings, Claudia 🙂
You must be biking too fast! 🙂 Ah, it is good to hear from you and to read your poetic voice again, Claudia. I am happy for all of your accomplishments and wish you all the best always.
Your back sharing your imagery and wonderful words. It’s so nice to read you again and hear about your life. ( I read your interview at Dverse.). I miss you, yet understand that life moves on and we discover new blessings and challenges. Love your paintings. Take care Claudia. Be well and don’t forget us.
I think I may have that image of coffee with black wings with me for a while and the artificial light. So good to see you again, you have been missed.
Beautifully done! So good to see you, Claudia!
Love the line coffee black as owl wings. Glad to read your poetry again.
Wonderful to have you back, and with such beautiful words.
the blackness spills over the second stanza melting into piercing sadness…so heartfelt words….lovely to read your lines after such a long time…
Claudia! So happy to see you and your wonderful words in my inbox. You have been very much missed. Love to you 🙂
Very evocative, and the last line full of atmosphere.
Love your eclectic list of three, and of course that last line. It’s good to read your words again, Claudia. xx
Such a brilliant twist with that last line. As always, a treat to read to your work.
An urban psalm in midtown traffic…always love your style, Claudia! You have me thinking about the ghosts now 🙂
Oh yes, this is why I miss your unique writing style… the imagery, the story behind the compact lines, the dialogue….. I especially like “wrapped in bridge shades”.
The visual of your poem is delightful, adding to the unsettling story. Bravo!
Hi Claudia.. Sorry i wasn’t able to participate in responding to your 5 year anniversary of Dverse Poetry prompt challenge.. i got through most of Brian’s prompt but other waves of inspiration came my way which often is the case these days.. anyway.. as always nice poetry here.. but i am coming here to thank you and empirically give you that thanks in what your effort in helping to create the opportunity to read/comment on DiVerse creative efforts from poets
around the world has done for me in my milestones of life..
i came here in 2013.. after living a literal
hell in a synergy of 19 life threatening
illnesses for 66 months that
suddenly came to an
end when i yes..
literally met
the face of
God in a literal
Therapist assessed
miracle that was never
seen before.. of course the
therapist was Catholic.. the other
Doctor’s assessed it as we don’t know
how you recovered… In God’s Language which
of course is not the English one or any other human
Language.. God ‘told’ me God was going to have me
do something for God that no human had ever done before..
i had no idea what it was going to be other than something with
a camera.. something with feet and something with words and that
my friend has come to be the longest long form poem now at the 688th
Macro-Verse point with God knows how many micro-verses held with-in
each macro-verse whole approaching 4 million words that is at least 4 times
longer than the Bible.. 40 times longer than the Kuran.. and yes twice as long
as that other poem Mahābhārata at 1.8 million words.. of course all of those
were group efforts and not accomplished by one individual.. so sure now mission
is accomplished but not without a ‘little help’ from my friends.. and you my friend
were a gift from God along with Brian.. as one of those Macro Verses from 2015.. where i made a poetic expression to every single prompt and every single poem that was linked from that entire year from April of 2015 to March of 2016.. when i started feeling the pressure from folks to change what i was doing.. that only increased my fortitude of God’s Will in me.. inspired me more and that one
effort ended up being one verse total of 338,630 words.. and a Novel unto
itself of course in Free Verse style too.. Interestingly.. both you and Brian..
reflect an action of being in both tolerance and acceptance
in differences of others that reflects the Golden rule
of Jesus that truly means gentile or jew.. servant
or free.. woman or man no more.. in other
words room enough for every
one to contribute
a verse no
matter
how
short
or how long..
SMILES.. SMILES
AND BIGGER SUPER EPIC
SMILES.. I COULDN’T HAVE DONE
IT WITHOUT YOU BUT GOD ALREADY
KNEW THAT SO THAT IS WHY WE
CAME
OUR WAY..
smiles.. you and
Brian most always
reciprocated visits.. no
matter how far you had to
wade down into what i did..
no need to visit my friend..
i was never looking for
a reward
only to give..
and sadly it’s
amazing how hard
it can be to even do
that in super epic way
as Jesus said through
Saint John there would
people after him who would
do much more..
bottom
line
I BELIEVED..
AND NEVER GAVE
UP.. and other line..
when Luke said heaven
was @hand now..
he was
correct
and at least
in my life
iSREAL..
Bless you
in all you
do.. i was in this
to serve the Lord from
the Get go.. and i wRite on..
as a witness and court reporter.. of sorts..
and
sure..
scribe2..:)