docmaverick
docmaverick
Dec 30, 2012
This poem is part of the workshop:

Storytelling in Verse (sempiternal)

(Read More...)

Once, I Spied a Rainbow

Once, I spied a rainbow
from a field that had no name,
my smile was ever widened
and, I never felt the same.

My perception seemed to change
like a kid with a new, found toy;
although, I could not touch her hues
I still was filled with, joy!

I took her different colors
and fashioned some balloons,
then, carried them through life with me
until I heard the rainbow's tunes.

'Twas music I'd not heard, before
with lyrics strong, and pure;
with a melody so hauntingly,
beautiful; as if to lure.

I've hummed that tune for most my life.
Even memorized that song;
so, wherever I have travelled
I've always taken her....along.

My hair is turning, grayer
and, I sing not; well...alone;
maybe a duet could help
my heart not turn to stone.

It's happened not, so far....at least
although, I've tied the knot;
those times I tried to make it work
with everything I've got!

Those times were dank-in times of grey
and unfair, at their best!
I've had to stay at home because,
night's stars weren't fully dressed.

It might seem quite contrary
but, that rainbow from that field;
has always seemed to bring me luck
like a safety-net, or shield.

Now, I share that rainbow
from a time...so beautiful,
because, it's hues, and melodies
grants me, a life completely....full!

About This Poem

Last Few Words: Whatever.

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?
[This option has been removed]

Review Request Intensity: Please use care (this is a sensitive subject for me, do not critique harshly)

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: The High Desert, in the wild west, southern California, U.S. of A.., USA

Favorite Poets: Keates

More from this author

Comments

chumfin

fantastic poem, i guess this is the first am reading from you. good work

weirdelf

And although I like the poem, the meter is all over the place.
Read it aloud, you will hear how the meter stumbles, and trust me on this ellipses (...) don't help.

It is a lot of work to parse a poem to point out every lapse in meter and I really don't have the energy tonight, but if you ask especially I will.

docmaverick

...l don't hear the rhythm, "all over the place", as you say. l've read this aloud, had it read aloud for me, and had someone else read it fr others, aloud. So, it must be your aussie accent, OR your belligerent disdain towards me. l really can't call it, but there is nothing wrong with the rhythm in this piece.
l am, however....very thankful for your guidance over the years,
sincerely,
doc.

docmaverick

...don't know if it's your aussie accent, or the rhythm in my head....but it reads just fine to me silently, to me aloud, to others as I read aloud, and to others when read by yet another, reading aloud...and none of us heard the glitch of which you speak!
It' very simple, elf; "ONCE i SPIED a RAINbow"-(DA-dee-DA-dee-DA-dee)
"from a FIELD that HAD no NAME"-(da-da-DEE-da-DEE-da-DEE)
"my SMILE was EVer WIDened"-(da-DEE-da-DEE-da-DEE-da)
"and l NEVer FELT the SAME"-(a-da-DEE-da-DEE-da-DEE)
How is it that you consider this, "....all over the place"?
Just wonderin'...doc.

weirdelf

I admit I have given you some extremely harsh critique over the years, but I have also always honoured your works that I felt were good. My most frequent complaint has been the use of the second person, resulting in a preachy tone. I would never have continued to read and critique your work if I felt 'belligerent disdain' towards you.

There was a pause after I read your first reply, wondering if I should reply at all, then, having decided to parse the metric for you, which is a chore, waiting till I felt like it. Thankfully you did it yourself. Yes, there is meter, just not consistent meter.

Nordic cloud

What a lovely conception,
a rainbow carried in your mind
all your life, in the form of a song;
and i fell through it like falling through the sunlit clouds,
in the refracted rays
and smiled contentedly.

Love Ann of Norway

Nordic cloud

Why all the commas?
They stunt the rhythm, as we hesitate where we don't need to at all-
"Once I spied a rainbow"
.."music I'd not heard before,
with lyrics strong and pure"
"a kid with a new found toy"

That was on coming back for another look
and doesn't detract from my comment above,
just found the placing of the commas odd.

How we all gasp at the rainbow, what a arc
of colours, enough to seduce our thoughts
away from this clod of earth.

Love Ann.

Ian.T

Ian.T

12 years 2 months ago

This is a lovely piece it brings the child's vision into a life long comfort.
Maybe there are a few glitches in there, and the odd hundred Commas, but to me, as far as the theme goes, it is a good write.
This is one of your recent writes that I felt was new,
Yours Ian.T