Saturday, May 28, 2011

The totems rise skyward


From the formless waters
the totems rise skyward,
Babels and Babbitts of
commerce and
government and
academy, creating
personal and collective
suns of destiny,
deliverance and
salvation, galaxies
of monuments to
the insignificant and
it is beautiful,
for a time, until
the sunrise and sunset
are confused,
undifferentiated.

Dedicated to Darlene*

This poem is submitted to One Shot Sunday, hosted by One Stop Poetry. To see more poems submitted and an interview with photographer Scott Wyden, please visit the site.

This poem is dedicated to Darlene at Simply Darlene. If you make a donation to The High Calling during the month of May, I’ve committed to dedicate a poem to you, Just let me know via the comment box or an email that you’ve made a donation (not the amount).

Photograph by Scott Wyden. Used with permission for One Stop Poetry.
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21 comments:

  1. dustusMay 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    You capture the transient beauty of the scene, where sense of time may be lost and anything is possible. "Babels and Babbits" was my favorite line—these literary references, with nice alliteration, add great depth to your poem. Cheers.

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  2. Louise GallagherMay 29, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    Yeah -- what Dustus said -- yeah!

    Fabulous poem that captures the photo's essence. Powerful!

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  3. Kodjo DeynooMay 29, 2011 at 2:22 AM

    "and it is beautiful for a time" indeed it is. I have enjoyed this read

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  4. Kerry O'ConnorMay 29, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    These words are told in a strong poetic voice - I love the description of a modern day Babel - very on-point.

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  5. Brian MillerMay 29, 2011 at 6:00 AM

    glynn...love this...the bebal reference and continued allusion to the monuments we create and trust in until...

    made me think too about how we have used artificial light to extend our day and mess with the natural rhythm of life...

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  6. ayalaMay 29, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    This has depth, love the reference to babels and babbits...

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  7. UnknownMay 29, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    great poetry thanks for sharing

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  8. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    loved the confused sunset and sunrise and the formless waters and of course the babel reference...higher...better...faster and then comes the fall - very nice glynn

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  9. Maude LynnMay 29, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    This is gorgeous from beginning to end!

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  10. hedgewitchMay 29, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Airy towers--but what's in them, eh. A look below the surface, and a slew of imagery for what is found that shows up in stark relief, whether the sun is rising or setting.

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  11. MaureenMay 29, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    I especially like your concluding lines and the tellingly apt literary allusions.

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  12. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    It's difficult for me to comment on anything connected to this image, as the image itself has me hiss with distaste. Nothing but the sun in it beckons to me and the lack of nature has me wanting to gag. I wanted you to know that I did take the time to read, even with my revulsion at the image prompt.

    The above was my initial response to let people know I was present even in my feelings. When I read again, I noticed your reference to Mabon and the building up of external things, trying to be other than our nature. Thanks for writing this.

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  13. ReflectionsMay 29, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    I love what you have captured... indeed, 'it is beautiful for a time'.

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  14. PatriciaMay 29, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    Love the use of totems describing the idolatry, monuments to the insignificant ... beautiful for a time. But the confusion of sunrise and sunset grabbed me the most. What an amazing way to describe it!

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  15. libithinaMay 29, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    LOVE the reference to babel ~ and how for a time it is pleasing even
    and how the sunset and sunrise blends ~ indistinquishable ~ gets to us all ~ brilliant write Glyn ~ Lib @Libithina

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  16. AnonymousMay 29, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    the fall...and
    the continual desire of man to be his own god.

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  17. JerryMay 29, 2011 at 10:00 PM

    researched Babbitts...Many ways to interpret this reference(I chose the metal flashing nuance) Glynn, I really like the masculine flavor injected into this...you have that "man" engineering vibe in your writing that comes out so often.

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  18. Celestial DreamzMay 29, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    an intelligent write ... loved reading.

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  19. gautami tripathyMay 30, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Totems..

    Ah...

    sky-scrappers

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  20. SimplyDarleneMay 31, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Thanks for the dedication, Glynn, you are a man of your word.

    And this poem, wow, each time I read it I catch something new and recognize a different depth of understanding.

    Blessings.

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  21. Steve IsaakJune 2, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    Bustling with edgy energy flow-piece - exemplary work.

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