Magpie Tales (89) (“These Words Are No Nest”)
This is a post (1001th – an apology to those who subscribe) made for Tess Kincaid’s Magpie Tales. Each week Tess posts an interesting photograph as a prompt. The above is my personal take on the photo–I’ve revised it a bit to fit in with the poem below, a sonnet of sorts.
No Nest
These words are no nest. They won’t warm you
when I’m gone. You won’t be able to tuck
your head under a t, though it starts true,
slip fingers down n‘s curve, deftly pluck
replies from even the unsilent e‘s.
They won’t warm me either–no echoes
in ashen brains, though spread upon a breeze.
As twigs and hair and grass and dust close in,
words will be somewhere else; just as what peeps
behind these eyes, this voice, this flickering
insistent maw of self, will, at best, sleep
long. But for now, I’m here, a bickering
steadfast word monger, building a place
of syllabic lingering, would-be embrace.
(I am also linking this poem to The Poetry Palace weekly poets’ rally.)
Explore posts in the same categories: iPad art, poetryTags: "These words are no nest", iPad art, Karin Gustafson, Karin Gustafson poetry, Magpie Tales 89, manicddaily, ManicDDaily poetry, picture of typewriter poem, poems about old writings after death, sonnet about old writings.
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ManicDDaily 
October 30, 2011 at 10:41 am
Good take!
JJRod’z
October 30, 2011 at 10:42 am
Well said. It is always a mistake to think of words as possessions and of what we possess as meaningful at the deepest levels.
October 30, 2011 at 12:47 pm
Love the flow…
October 30, 2011 at 12:50 pm
wow. how true.
October 30, 2011 at 12:50 pm
…this opens for me as a strange and fascinating look at death… but then, I’m obsessed with that final throw…
October 30, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Thanks, Rob–one goes through those phases.
October 30, 2011 at 12:51 pm
I’ve read this through three times now. It’s delightful.
October 30, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Thanks, Martin.
October 30, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I absolutely love this, wordsmith! Every line is memorable and the cadence dances– “These words are no nest. They won’t warm you
when I’m gone.”– fabulous. xxxxj
October 30, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Thanks so much, Jenne.
October 30, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Congrats on #1001! What a memorable poem for it. I love the word play, the extended metaphor, and your musings on mortality. Don’t apologize for this – it’s great!
October 30, 2011 at 4:14 pm
This was quite a unique direction you took off in. I really enjoyed it.
October 30, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Beautifully turned. And your image has a soft feeling of fog on a remnant-strewn beach, with the paper rising luminously white, the only ship in the sea worth knowing.
October 30, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Thank you for your lovely comment. K.
October 30, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Terrific write! I really enjoyed this.
October 30, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Love this – so well layered and lush.
October 30, 2011 at 9:00 pm
I love this… the use of letters. Our words are our legacy.
October 31, 2011 at 4:17 am
I loved your illustration as well as your curvacious letter-body in danger of demise…
October 31, 2011 at 4:18 am
no echoes
in ashen brains
and
of syllabic lingering, would-be embrace
Excellent word-craft! Inventive!
October 31, 2011 at 2:43 pm
ah who knows…find the right agent and those words might keep food on teh table and you warm at night…smiles. nice verse….
November 1, 2011 at 1:21 am
so many layers to go through with this – great images – loved it
November 1, 2011 at 6:55 am
Thanks, Jo.
November 1, 2011 at 6:52 am
from the heart! nicely original and well written
November 1, 2011 at 6:55 am
Thanks, Isabel.
November 1, 2011 at 7:54 am
I pray that you’re always around to build these stories. Nests or not, they’re comforting nonetheless 🙂
Cheers,
Arnab Majumdar on SribbleFest.com
November 1, 2011 at 11:32 am
I. Love. This. And not just because I consider myself a magpie. It’s a stellar piece of writing. Thank you…
November 1, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Thanks so much, Tess.
November 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm
I read this out loud and it stings a little bit. Very nice writing!
November 1, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Thanks.
November 2, 2011 at 4:59 pm
very fine piece.
wow.
🙂
November 2, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Nice summed up the feeling of us word mongers.
November 3, 2011 at 7:26 am
This got me: You won’t be able to tuck
your head under a t, though it starts true.
Creative play of words. I also find the structure quite interesting. Nicely done.
November 3, 2011 at 7:35 am
And the embrace is strong! A captivating poem.
“These words are no nest. They won’t warm you
when I’m gone. You won’t be able to tuck
your head under a t, though it starts true,”
November 3, 2011 at 10:29 am
I was first confused (I think on purpose)then it came together with clarity. Awesome!
November 6, 2011 at 5:49 pm
I ABSOLUTELY love this! You are definitely a “steadfast word monger, building a place of syllabic lingering” and you made me want to hang out a bit. Your flow and meter are pitch perfect. I’m looking forward to reading more!
November 7, 2011 at 9:40 am
words can bring comfort and memories, but it’s just not the same. good job
November 8, 2011 at 11:29 am
Sometimes I save poetry from the rallies to read over again, and this is certainly one I’ll be re-reading. I have so much respect for people like you; those who take words and turn them into something beautiful and something I can entirely relate to.
November 8, 2011 at 11:37 am
Thanks so much.
November 9, 2011 at 12:43 pm
For some reason this made me think of my very first, manual, typewriter which should still be hiding away in its case in the basement storage… Powerful words (and I don’t know exactly why it made me think about that, but who cares?)!