And the Sixth Element’s the Page
And the Sixth Element’s the Page
Terry Pratchett says the fifth element’s
surprise–this, to me, seems the most prevalent:
surprise that earth is not what you thought it would be,
or is; surprise that air can still feel free
or doesn’t–is there, but, like a boa,
ties upon your chest a knot of woe, a
chest of not, an anti-treasure.
Surprise that fire is lately measured
by the thousands of acres, or the double
digit pulls of a trigger finger. Trouble
so often spelled as water, but–surprise too–
that its flow still washes us anew. Oh, wise, you,
Sir Terry, and your inky types, who know
to prise smiles from mere words, mere us, this now.
********************
Draft daft poem. Inspired by Bjorn Rudberg to think of a sonnet (sort of) and by the Real Toads prompt by Hannah Gosselin on the classical elements–earth, air, water, fire. My favorite writer who discusses the elements–actually my favorite writer when he discusses anything–Sir Terry Pratchett–added in the element of surprise.
I’m not sure why I am using this picture– the little dog seems hardly surprised! But it’s a pic I did that makes me smile so put it here. All rights reserved.
Explore posts in the same categories: dog, poetry, UncategorizedTags: a few words about my love for Terry Pratchett, http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com, manicddaily, no words for my love of Terry Pratchett, sixth element's the page poem, tying a boa on the chest (not feathered)
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ManicDDaily 
December 11, 2015 at 7:49 am
a knot of woe, a
chest of not.
Really talked to me.. and how I love the element of surprise… so important to involve whatever can feel random.. 🙂
December 11, 2015 at 8:35 am
Very fluid poem, k–the elements both comprise and defy us, and the surprise is perhaps that nothing is ever so single-shaped as it seems. I also like the line that Bjorn quotes, as well as the final lines, which show the need we have to feel that the mind and the sense of humor prevail over more random and more untrustworthy forces.
December 11, 2015 at 10:27 am
Genius to add the element of surprise!
December 11, 2015 at 10:41 am
“Oh, wise, you,
Sir Terry, and your inky types, who know
to prise smiles from mere words, mere us, this now.” Life is one surprise after another. Might as well smile : )
December 11, 2015 at 11:37 am
Surprise can be anywhere on the response scale, running from negative to positive; I liked this imaginative take on the prompt a lot. Your take on the classical elements is terrific too, as air is choking people to death in China, water is flooding half our town, fire eats forests around here, & the earth itself weeps itself to sleep.
December 11, 2015 at 11:45 am
The air being free line jumped out at me…on a personal level…how impersonal it is…each sip already sipped by another? Recycled…kind of personal…this sharing of the “free” air. Thank you, for making me think and joining the challenge! 🙂
December 11, 2015 at 11:54 am
The boa tying the knot of woe – wow! That is an amazing image……..loved this, Bjorn, the wonderings, “that the earth is not what you thought it would be, or is”. Cool. Love the sketch of the poor little doggy. Ouch!
December 11, 2015 at 11:55 am
I did not mean Bjorn, I had just read his name in your notes. Sigh. Time to drink some tea and wake my brain up. Sorry, kiddo.
December 11, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Ha. No worries, dear Sherry!
December 11, 2015 at 12:19 pm
I love your line, “inky types, who know
to prise smiles from mere words.”
I try to do the latter, I’m not sure about being an inky type (someone not long ago called me a prolific writer).
Your words sure did get smiles from me with very little prying here from this writing. I’m still smiling. 🙂
..
December 11, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Smiling too when I read that your drawing was a dog. I thought it was a man, lower part only showing, with his pants down ready for the shot. Kinky? 🙂
December 11, 2015 at 8:04 pm
This is excellent.
I love these:
“a chest of not, an anti-treasure”
“Trouble so often spelled as water”
“from mere words, mere us, this now”
December 11, 2015 at 8:33 pm
I feel like I’ve learned something. Surprise! Lol
December 11, 2015 at 11:32 pm
Love Pratchett and love the way you have worked with his fifth element.
December 11, 2015 at 11:52 pm
your title pulled me in – your words kept me reading!