For The Sunday Whirl: Wordle #59
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
Soul’s Music II
Thought words alone
could split darkness,
burst boundaries of ignorance,
bringing glow of truth
to pierce its hollow center.
Believed that pen wielded
like chisel, might carve
tenderness into hearts
grown cold by indifference,
perhaps crash through
rock-hard barriers of ritual
and tradition.
Slightly withered intentions,
bruised by age, now crouch
near path’s edge of crumpled
pages, but can still be immediately
drawn by smell of ink, and haunting
continued beat of own soul’s music.
Elizabeth Crawford 6/2/12
Notes: There is a trail of breadcrumbs that leads to this current poem. For those who might be interested in following it, here are the directions:
https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/splitting-darkness/
https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/intro-and-title-poem/
This contains a long prose intro, so just scroll down to the poem, which is the Title Piece for this blog.
Soul's Music 
You were certainly drawn by the smell of ink! Lovely.
Thanks. Remember the first time I was drawn to it. Was four years old and have yet to lose my love and fascination.
Elizabeth
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Indifference is terrible. I love the resolution, Elizabeth.
Thanks Irene. Was worried for a bit that the wordle words wouldn’t allow me to find that resolution, but patience does play its role in all of this.
Elizabeth
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Really enjoyed this, Elizabeth… especially the second stanza.
Laurie, glad you enjoyed it. Your poem brought a ton of memories/emotions to the surface. And these wordle words seem so innocent and simple somehow, lol.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth – there is a wonderful classic feel to the words – your back story is a poetic epic – Absolutely lovely.
Thank you much for taking the time to read the back story. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do with the words, but once I started, could feel those others whispering at my inner ear. I do believe there is a story behind each poem. This one was simply a matter of remembering.
Elizabeth
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I love this piece… especially love “crumpled near path’s edge.” Love, love, love it!
Is it okay to say that I do as well? Thanks for your enthusiasm, Annell. It is deeply appreciated,
Elizabeth
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Yes, the ‘smell of ink’ definitely continues to have its allure! Ink has power to crash through barriers indeed!
Thank you, Mary and I do agree. However, we must commit to the writing or the barriers stay up.
Elizabeth
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Sometimes words are as lethal a weapon as are real weapons too. Yes, this has a classic feel to it.
Lots of emotion all through, too.
Would have to agree about words being lethal weapons, ddt. Maybe that’s why so much of my writing doesn’t see daylight. Do no harm is a good basic rule.
Elizabeth
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Your words do split darkness. Your spirit casts a bright light up through your work, Elizabeth. I look to you for inspiration, and am so grateful that you are writing with us, again. Your soul’s music soothes me.
Brenda, me thinks we might have a mutual admiration society growing here. You humble me with your words, but lift me up as well. Nothing left to say except “thank you” deeply from one Keeper of Hearts to another,
Elizabeth
PS When my daughters were still living with me, and I would make the two and a half hour trip between home and here, we filled those hours singing at the tops of our lungs and it was almost always The Indigo Girls. Those were special times bound together with special words that certainly split darkness.
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Yes, I agree with Brenda. Your words are inspiring.. and you are certainly chiseling and making impact on those rock-hard barriers of ritual and tradition. (Great imagery.) Keep smelling the ink!
Oh, I will. I have always returned. Getting the world back in focus through cataract surgery has flooded me with color and that always fuels the words. Thank you for your kind and generous comments,
Elizabeth
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Thank you, Elizabeth, for the other posts. I have often wondered about the back story to your blog’s name. May we all hear the ‘continued beat of own soul’s music’.
Margo, thanks much for taking the time to read the back story. I am always a bit uncomfortable when the lines and words of old poems want to slip into something new, it feels a bit like cheating, lol. Have to remind myself that revisiting a place I have already been means seeing it with different eyes, a new perspective garnered in the present moment. To see it truly we must be listening, which is the task of a lifetime. Really glad you enjoyed, I certainly enjoyed traveling with you today.
Elizabeth
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That first stanza hollowed me out – because I know how important words can be – and how often they fail to “split darkness”. And then that “indifference” to others – when “ritual / and tradition” are used as barriers to understanding and compassion. Withered, bruised, and crumpled we may be, but we return to those words because of what is inside of us. Beautiful – this really spoke to me and how I feel. Now I go off to follow the breadcrumbs.
Richard
Wow! That was worth waiting for. Nothing is better than knowing you have been both heard and understood. Thanks so very much Richard and I’m glad you read and enjoyed. Remember to eat something, afterall my breadcrumbs are only words and you must keep up your strength to enlighten us week after week. And you do that so well,
Elizabeth
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Gorgeous piece, Elizabeth. Words can break through the barrier, if we allow them to.
Pamela
Agreed Pamela, it is always our choice, to allow them or not. So glad that we continue to say yes.
Elizabeth
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This is wondrous beginning to end – and ageless as well – your words should see light though, in my view … for someone who can follow the scent of the ink as vividly as you do … the words shouldn’t remain hidden …
http://leapinelephants.blogspot.ca/2012/06/deep-tissue-bruising.html
Thank you Seingraham. Not all my words are kept in the dark, just those I fear might harm or hurt. I have published, but not for some time. Today I am thinking it might be good to return to that sunlight place. Will have to really consider that.
Elizabeth
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Wonderful trail of poems, Elizabeth; the latest shows a coming of age poetically. The illusions are gone, but the desire to create change with ink on page is still strong. Excellent writing.
Thank you Traci, especially for reading the back story. I was hoping to somehow show that reality of growth and continuing drive. My path of crumpled pages continues,
Elizabeth
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Loved this piece, Elizabeth — especially the last stanza and your use of “crumpled.”
And thank you, too, for sharing the back story. I believe you had shared it with me one other time–or perhaps referenced it? Anyway…love the tickled ears…
Paula
Thanks Paula. As I said above, I truly believe there is always a story behind each poem. Must confess that sometimes the story fascinates me most of all. Am always curious to know and see how individuals get to the places they arrive at.
Elizabeth
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Insightful, hopeful poem. Yes, the pen.
Hi Diane. Thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Do you have a blog where I might return the visit?
Elizabeth
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Soul’s music— apt name! This piece is an example for the power of words and the effect they can have on reader’s souls. Loved it! 🙂
Thank you Amber, when I was young, I sang from the moment I got up in the morning, til I went to bed. Music is a deeply imbedded part of my existence, and played a huge role in my journey to poetry. It seemed only logical to use that as the title of this poetry blog, after all, I had been calling my poems my “soul songs” for years.
Elizabeth
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‘Slightly withered intentions,
bruised by age, now crouch’
(OK I followed the bread crumbs first…) the above line of yours resonates with me because I have so many intentions that seem to wither…And well I’m not getting any younger, not quite crouching…But I can see that happening eventually.
My offering for this wordle can be found here:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/06/whirl-59-freed-spirit.html
Lol, had to laugh when I read your comment, Jules. I really didn’t know what to do with the crouch word, then realized that I’ve lost a bit over an inch in hieght, over the past two years. Was already short to begin with, and coupled with osteo, crouch may soon become an extended metaphor for what time I have left. Thanks for stopping and reading (the breadcrumbs), and for the wonderful comment.
Elizabeth
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Your pen is mighty, your words soar!
Ahh, thank you Tumblewords. Glad you like it,
Elizabeth
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