For The Sunday Whirl: Wordle #111
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
For We Write Poems poetry prompt: #159 Story Verse
http://wewritepoems.wordpress.com/
And for Far Write Writing Group: two words agitate, detected
and the phrase a body once living
Awakening A Body Once Living
Feeling down, from kitchen window she watches
golden retriever vault fence on nimble limbs,
disappearing into tall prairie grasses beyond.
The sight surprises an as yet undetected urge
to run free from all these recently agitated memories,
seemingly fueling a train-load of feelings, that
had become stalled at the back of her throat
like dry burnt toast.
With haste, she races through halls of her spacious
home, grabbing, then putting on soft patched jeans
and a faded flannel shirt. Now craving fresh air, wind
swirling through too long unloosed hair, she sees
herself there in the mirror, shocked to encounter
familiar face of a younger Anastasia grinning back
at her. Promises her image that, if she catches the dog,
they might continue to the woods to explore untraveled
paths, rest on a fallen log, collect a few stones, perhaps
finding whatever rapture each might be seeking.
Elizabeth Crawford 6/1/13
Soul's Music 
Oh yes, the urge to run free can be very strong!
LikeLike
Really nice & cinematic. I love when words combust.
LikeLike
Oh wow – love ” stalled at the back of her throat/ like dry burnt toast”
LikeLike
Oh how I envy those nimble limbs! and the golden retreiver, when I come to think of it – our Jimmy was my first beloved dog, and my friend’s Bliss is an absolute honey.
A great poem, wistful yet full of energy.
LikeLike
I really like how you use the words to create your story verse. The golden retriever vaulting the fence did make me catch my breath as we’ve had to chase our dog as she escapes out the front door too many times!
LikeLike
OH how beautiful, Elizabeth, you have just stirred beloved memories of Dillon and I running free,well I didn’t exactly run and he would go so far and look back through those doefull brown eyes as if to say,c’mon keep up! Thankyou 🙂
LikeLike
A beautiful lyric run for an early Sunday morning – 🙂
LikeLike
I love the sound of this line: “With haste, she races through halls of her spacious” and the way it flows into the next two: “putting on soft patched jeans and a faded flannel shirt. Now craving fresh air, wind” … I could almost feel those jeans sliding up my legs, and I wish I had a pair!
LikeLike
The Golden Retriever or any dog for that matter is an impetus for action they goad you into action and blow away the blues! I really enjoyed this.
LikeLike
That last line ties it up into a beautiful package. Thank you for allowing the dog to find rapture, too. I love this piece, and long for a log to rest upon.
LikeLike
“…that, if she catches the dog, they might continue to the woods to explore untraveled
paths,…” If I ever catch that dog. That is what I will do. I find a depth in this piece and the line I am drawn to hits me hard. Wonderful Elizabeth.
LikeLike
Really delightful!!!! I can feel the fresh wind through my hair, runnng free…interesting so many ties we bind ourselves with?
LikeLike
I am so enjoying this series, and empathize with her much younger inner spirit, now rather fettered. Running into the woods – cant think of a better antidote! Wish I were there so you and I could do the same, kiddo!
LikeLike
An interesting awakening. We see the ordinary, human side of your protaganist in a short paragraph that shows us so much more!
LikeLike
As someone who once chased a loved retriever and then rested with her , I was capivated by the line,’if she ever catches the dog,’ I love how you used the words to tell a story, at once intimate and universal.
LikeLike
Atmospheric poem, Elizabeth. I particularly like the mirror image part, as I find myself feeling that way often. You did a splendid job in hiding the words.
Pamela
LikeLike
Elizabeth – this is really enchanting. Reaching beyond time and space to be what was – free to seek rapture. A deft and skilled hand to compine prompts. I hope to use some of my free summer time to catch up on reading.
LikeLike
Don’t you hate it when that toast goes down sideways? Yay for running outside after the dog. I’d do that in a heartbeat. Beautifully done Elizabeth. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: FRIENDSHIP a Cinquain of Thanks ! | A Word A Day!
What I like about this is the travel from mind to body, from memory to present moment. The reader yearns to follow Anastasia and the dog into the outdoors and into the wood. Very enchanting.
-Nicole
LikeLike