David W. Parsley Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 At the Dark Crossing The crossing again, and the far shore grown dark, stones cool and unfathomingin the bleaching water. And, though not yet night, it comes – the fear that none of the lights beyond seeing is home. They beckon. True lights or no, they call across the scant ladder of boulders glowing in the gap like stranded moons. Quiet steps down through the maples, the stream moves by like a shadow. (How delicately the flesh is razed by a glacier of sky!) And if tonight instead of turning aside I chose to step out to those stones inviting blackness to come in the spare language of stars without constellation I could not expect but that the world would halt until I cross hesitant, forgetting which bank I stepped from, which I had feared to trust, which I had feared to refuse. Winner Academy of American Poets, Undergraduate Award, U of Utah, 1982David W Parsley ~ Rattle Poetry Reading Series - YouTube© 2015 David W. ParsleyParsley Poetry Collection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Wow David. Wow. Thanks for this, restores my faith in good poetry. Much appreciation. Juris 1 Quote thegateless.org Come on over and check out my poetry substack y'all;-) Or if your bored, head to the Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/gateless. If you buy anything I lose a bet, so consider that before you violate the digital rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger11 Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 Very impressive Dave (including the reading). I guess only the gods have clarity in choice! Love the humanity of that hesitation. You have taken iconic images and made them fresh. Bw Phil 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W. Parsley Posted January 1 Author Share Posted January 1 Hi Doc, very gratifying response! Thanks, - David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W. Parsley Posted January 1 Author Share Posted January 1 Thanks for the appreciative insights, Phil. The reading was part of the open mic portion of the Rattle Reading Series in La Canada Flintridge, CA. It was a 45-minute drive each way from Palos Verdes, but it was great! - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Dave, This has me studdering in anticipation. My pulse flutters as I step off into the darkness. The imagery, the journey, the hesitation, build until my heart is in my throat. This is writing I can only wish for. ~~Judi 1 Quote ~~ © ~~ Poems by Judi Van Gorder ~~ For permission to use this work you can write to Tinker1111@icloud.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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