... Just back from a few days' away with a group of international women poets - VERY awe-inspiring! I even got it together to produce a sonnet, though I can't honestly say I set out to write one! Hope you've all been good... :)) K xx
THE LANGUAGE OF STONE
She was fluent in the language of stone:
the subtle inference of marble,
the directness of granite,
the clean diction of slate.
She pocketed words and phrases –
fragments from weathered headstone tributes,
the vernacular of pebbles
washed-up from other shores –
adding them singly to a steady-mounting pile,
a cairn of casually-tossed remarks
and collected observations showing
where she’d been, who she’d travelled with
but not, as yet, the unlearnt tongue
of the places she’d yet to visit.
I bet you taught them a thing or two dear Kate ;)
I've missed your incredible talent and am really sorry that I haven't been as active on here. Life has been getting in the way...again. lol
LOVE all that you write and can't wait to get tucked in to the ones I missed.
love Chanti
Ah yes and what could one do with such knowledge? ;)
A joy to read, Kate!
Hugs
Dale
Reviewed by Stan stanfrith@btinternet.com (Reader)
Reviewed on April 28, 2007
Kate, you know me - not one for pretentious, grandiloquent, affected words that tell us more about the commentator than the author. I enjoyed Language of Stone and especially your phrase the 'vernacular of pebbles washed up from other shores....' a very clever, descriptive way to tell us of an exposure to a variety of commonly spoken language or dialects. Hope to meet you again soon.
Beautiful write, enjoyed this very much. My favorite lines are; She pocketed words and phrases- fragments from weathered headstone tributes...this one has a wonderful feeling when reading. Great job!
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
the language of life requires each to discover their unique medium of expression...
very well done, kate. much enjoyed this inspired write.
peace,
carolyn
A beautiful write with a great deal of metaphoric meaning, i really enjoyed thinking about this one
Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)
Reviewed on April 26, 2007
A real sonnet, with 14 lines.
Looking at this from the shallows, the first stanza tells that you're from the west, stone, granite, slate, then I do the next too, go out and collect words, n stuff. The new lingo you need, are words like Man, Dude, Have a nice day, why thank you, Yo bro, I need a, gee thanx, and is that the time or no......
Can see how you won a top award, you modest thang... I gotta mish to the dentists, he needs to extract money...
A sonnet with a marvelous theme, Kate...springboard for a character study as rich and deep as marble's veins and granites chilled, polished luster. You draw one into the complexity of her rigidity and perfection...even a touch of well disguised nervousness and unfinished business. I think those international poetesses were thrilled to have been priveleged to be in your company.
Love,
Taylor
We generally think of language as a tool of revelation, or at least as one of communication--but your metaphorically layered THE LANGUAGE OF STONE illustrates superbly how some are inclined to hide behind their choice vocabularies. Much to ponder in the glittering facets of this diamond of a poem.
The Language of Stone reminds me so fluently of a few lines in my novel The Buckskin Skirt Oar Traveler, "...maybe she puts a new stone on the pile at their graves each time she goes back to visit, in honor of everything she liked about them. Maybe she buried them well...with a headstone of Connemara marble...overlooking a lush green hillside with an abundance of heather where the sheep graze and, in the springtime, a surplus of ewes and their lambs..."
And then, this line, "She pocketed words and phrases –
fragments from weathered headstone tributes" I am creative about. I go to old cemetaries and do grave tombstone rubbings by masking on a sheet of tombstone "rubbing" paper and a puck of wax, and a whisk brush to lift the writing off the headstones onto the paper for wall framing...it is inspirational to me...it is not being disrespectful, it is preserving antiquity...you can buy all of the gravestone rubbing materials at hobby and craft stores...Dear Kenny will be in touch with you soon, he emailed me and said he would dial you up...be well, Kate...Blessed Be.
T'other day on AD, I posted a short thing abou, "Envy."
May I take it all back... word for word for intent ?????????
What a lifetime incidence of fortunate happenstance!
Congratulations, Talented Friend. I am so very proud of you.
Your work, here, is outstanding, and speaks well for one who has sat among the better poets of the world. It is surely a pacemaker in travel reports... and the why of them. Good show! - Bill
Dear Kate of Agate - this is a gem, of the crystal wand type! - i love the straight lines in this - clear darts, clipped - and the ending is a real curve ball - sooper! Nicky x:o)
As if your poetry needs any improvement, I do believe you were inspired! This is fantastic, wonderful imagery and lines--can't pick out a favorite; all are fantastic! Definately a keeper, and welcome home. You've been missed.
In the Whirlwind is a poetic storm that frees history from the cages of corruption and puts it in the hands of everyday people. Words are weaved into a new fashion statement that has nothing to do with runways but everything to do with projects!
Early Works is an exhaustive compilation of the first decade of the poems and stories of Z.B.McClure. Included are family photos, rare personal photos, photos of 1st draft manuscripts of many of his early poems. Also some biography and memoir materia
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I've missed your incredible talent and am really sorry that I haven't been as active on here. Life has been getting in the way...again. lol
LOVE all that you write and can't wait to get tucked in to the ones I missed.
love Chanti
You've carved this piece well enough. :-) ~~Nordette
A joy to read, Kate!
Hugs
Dale
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
What more can I say
Pax A
a keeper!!!!!
Love Tinka
Carole~
very well done, kate. much enjoyed this inspired write.
peace,
carolyn
PS I hope the Lad wasn't sneaking about listening to all you International Women - and getting more ideas!
Looking at this from the shallows, the first stanza tells that you're from the west, stone, granite, slate, then I do the next too, go out and collect words, n stuff. The new lingo you need, are words like Man, Dude, Have a nice day, why thank you, Yo bro, I need a, gee thanx, and is that the time or no......
Can see how you won a top award, you modest thang... I gotta mish to the dentists, he needs to extract money...
Be safe,
Karen
Love,
Taylor
Aberjhani
And then, this line, "She pocketed words and phrases –
fragments from weathered headstone tributes" I am creative about. I go to old cemetaries and do grave tombstone rubbings by masking on a sheet of tombstone "rubbing" paper and a puck of wax, and a whisk brush to lift the writing off the headstones onto the paper for wall framing...it is inspirational to me...it is not being disrespectful, it is preserving antiquity...you can buy all of the gravestone rubbing materials at hobby and craft stores...Dear Kenny will be in touch with you soon, he emailed me and said he would dial you up...be well, Kate...Blessed Be.
Sage
VEry nice write.
Pops
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in America, Karen Lynn in Texas. :D
Rusty
May I take it all back... word for word for intent ?????????
What a lifetime incidence of fortunate happenstance!
Congratulations, Talented Friend. I am so very proud of you.
Your work, here, is outstanding, and speaks well for one who has sat among the better poets of the world. It is surely a pacemaker in travel reports... and the why of them. Good show! - Bill
As if your poetry needs any improvement, I do believe you were inspired! This is fantastic, wonderful imagery and lines--can't pick out a favorite; all are fantastic! Definately a keeper, and welcome home. You've been missed.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.