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Dreaming - The Siren Gale

It is morning, I hear the sky tearing
Itself apart, cloud limb from limb in gales.
No longer early and I wake to start
On clattering bailiff windows, so alert

I reach for reasons that are known, yet scrawl
Them down for comforts sake, before the dawn.
Brings snarling chainsaw, stripping thickened trunks
Straddling giants, that deem us fit for air

That sings through palings, sallies down the stair
Audible in its vociferous bawl
It fills the heads of those inside with fear
Trembling as the shimmer on the shore

Turning a great ship, property of the sea-
Plaything for night tides and the dauntless moon
That set the clashing waves about this place,
The house becomes a howling mythic beast

That air, on which all our lungs long to feast
Day by day, has come to say its piece
And no benevolent voice among the meek
With strength enough to sing through tearing sail

Will reason with the thunderous lashing voice
That comes now, looking for her final claims
To valleys, boroughs and suburban plains
That once, were empty, listening to the wind

(That ushered calm over the rasping waters)

And swayed gentle, or creaked and bowed, humbled
By what they knew: empire indifferent,
Arbitrary ruler of the gum-trees-
The same that crashes through the slums of man

Brought back, by sudden calm, I hear far off
Another siren song along the streets
Between the great roars, now in slow retreat
Yet hear it rearing in the hills again

And strain to look above the parapet
To see the untamed thing roaring above
And senses strike me, lest I should forget
To rise and meet those faces that I love

About This Poem

Last Few Words: It's a re-start of poem dreamt up one Sunday morning, after a storm - sorry for the repetition.

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Tasmania, AUS

Favorite Poets: Glen Richards, Thomas Hardy, Phillip Larkin, Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Carol Ann Duffy , Ani DiFranco, Seamus Heaney, Emily Dickinson, T. S. Elliot

More from this author

Comments

nokros

nokros

10 years 5 months ago

i shiver

at the ferocity of such a storm. ..... in your mind. particularly loved: I reach for reasons that are known.

vandiemenspeak

vandiemenspeak

10 years 5 months ago

Hey Nokros..

All storms have a lull, even the ones within :). Frustration lies in the fact that the reasons for the changes we're are experiencing, with regard to randomly wild weather, are well known - hence the line, and all we can do is express them repeatedly to some of those with deaf ears! Thanks for your comments, it may be a moving weather patter, as I tinker with it. As always, will endeavour to check out your stuff too.

All the best,

Chris.

emogothgirl

emogothgirl

10 years 5 months ago

ah

I find myself on a ship, battling thrashing waves. The imagery and description is excellent, almost romantic. May I use this on our blog? All the credit goes to you, of course :)

Mag

vandiemenspeak

vandiemenspeak

10 years 5 months ago

Hey Mag..

Absolutely, and it's all free! Attribution is much appreciated, you know what they about exposure, glad you enjoyed - you'll have to send through URL for blog, would love to have a look. The imagery started to get thrown around a little, but then it was a waking dream, and ships were involved, so there you go. Glad you enjoyed.

Cheers,

Chris :)

vandiemenspeak

vandiemenspeak

10 years 5 months ago

Thanks Mag...

Thanks for sharing, looks great. I've always found Tumblr utterly confusing (but in an anarchic creative way)- but decided to give it a crack anyway..

judyanne

judyanne

10 years 5 months ago

a powerful write Chris

I really enjoyed it
awesome imagery

just one thing - the grammar of
'that air, which all our lungs long to feast on'
just imo, mind, would possibly read better as
'that air, on which all our lungs long to feast'

love judy
xxx

vandiemenspeak

vandiemenspeak

10 years 5 months ago

No argument there :)

Your right, 'that air, on which all our lungs long to feast' both scans better, and is much neater...I will definitely tweak it, much appreciated.

Cheers,

Chris :)