from BARDO

The stars are in our belly; the Milky Way our umbilicus.

Is it a consolation that the stuff of which we’re made

is star-stuff too?


– That wherever you go you can never fully disappear –

dispersal only: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen.


Tree, rain, coal, glow-worm, horse, gnat, rock.


Roselle Angwin

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Lost Species poem 5: Mark Totterdell

Here's another excellent poem in my 'Lost Species' series, for your enjoyment. 


Leatherback

One time,
the sea threw up
a yellowish-grey lump
that clung to bone,

its unrough side
fluted like a
fragment of old stone
column,

enough to say
leatherback,
enough to see it
soar, glide, then flap

great sea-wings,
joyfully snap up
jellyfish,
then polythene.

© Mark Totterdell



from This Patter of Traces (Oversteps 2014)   http://marktotterdell.moonfruit.com



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2 comments:

  1. Angie Willis16 December 2016 at 16:39

    After reading this I did some research on the Leatherback, a species I hadn't seen before. What a beautiful creature - I saw a lovely piece of artwork by someone who had depicted the turtle's leather back as being a rich red studded with jewels - gorgeous. Keep 'em coming - I'm learning an awful lot.
    Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  2. roselle16 December 2016 at 16:41

    Angie, that's good to hear. V impressed you were motivated to research it. Will tell Mark.

    ReplyDelete

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