floe
not an iceberg calved
creaking
from snowfields but
crystallised saltwater,
a constellation of atomic stars
shooting, careening into
each other like chaos
till fragments settle into a slick
skin that skims the ocean,
stratum upon strata
drifting slowly South,
a whale, humpbacked,
poised at the moment
of breaching, by the time
it reaches the Chukchi Sea
ribs have arched into rafters
and it’s a cathedral,
a vast ice edifice spired,
traversing blue, shadowing
the submarine flicker of fish
on into meltwater.
May 14, 2008 at 3:55 pm
inspired, in part, by this:
http://www.tacc.utexas.edu/research/users/features/images/cc_icefloe.jpg
May 14, 2008 at 4:20 pm
i would love to experience life thru your eyes just once.. . this was beautiful,, as was the photo….
May 14, 2008 at 4:32 pm
wow. brilliant, as usual.
May 14, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I didn’t need to see the photo, though I appreciated it, your words were so powerful. i love the flow of the lines, such movement and intesnity, such an awareness of the sound. Do you read your poems aloud as you re-work them? Really beautiful. I needed this.
May 14, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Beautiful poem and picture! By the way, I thought you might be interested to know that the big supercollider thingy that was supposed to go off today a couple of hours from now has been rescheduled for later in the year…so, we won’t all be dying today! Celebrate!
May 14, 2008 at 8:55 pm
lovely as always!
May 14, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Striking images that have purpose. I really like the way you use movement here (from “careening” to “drifting slowly.” Wonderful.
May 15, 2008 at 3:11 am
We have ice like that on Lake Superior in winter, a thin skin that forms when the lake is still, or swirling ice donuts (a constellation of atomic stars is so much lovelier a description), heaving mantles of silvery mesh, or massive sharp-edged slabs.
The image of the whale transforming to a cathedral is amazing.
May 15, 2008 at 4:23 am
I think your poem is even more lovely than the photo! I read your poem before viewing the photo, and to be honest, the photo (while breathtaking) was completely paled by the beautiful imagery that you were able to weave with words. Absolutely gorgeous, Jo!
May 15, 2008 at 7:13 am
Luverly. True that the picture wasn’t necessary, as the poem packs all the necessary emotion.
May 15, 2008 at 10:03 am
image perfect
May 15, 2008 at 9:07 pm
This reminds of Miles Davis. Cool blue, in its picture and its kind of ringing lyrical tone, very Miles,
May 18, 2008 at 7:04 am
This has rhythm and is so very lyrical!
May 23, 2008 at 8:43 am
so good.