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When Poetry Visits The Traveller

I really enjoy the poems that emerge from my immediate engagement with places I visit.

 When a poem arises from visiting a particular place, it is a joy for my poet's heart. I have written before about the 'poetry of place.' I recognise its strong influence on my writing. I look forward to the words that come flooding my way.

 This little poem came to me during my very recent trip to Vietnam. It was a response to the morning skies that greeted me in the city of Hanoi. I stepped out and into the busy streets of the city's bustling old quarter and the skies above me were brooding, grey and heavy with expectation.It was all set up for me to notice- and I embraced the moment.

 I encourage all young poets to be open to poetry ideas related to place. Ideas frequently present themselves whenever we do some mindful meandering in new or unfamiliar places. We must remain open to possibilities, wherever we go in this world.

Hanoi Morning
The sky
Seamless
Grey
Drapes itself suffocatingly
Over a muggy
Hanoi morning.

 The thunder gods
Argue endlessly. 
Clamorous behind a curtain of cloud.

 These daily squabbles frequently end in tears.
The people are not dismayed.
Plastic ponchos and umbrellas
Emerge with the suddenness 
of magician's rabbits

 Such is the way of the wet season.





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Comments

  1. Linda Mitchell19 August 2017 at 08:46

    I love how a curtain of cloud....includes the word loud.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 August 2017 at 17:24

      Thank you Linda. Imagery is all important. Good pick up by you.

      Delete
  2. Violet N.19 August 2017 at 14:26

    I love how you personalize that oppressive sky and what goes on in it. This is a great example of how to use use details of place in a way that is more than a list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 August 2017 at 17:25

      Thank you for your feedback Violet. As you mention, details of place are important.

      Delete
  3. Kay20 August 2017 at 11:31

    I enjoyed this brief visit to Hanoi through your poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright23 August 2017 at 10:14

      Thanks for sharing the visit to this exotic location Kay.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous20 August 2017 at 19:03

    "The daily squabbles frequently ends in tears." ❤️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 August 2017 at 17:28

      Thanks for noticing Kat. For me this was a key analogy.

      Delete
  5. Carol Varsalona20 August 2017 at 22:50

    "Drapes itself suffocatingly" - that line spoke to me, Alan. If you would like to offer a poem / photo for my summer gallery, I would be honored to accept it. Invite: http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2017/07/sunkissed-summer-invitation.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan j Wright22 August 2017 at 17:29

      Thanks for the invite Carol. I will take you up on that later this coming week.

      Delete
  6. Robyn Hood Black21 August 2017 at 09:00

    Thanks for sharing - the terrific imagery in the poem and the images themselves!

    ReplyDelete

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