It seems strange to be writing a poem about a summer time phenomenon during the Australian winter, but poetry sparks have no comprehension of time, They just arrive and the writer must be ready to respond.
The poem I am sharing has taken time to marinate having landed some weeks back, launched on the wings of a cross cultural word that refused to be denied. I have it heard it land in my conscious mind and it would not go away.
And so I thought, I read, I listed my findings and then thought some more before the words presented on the page. My poem has since it initial composition, undergone further refinement and polishing on my computer.
My message for young poets is this...
When an idea lands, hold back a little on the urge to write. Allow your words to gather slowly. Explore your ideas and gather your very best words around you first. Read, research, think, talk, then think some more, before you take up the pen.
It is with a strong sense of satisfaction that I have now found a way to celebrate this unique summertime occurence. Good things are worth the wait and the effort.
Vapours Of The Earth
Pitjantjatjara people say, inyinnyi
Others call it petrichor.
That distinct smell
rising slowly from the ground
when rain falls on parched earth.
Rain blatting on a thirsty landscape,
On wheat coloured grasses
On stressed and wilting leaves
on pavement and pathway.
Rain with its welcome heatwave reprieve.
In summer
We breathe consciously when these unique vapours
Announce themselves
Before breathing more deeply to savour the musky, oily scent
Rising to greet us.
The comforting odours of nature
Fill the air
Dryness is transformed
The earth sighs with pleasure
The dust finds itself disturbed,quelled
This is inyinnyi
This is petrichor.
Alan j Wright
How beautiful...such a difficult "thing" to capture...but you have. I can sense that fragrance just reading your poem. The parched earth responding to the rain. It's lovely. We in the northern hemisphere are sending you the sun's rays slowly. Even though we've had some super-heated days, I'm loving the light and I don't want to give it up too quickly. Take care, poet friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, your comments are always highly regarded. Enjoyed those warm summer days and the special light that comes with the season.
DeleteYou had me at petrichor. I grew up in a dry land, and I loved this word before I ever knew it existed.
ReplyDeleteYour advice for young poets can be extended to young artists and makers. The slowness of embroidery has allowed me to continue to think about the message in the piece I shared in my post, and about what the final project might look like and how it will extend the message of this central panel. Flash drafts are good for capturing the essence of an idea, but "Good things are worth the wait and the effort." whether that's the rain or the final draft of a poem.
(Also, thank you for the generous and thoughtful way you describe my poem/post.)
It is indeed a special experience, Mary Lee. Thank you your comment regarding the slowing down aspect of writing. You're right in noting the need for taking time in a range of pursuits, including embroidery. It further reminds me of a sign I saw in Baltimore while working there- 'Fast food isn't good food and good food isn't fast.' Glad you appreciated my comments in response to your poem.
Delete"The earth sighs with pleasure." -- I walked outside my deck this morning, dogs at my side. The three of us, without warning, lifted our chins, and inhaled. Petrichor hovering in the forest. We let it seep deep inside, lowered our heads, then set out for a morning walk. Thank you, Alan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia. Instant gratification for you and your dogs as the sensation of petrichor came calling. How good is that?
Delete“Petrichor” is one word a special grandfather taught me, way back when in rainy Missouri kept us sated with the smell. The other words are new to me, wishing he was still living so I could show him! now when we rarely have “rain blasting” in Denver, I run outside to smell! I guess you may have summer vibes, Alan!
ReplyDeleteI love that your grandfather taught you the word, petrichor. My summer vibes are somewhat premature, Linda, given we still have some winter to go and then spring.
DeletePetrichor. It is a word/concept/wonder that pulls at my heart, too. It's so beautiful, yet transient. And I love that advice you give to young people. In fact, I think I may have ignored that advice and jumped in to a picture book earlier this year that has frustrated me with its inability to write itself! I think I needed to think more. And more. Before I tried to boss the story into directions it would not take!
ReplyDeletePetrichor is beautiful and transient as you say, Kat. Your experience and the assoicated frustration is something we have all experienced. I think of cooking and how slow cooking often results in sweeter tastes. In a writing context I find it is often useful to distance ones self from the piece in order to gain some clarity.
DeleteAlan, I'm so glad you listened to the quiet before you came up with this beauty. And remembering those hot summers during winter--good job. My favorite line is "The earth sighs with pleasure" and maybe "Rain blatting on a thirsty landscape" Wow. Well done for a lovely post. Thank you for the song too. I enjoyed listening to Petrichor by Paul Kelly. (I did a search for it because the link didn't work for me.)
ReplyDeleteDenise, the fact this summer recollection arose in mid winter is something of a miracle. It may be wishful thinking on my part -willing summer on perhaps. Glad you enjoyed the poem and Paul Kelly's song.
DeleteI love the earth sighing and the rain blatting--lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura. Words have unknown power at times. You don't realize how powerful they are until a reader responds...
DeleteOh I love petrichor ever since I learned the word a few years ago. My favorite line is: "Rain blatting on a thirsty landscape," but there are many gems in this poem!
ReplyDeletePetrichor, one of my favorite words. The distinct smell of the vapors. There is much to love about this post.
ReplyDelete