Friday, August 28, 2009

In Search of El Dorado

The Sunday Scribblings prompt is "Poetry". Follow link or banner to participating blogs.



Sunset reflected in parabolic mirrors.
courtesy of Theodosia Ferguson, Vital Systems

IN SEARCH OF ELDORADO
Our faith in gold, and pearl, and fountains
where youth and manhood are renewed
was lost in challenging these mountains
of pathless chasms, boulders strewed
to crush our spirits, slow our way,
ice by night and fire by day.

We thought we would have been, by now,
stretched languidly in fragrant grass.
Who could foresee this brooding brow
of overhanging cliff? We pass
against the precipice; the blood
of clinging fingers marks our way,
precarious, day after day
threatened by avalanche and flood.

Nor have we found the streets of gold,
but dust, and thorn, and flies that bite,
and eyes that circle us at night,
and we are growing old.

Bruised, we scientists retreat.
The stones of paradise have torn our feet.

Wind turbine at sunset.
courtesy of Theodosia Ferguson
, Vital Systems

25 comments:

George S Batty said...

your words are always worth reading and the pictures always add to what you say. You have not lost, your fight has been noble

Unknown said...

nice! Is this a new one? I don't remember it.

Rinkly Rimes said...

Your poetry is so right! I read it aloud because it demands to be savoured that way. There is an air of melancholy about this poem; it makes me feel it may be recent. If so, I hope the writing helped.

Maggie May said...

Might not have found streets of gold but look at that golden sky!
Sometimes it is right there in front of us.
A better kind of gold and it is for free!

Americanising Desi said...

i read it aloud too and i felt everything as if i could see it!

My Sunday Poetry

anthonynorth said...

You bring it all to beautiful life. Excellent.

gautami tripathy said...

It is a pleasure to read your poetry!

weeks trample on each other like magazines

Sherri B. said...

Absolutely stunning...filled with life and meaning. Thank you for sharing your words!

Keith's Ramblings said...

Phyllis, this is so good. This is such a visual piece.

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

Phyllis, there is more here than meets the eye I think. The last line:

Bruised, we scientists retreat.
The stones of paradise have torn our feet.

I would love to have you interpret this for us. I saw questions unanswered...ones we sought in our youth, ones we thought would be resolved, still clouded with mist as we grow old.

b

http://torristravels.blogspot.com

Granny Smith said...

Rinkly Rimes - Brenda,

I am unable to access your link or even your blog. What has happened?

Tammy Brierly said...

This was amazing Granny. I also savored it out loud and felt the layers.


I hopee you had a wonderful birthday! HUG

Stan Ski said...

Slings and arrows...

Miss Alister said...

This spoke to a part of me that feels the sorrow of disillusionment, of expectations from life not met. I picked these expectations up during growing up and now, although I found no “golden city,” I see my folly and take happiness as it comes. I like your play on Raleigh’s expedition, and bringing your meaning in this poem home, with your killer last lines! Very enjoyable, Granny : )
missalister

linda may said...

Those scientists are not bruised, the world is a better place for them being there Granny. They may not always have been right but they learned and taught and shared and improved and, and, and.....along the way.

Jeeves said...

Lovely....Enjoyed this one

Jane Doe said...

Amazing. You weave the words together so superlatively. A lovely, touching poem.

Understanding Alice said...

wow. a real king of a poem, thanks you Granny x

Serena Shay said...

Beautiful and powerful poem, Granny! Thank you for sharing it!

Dee Martin said...

some things are not for science. we want answers and proof and charts but looking at the photos you chose, things that tear the scientists feet? Sometimes you just have to say thank you and believe.

ChefDruck said...

"The stones of paradise have torn our feet" how beautiful yet how bittersweet. Your poem was filled with strong and beautiful images and the photos you chose were a perfect accompaniment.

Tumblewords: said...

What a pleasure it is to read this many layered poem - thank you!

Tammie Lee said...

fantastic and powerfully written piece! seems you tell a all too true tale.

anno said...

Perhaps we haven't found El Dorado, but I have to believe that the work of scientists and inventors and thinkers such as your husband have helped clear some trails in those thorny paths. I am encouraged by the green materials/technologies we found as we built our house, the fact that even in Michigan where temperatures fall to -25 degrees F, we have been able to heat our house with solar energy largely stored in the earth, the promise of new battery technologies. It's sometimes frustrating that we're not already there, but it feels like real change might be coming. Thank you, and thanks to your husband for all the work you've done to make this possible.