In October I sought that perfect image
to make truth sing, my readers weep.
Am I asking too much of the rain?
A few drops had fallen, as we entered Kansas,
where in Phillipsburg,
we drove past the “Yesterday Shop”
and the houses that looked like yesterday.
And when crossing the Republican River,
we noticed it was dried up. A sign of prophecy, yes?
Art or history? At this juncture,
I concocted a fathomable symbolism,
based on my true belief, concerning what light
even our darkest corner may yet hold:
Fire and water, maybe?
A spark can thrive in a downpour, you know,
a burning bush in a waterfall.
first published in Right Hand Pointing
8 comments
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October 9, 2007 at 11:11 am
writeathome
Yes, even in our darkest corner there is light when we’re looking to Jesus. Nice poem, Helen.
October 9, 2007 at 1:06 pm
helenl
Thanks, Carol.
October 9, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Sherry Chandler
Nice, Helen.
October 9, 2007 at 4:12 pm
helenl
Thanks, Sherry.
October 9, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Shirley
Helen, I’m curious. When was this poem published in Right Hand Pointing? To read it, to recall your recent trip and to understand your symbolism, led me to believe it was not written long ago. Then I noticed it had been published somewhere, so perhaps it was written previously. Just curious.
It’s a very pretty poem. Did writing poetry come naturally to you, or was it through your education that you became accomplished.
October 9, 2007 at 9:02 pm
helenl
Shirley, the poem came out in RHP in February 2005. ( see http://righthandpointing.com/issue5/helen-riverbed.html)
The poem was written after our trip to Nebraska (and through Kansas) in October 2004, just before the presidential election, when I hoped that the dried-up Republican River (a real river and really dried-up at the time) was a “sign of prophecy” meaning that Bush would not get re-elected.
I do believe he is a very “dark corner” and yet holds a bit of light (truth) – not much, but some. He is, after all, created in God’s image as are we all.
The “burning bush” is a play on his name. I wanted him to encounter a “downpour” (landslide against him) but live and go deep into Texas, far, far away from places where he can cause damage.
I wrote very bad poems early on and still write awful first drafts but have learned the importance of revision through education.
October 10, 2007 at 2:15 am
Jana Allard
I always like how you make a play on words. Great poem.
October 10, 2007 at 8:25 am
helenl
Thanks, Jana.