Thursday, November 17, 2011

feeling small: from NCTE in Chicago

Thursday was a beautiful day in Chicago, and not just because I'm here all on my own for four days.  I arrived for the NCTE Convention early enough to be a tourist, and although the temperature was a bracing 33*, the sky was as blue as in the (stock) photo.  Millenium Park is a marvel.  Here's #17 in MyPoPerDayMo.


scaled

I swim the serpentine spine of a
steel-shingled leviathan

it skims the base of a canyon of coral
steeples skinned with glass scales

even deeper, schools of flashing
fish swarm north and south

a lattice of ribs arches above
the sea bed, something shipwrecked

nearby a steely cephalopod
crouches enormously over its cave

I’m one of the
slow-motion minnows
that bumps its nose bumps its nose
against a shiny sea-cloud, asking

in all this vastness
where am I?


Heidi Mordhorst 2011
all rights reserved

I'm looking forward to greeting some PF regulars in person for a change!  For those enjoying it from the comfort of their own homes, Poetry Friday is with my neighbor Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference.
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5 comments:

  1. RuthNovember 18, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    I like your poem! Some day I'm going to go to that conference...

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  2. Robyn Hood BlackNovember 18, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Your writing always amazes me, Heidi. And in the midst of all this great description and existential questioning, you toss in, "that bumps its nose bumps its nose" - how fun! -- A little (a lot)jealous about the NCTE convention - have a wonderful weekend.

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  3. david elzeyNovember 18, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    lovely, and fun. i really love that steely cephalopod.

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  4. Linda BNovember 18, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    It sounds just like a big city, you, tiny minnow, surviving. Hope you enjoy the swim!

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  5. TabathaNovember 20, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    You use such delicious words in this! Very fun.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for joining in the wild rumpus!

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