Origami dreams flash
in exquisite black shapes
that spangle dark the sky.
A cacophony of folded forms
flutters aches behind my eyes.
Ethereal dragons,
not faced in abstract dreamscapes
remain shelved to ferment
and later climb my throat’s slow rise.
Night eats them alive.
Outside my window,
in undulating blankets of blackness
a murder of crows caws a coda,
a dirge to the dragons
that color dark my soul.
Brenda Warren 2012
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undercaws 
Your poem reminds me of a line from a Peter Gabriel song, “The darkness still has work to do.” You really let the words lead you with this one, and I like it when that happens, because it usually results in such delightful surprises. Congrats on this year of wordles and thank you for all the poetry you have prompted. Here’s to another year,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com
PS Thanks so much for your generous comments, it’s good to be back. Oh, and the legend of the crow is called The Rainbow Crow.
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“Exquisite black aches that spangle dark the sky.” Your wording is quite unlike your usual, Brenda, and I like it. I know what you mean, both about the literal dark sky and the psychic, the latter of which is inhabited by dragons of all sorts. Powerful. THANK YOU for your wonderful work on the Wordle! Love, Amy
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Thank you, Amy. I appreciate your work with us over the year. I’m heading to your place now.
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Reiterating the comments before me- but I was drawn into those “undulating blankets of blackness”. You reel us is every week – and leave us to wrangling words. Thanks again. And happy anniversary.
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Thank you, Teri. I’m glad that you feel reeled in…it brings a smile. So glad you are with us.
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My children once had a book that named groups of things, like a pod of whales…I think I knew about a murder of crows…but not sure if that was in the book. What a delicious description of that clever bird of dark wing. I think there also was a story tale about how the crow was once a beautifully colored bird but because perhaps of false pride was stripped of color and became blackened. Night is always an intriguing time. I like the second stanza where you ferment and I think savor your trusty “dragons'” breath to eat the nightmares away! That’s how I read it…
I took a different route:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/04/sugar-and-spice.html
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Jules, I’ve read that story about the crows…I think there is a picture book around here somewhere, but I’ll be darned if I can remember what it’s called. It’s illustrated with colorful silhouettes of birds.
As always, I appreciate your comments. Thank you.
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Love the last stanza, especially the sound devises; works very well
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Thanks Mark. I appreciate your visit.
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this poem paints a clear picture in the darkness… I liked the alliteration in: a murder of crows caws a coda. The last stanza is strong!
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Thank you so much, Nan.
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Brenda, oh, that first stanza! I had a nightmare like that once. And “spangle dark the sky” – I just love that line. Purge the ethereal and embrace the real.
Richard
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I love your interpretation, Richard. Thank you.
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“A murder of crows caws a coda”. This is pure poetry. I love it! Excellent!
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Thank you, Cheryl.
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Well wordled… so vivid and beautiful… one of your best, Brenda!
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Thank you, Laurie. I’m glad you like it.
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My! This one is dark, but very well wrought! BTW, Happy Anniversary! I really appreciate your presence here in the Blogosphere – it adds great joy to my week. Even when I don’t have the time to write, just reading the entries is fun!
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Thank you Paula. I’m glad you found is, the more writers and readers, the richer the journey.
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Add my congrats re your anniversary, no small feat … pun unintended but I kinda like it … I see we were on somewhat the same wavelength with our murderous crows …
http://aleapingelephant.blogspot.ca/2012/04/coda-of-crows-dragons-angels-and-swans.html
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Thank you, Sharon. Yes we were, I just read your piece. Well done~!
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Happy Anniversary. Hard to believe it’s been a whole year of weekly wordles.
I loved the line about undulating blankets of darkness–that whole stanza, actually. Beautiful.
My approach to this list of words was a bit different this week. I took the words in the order you gave them to us in the email and wrote a line for each one…whatever popped into my head. Then I rearranged the words in alpha order and put their corresponding lines in that order. I changed only a couple pronouns and added one word. It was fun. 🙂
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Thank you Paula, for your comments, and for sharing your process. i might have to give that a try one of these wordling weekends. 🙂
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What great images. I especially like the last stanza! How great to be able to use a murder of crows!
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Thank you Daphne. I appreciate your kind comments.
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As others have noted I really like the images, the darkness one can feel. And it is fun to be reminded of the murder of crows! Thanks for keeping up with all the wordles!
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Thank you Peggy. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…the wordles are one of my favorite things. I’ll keep keeping on, until I feel otherwise, and that’s not likely. 🙂
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Cor, Undercaws! That one packs a punch. It’s been an exciting wordle week for the anniversary.
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Thank you, Viv! I appreciate you so much.
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Wow… intense indeed, but that makes for some interesting imagery and word combinations.
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Thank you, Margo. The words definitely drove the piece this week.
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Those last two stanzas are intense, Brenda. It is dark, but it is so nicely done. Thank you again for doing all you do, my friend. I look forward to my Sundays with everyone.
Pamela
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I look forward to them, too, Pamela. I’m so glad that you are okay. Your volcano truly is on my mind.
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“Undulating blankets of blackness a murder of crows caws a coda, a dirge to the dragons that color dark my soul.” I love the sound of these words, and your successful use of alliteration. This is a VERY fine poem, Brenda, one of my favorites. How fitting that you have written it this week!
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Thank you so much, Marianne. I appreciate your enthusiasm. I like the crows caws a coda bit, too. At first I had a “cacophony of crows caws a coda…” but I liked the cacophony of crows the first time, so thought I’d change it up a bit. That would have added to that alliteration….I do like it better, but it’s always a give and take constructing these pieces. 🙂
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i love origami dreams and ethereal dragons. Interesting images throughout. A very fine anniversary poem. Happy one year of wordling.
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Thank you, Mary. I’m so happy you like it. Happy one year to you, too. You’ve been with us from the start.
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Intriguing, and dark! I love the line “undulating blankets of blackness”, and I love the word ethereal!
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Thank you Inger….that was a line that almost didn’t make the cut, but I loved it so much it had to be in there.
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P.S. Happy Anniversary to the Sunday Whirl, and, to you for making it such a success 🙂
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Thank you so much, It’s been a great year. Successful because you all write to the prompt. 🙂
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Oh, very dark. Loved the imagery all through this. So different from everyone else’s I’ve read this morning.
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Thank you…I couldn’t shake the darkness. Ah well, I like the piece now that I had a day in the world, and came back to it again.
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