Sunday 7 December 2008

pictures stare, curves are drawn

smooth black surface
darker than sin,
blankness for it
is absolute slight

that darkness
has such a soul-
shining bright,
never to be sold

it comes to life
when words form,
pictures stare,
curves are drawn.

eloquence speaks
with fluency of letters
smoothing over flat
surface, pausing a while

"darkness shines only when
it belongs to a blackboard,
much bruised with chalks"

17 comments:

  1. From the darkness of black slate the chalk that bruises can be erased, most of it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Such a brilliant poem. It's unique.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree with Pat Paulk..
    and whats the glory of darkness..
    if anything i'm afraid of in this world -- its darkness within and without..

    i understand-- you being a teacher needs a blackboard and a chalk to write..call it bruising!?

    wishes,
    devika

    ReplyDelete
  4. gentle music
    out of which darkness
    does it come

    ReplyDelete
  5. true ... Darkness would not be alive without lightness

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmm, not sure what to make of it,
    Chalk it up to one of life's little mysteries.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ..it makes me think at those heroes we forget once we grow up: teachers. Darkness shines only when the teacher and his students make it so...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Reminds me of Ursula le Guin's words:

    Only in silence the word
    Only in darkness light
    Bright the hawk's flight on the empty sky.

    I love the way this poem builds and builds towards a very satisfying conclusion.

    ReplyDelete
  9. excellent description and suggested layering...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gautami -

    Fascinating perspective on a slate board, how words bring light to the darkness, animate the inanimate -- very cool... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, you are so right about a blackboard. It does come to life when we write on it. I love this!

    ReplyDelete
  12. "...darkness shines only when
    it belongs to a blackboard,
    much bruised with chalks."


    So very descriptive!

    ReplyDelete
  13. An intriguing image in this one.
    I'm late this week - had some severe tech problems.

    ReplyDelete
  14. this is really beautiful:-) (My first visit here- nice blog)

    ReplyDelete
  15. A well used blackboard can't disguise its influence.

    ReplyDelete
  16. ur writes are all dark... and interesting !!

    ReplyDelete