Inspired by Jim's "Koan"




The Sound of One Hand Clapping: An Old Cabin

A wind-slapped door

The warped whimper

Of rusted hinges

 

In a littered corner

An owl dusting the floor

With a crippled wing

 

A cracked leather glove

Where a mouse darts

And curls into a fist

 

On a wall a photograph

Torn almost in two, one

Half waving goodbye

 

A pump handle raised

Held in fingers of frost

The well forty years dry





Poetry by countryfog
Read 483 times
Written on 2011-06-29 at 16:17

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mark nwagwu
rusted hinges; crippled wing; darts and curls; waving goodbye; forty years dry - simply compelling varieties on the theme of nothingness, it seems to me, and yet so real in its spirit, what was, isn't. I like this a lot
2011-07-11


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
As John said, these are beautifully-presented desolate images. If I correctly remember my zen precepts, desolation represents the sound to two hands.
2011-07-03


John Ashleigh The PoetBay support member heart!
The imagery paints a picture, and it truly is a masterpeice. The wording is vivid, and the write somewhat compelling, yet serene. An accomplished poem, indeed. I do miss poetry such as this. Thankyou for sharing.

Regards,
John.
2011-06-30



I see this vividly as one my old "house places" on the ranch—up the narrow, narrow flight of stairs, a bedroom, a girl's bedroom papered with newspapers and magazines from the twenties and thirties, now in dry and yellow tatters, mud daubers infesting almost every inch, torn pages of magazines catching the wind through the paintless, glassless window frames—you captured this magnificently, it is real, as real as the sound of...
2011-06-29