by Ethel Mortenson Davis
This morning
my black dog
found a story
in the grasses.
She sat down,
lingered and mulled
over it,
relishing every detail
and every character.
I hope that people
will linger and mull
over my poems
someday.
I could envision
them being copied
and recopied
on exquisite parchment
by cloistered monks…
But if not,
the joy
is in the playing
of the stringed instrument
and riding its vibrations
out and across
the face of the moon,
lingering and mulling
over its details.
fourwindowspress 
That is so beautiful.a lovely wish I hope it is made so for you.
I always appreciate your responses. Thanks. Ethel
Great Metaphors. I also liked how you made them transition from the literal to the imaginative. “…riding its vibrations out and across the face of the moon…”
Thanks for your comment, I do try to go from the real to the creative. Ethel
I agree: beautiful – and great metaphors. It’s also amusing and self-deprecating, with the implied image of the poem left as a series of smells in the grass from which others may sniff out the story! My nostrils are still tingling!
It is humorous, poking fun at the writer’s ego. Thanks. Ethel
I love this poem, the wistfulness is clear as the grasses you describe. Well done!
You captured the idea! thank you Ethel
Well, I love this of course, every bit of it! I recognize the hope mentioned, yet oddly, I don’t seem to think about that anymore…the way I do the latter portion of the poem, “riding the vibrations across the face of the moon, lingering and mulling over details”–that is my meat on poem-writing evenings!! God bless you muchly!
That is a great comment. Love Ethel
Oh, you have me flying right over the moon’s craters right now,Ethel. Oops, I almost dropped my lute! To think your black dog’s story in the grass inspired this! WOW! And I thought MY dog was gifted!
You have a great sense of humor. Ethel
Ethel, this is a delightful poem and I love it. It’s amazing where and how our creative ideas are birthed. As long as we nurture them in the ‘now’; like a dog mulling over its prize or a cloistered monk penning beloved verse on aged parchment, the journey of our own words will vibrate and echo throughout the universe long after we have passed through our time. Beautifully written. ~ Julie 🙂
You hit the nail. Ethel
Once again, Ethel has written some meaningful and profound lines.
Ha ha. Thanks. Ethel
Very lovely to read!
You always say wonderful things. Thank you. Ethel
This is so great, from beginning to end! I love how it went from your dog smelling a “story in the grasses” to the more ethereal vibrations “out and across the face of the moon”. Lovely, wistful ending!
Your insight is good. Thanks. Ethel
I love this poem which speaks to me about that constant voice I have in my mind as I write, the inner audience or critic, and how, in the end, I come to rest in simply enjoying the process of writing and the words themselves. Lovely.
You really hit the mark. Thanks. Ethel
Yes! This poem is quite stunning. The last stanza so lyrical… and it brings you back to what the true joy and impulse really is. Well done.
Yes, that is really why we write. Thanks. Ethel
This poem is fabulous!!
I am going to print it to keep
Love
Christine
That’s a great comment. Thanks. Ethel
In this country the term ‘black dog’ is sometimes used as a euphemism for depression.
So I read the poem from that perspective and found it worked really well.
And I agree with you totally – the joy is in the journey!!
David
That is an interesting thought. Thanks David. Ethel
Our (fawn) dog is a great reader of tales in the grasses, too: unfortunately, he literally consumes them, and they’re not necessarily suitable material. I love your image, and how you then translate it in the second stanza; I especially like ‘copied and recopied on exquisite parchment by cloistered monks’, having seen the medieval illuminated manuscripts at the British Library in London last week. What higer tribute could there be to one’s work, I wonder. But I’m with you, and David; for me this is about ‘being a writer’, not ‘having written.’ A wonderful piece, as always. N.
Thank you for such interesting thoughts. Ethel
Let us hope satisfaction be found sometime very soon, most-worthy-of- recognition, Ethel…
.. but still in the creating. Ethel
Oh, I wish for the same thing, too! But yes, I agree, the journey makes the destination worthwhile.
Love this!
A beautiful piece. I love its message and admire its artful presentation.