Everything is more
dramatic when looking up,
or so film class taught me,
so maybe that’s why
this horse and rider strike
me as the bravest thing
two could hope to be—
one charged beast
pressed to the gremlin
of a nightly fortune,
with the doves of clouds
kissing its shanks
dramatic when looking up,
or so film class taught me,
so maybe that’s why
this horse and rider strike
me as the bravest thing
two could hope to be—
one charged beast
pressed to the gremlin
of a nightly fortune,
with the doves of clouds
kissing its shanks
25 comments:
God. Exquisite, you describe the sculpture like gourmet chocolate. I love 'doves of clouds'. Yum yum.
A beautiful imagination so elegantly defined.
Wonderful reading.
PS: I'm on to your previous posts! :)
A startling pic that just oozes bravery! And your words pay due respect to it. Superb Sarah.
PS: I was going though your archived posts... and I hate to say this but I loved the old Sarah much more.
While your writing has improved a lotttt and you are much more elegant and choose words way more wisely.
But you were such a hoot when you started with making up words like Foll-AWE-r and Amaz(on)-ing prizes! lolzz
You should kid around more... we wont blame you for being wild at times you know!
I am sooo loving reading your older posts. :D :D
This is what you wrote about Jason's contest in 2007:
"And if you're a shameless mercenary, then yes, there are prizes (of course, you now disgust me, and I will refer to you ever more as Blog Prize Whore)"
And this is you on Jason's contest in 2009:
"It's a wonderful chance to give and receive feedback, and to maybe win some booty"
See the point am making?? ROFL!!!
Sarah your photo and lines captured me with awe.
"with the doves of clouds
kissing its shanks"
It's so strikingly potent. Just wow....
Sarah, this is amazing and I can't explain why but has me on the verge of tears. In part it may be the "strikes me as the bravest thing" line. There is breathtaking beauty in true bravery. It is like art itself. But I think it is really the first two lines: "Everything is more dramatic when looking up." Layers upon layers of meaning and I am just sitting here staring at those words, wondering if that speaks to why oppression is so hard to endure and seems to easy for some to dish out. I realize that is rather off point, and possibly even absurd, but there it is, wrapped around my imagination, I suspect for some time.
I just want to lie back on the ground and watch the struggle unfold.
Perhaps it's the rainy day making me lethargic. Or perhaps I'm just too weak to fight anymore...
(Or maybe I just need more sleep. :P)
Sarah - I'm in agreement with Jennifer about the first two lines. The implications of those lines feels like a lesson to me today.
I'm considering, too, the interesting juxtaposition of "gremlin" with "nightly fortune." These contrasting images make me think of the dangers inherent in success, and that this fortune occurs nightly adds to the drama.
This is an intriguing poem and beautiful photo -- seen from below!
Cat, chocolate's been on my mind lately, so I like that comparison. ;) Thank you!
Gagan, thanks for swinging by here, and I appreciate the kind words. I'm glad you took a look through some of the archives, too. :)
Aniket, thank you about the photo and poem!
As for the other...maybe the lesson here is that improving as a writer sucks all the humor right out of you. This is very serious business, after all. :P
(just kidding--but all of a sudden, I'm feeling the itch to coin some new words...;))
Margaret, this poem was lifted straight from the photo, and the contrary images it conjured. Strength and might arrested in a fierce moment, but softened by that backdrop of sky.
I'm happy this one touched you so. Thank you, as always, for your kind words. :)
Jennifer, I'm caught by your interpretation, and humbled by your reaction. While I was thinking of the majestic idealism we imbue things from that uplifting perspective, it is true that looking up also denotes a climb. And that we all see different things in that space between.
I so appreciate the extra layers and meaning you find in my work. :) And your words could never be absurd to me! I'm always touched by your thoughts and your passion for the written word.
Aine, I kind of feel the same way today. Not brave, but sagging. I think we need more sunny, spring days! :)
(and definitely sleep... ;))
Karen, I have a confession to make: I wrote this poem in such a short time frame that I think I tangled myself!
I was using "fortune" in lieu of "future," so I didn't mean to make that sound positive (but can see why you interpreted that way). I think I was trying here to define something that was of the moment, yet eternal too. It is a strange contradiction that art is especially brilliant at capturing.
Thank you, Karen! I'm pleased this little poem got so many minds percolating. :D
hmmmm where did my comment go?
I'll try it again -
You are right the "up shot" does add drama! You have captured the statue so poetically in image and words. I feel the strength of the horse and rider - ever vigilant in their protection against all things that go bump in the night.
pressed to the gremlin
of a nightly fortune,
Their accolades - kisses of peace.
I have to learn to preview my comments! Sorry about the grammatical error (agreement problem). I do know better. Argh!
:-(
The statue alone is startling enough but then you couple it with words...brave, gremlin, nightly fortune...photo and words together make me think of surviving the nightmares and moving off unflinchingly to another day
Seized indeed!
A dramatic moment, all around. ;)
You really did cut through to the essence here. You gave motion to the motionless.
Well I'll be your FAN-tastic friend even if you are minus the humor. lol
You still haven't lost your funny bone. You are just a bit more controlled I guess. Well, that comes with being famous n all! :P
You must coin a new word today. It shall be your task! :D
Great sculpture. I love this kind of power in stone. Your words compliment it nicely.
K, I remember few things from my college film class, but Orson Welles' upward-angled shots in Citizen Kane are among those few. They're such a standard now. And such a perspective does lend a particular power to objects and people. God-like, almost.
Thank you for the thoughtful words and for those kisses of peace. We need more of them, I think. :)
Karen, no matter! I knew what you meant. ;)
More importantly (and this goes for everyone), I'm sorry I haven't been by to your blogs very much this week. It's been a busy one. I'm going to get my act together, though! :)
Walking Man, I like that interpretation because it brings hope, and progress along with it. Even if a continued survival is the best, and only, end to be hoped for.
Thanks for your insight here. :)
Jason, I just let the photo do the talking. ;)
you gave motion to the motionless--perhaps that's all we can hope to do as writers, with words as our horses, and characters/ideas as the riders we propel forward.
Thank you. :)
Aniket, here's the word: shamous.
According to Webster's, it's the misbegotten notion that Sarah Hina is in any way "famous." Look it up! My photo is pictured right next to the entry, where I look, indeed, like a total sham. ;)
(thanks for the laugh and challenge, though :P)
Charles, I think for me, there's something about the process required to sculpt bronze or marble. There's power--yet immense delicacy--in the act of creation, too.
Thank you so much for the warm words! :)
You rock. What else is there to say?
Long time no blog (me that is). What's the latest on your book?
Coming back to read after getting a little more in the know on things. I think I see what you were talking about in your poem here. I'm sorry I didn't get it right off the bat. One vat of chocolate coming up Sarah.
Scott, it's good to see you again!
I'm still waiting to get my editorial letter for my book, so hopefully I can knock out those revisions pretty quickly. I don't have a firm release date yet, but it's looking like the beginning of 2010 sometime.
Thanks so much for asking. I hope you're doing well! :)
Cat, thank you. :)
I was mainly working off the photo here, but it does work as an ode to cocooning, doesn't it?
And one vat?? I think I need someone to help me lick the spoon. :p
I think you may just be the best poet I know.
Beautiful short poem ....
in fact matching the picture, that made hell lot of sense.. :)
See you around ...
Cheers..
i remember reading something somewhere about the symbolism of statues of horses with famous riders - like if the horse's right (i'm guessing) leg is up it means the rider died in battle, stuff like that....but i don't think there was anything for "gremlin hanging off the horse's chest". wow.
wow, also, to your poem - i was especially moved by the two-as-one aspect of it - that some of the bravest things aren't so much what we hold onto as they are what we let go of - trusting, completely, someone else - to face whatever is pressing...
and i agree that the last two lines are wonderful - as a perspective of the photo and, to me, of struggle in general.
Hoodie, I'm extremely touched and humbled by your comment. Thank you.
Mahesh, I'm glad you stopped by, and I appreciate the kind words!
Joaquin, I always love reading your comments on everyone's work, and am grateful for your insight here.
I completely agree--that trust is the most precious, and often elusive, gift we can give one another. Because it's a long fall down without it.
Thank you again.
wonderful, sarah :)
Laughingwolf, thank you so much! :)
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