04 May 2016

Poetry

The Leaves of Hermes Sacred Tree.jpg
The Leaves of Hermes’ Sacred Tree

If it is alchemy,
then arrangement
of phrase, motif and sound
will turn its dross
into assets, assets
into riches
and riches into worded
truths as if pearls
of wisdom raised from
ordinary sand.

But if not alchemy,
it’s playful tone,
inquisitive motif
and readiness for
surprising mysteries
might in themselves
be rare golden treasure
and faithfulness
enough to encounter
revelation.

The way is secret
or there is no way,
but poets seek
alchemy anyway—
try formulas 
and conjure up new memes
to saturate
our creations with gold.



A  sonnet for my prompt 
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Secrecy


My blog poems are rough drafts. 
Please respect my copyright.
© 2016 Susan L. Chast



23 comments:

  1. Great analogy..poetry is indeed alchemy of a special kind!

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  2. Somehow we must attempt to touch the reader in a way that they have never felt before, Strangely we may never know what it was for it may be secret even to us.

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  3. The way is secret, or there is no way - i love that thought - perhaps true alchemists of words eventually settle on the latter...pure gold

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  4. I love this seeking...may it never end :)

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  5. and riches into worded
    truths as if pearls
    of wisdom raised from
    ordinary sand.

    Such gorgeous lines Susan :D
    Beautifully executed.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. I love "the way is secret, or there is no way". Very Rumi-esque. Smiles.I love the poets' attempts to "saturate our creations with gold". Yes, we hope for those golden moments.

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  7. You poem is itself an example of how words can combine to create alchemy. They are lovely. I think even if the poet does not transform others, her/his poetry does transform the poet, secretly.

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  8. Perhaps we each follow our own secret way...or no way at all, as you say.

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  9. Ah! It's alchemy indeed. I like the manner of fact tone and the easy flow of the verse. Very well penned. :-)
    -HA

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  10. "The way is secret
    or there is no way"

    I love that.

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  11. creating magic--could be a secret, but maybe it is better if it isn't? Beautiful write Susan!

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  12. Exquisite and wise! Excellent!

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  13. The art of poesy holds secrets dear

    Much love...

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  14. I love that poetry is alchemy and totally agree! Beautiful!

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  15. So many secrets to explore in the journey to understanding.

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  16. I love the idea of saturating our poems with gold...pouring ourselves into our work hoping to make a connection.

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  17. Indeed I like the way you draw the poem to the center. Should the poem unveil or bind the secret?

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  18. Alchemy's ultimate pursuit, The Philosopher's Stone and Elixir of Life was always a metaphor for introspection and self discovery, If I'm not mistaken. You may have crafted your own stone with this little gem.

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  19. or there is no way,
    but poets seek
    alchemy anyway

    Poets will strive and improvise to find a way. Invariably they succeed as poets see beyond reality to explore for solutions. Rightly so Susan!

    Hank

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  20. I love the topic of alchemy...I recently binged on listening and reading as much as I could on the topic.

    This portion:

    "riches into worded
    truths as if pearls
    of wisdom raised from
    ordinary sand."

    Really captured me. Great poem, Susan and I've never seen this image...intriguing!

    Your kitty looks so much like the mama cat to my cat that we rescued...her name is Luna now. :)

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  21. Ah, alchemy indeed....magical power or process of transmuting a thought! Love it!

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  22. 'The way is secret
    or there is no way...' how beautiful! Pure gold indeed!

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  23. I enjoyed greatly this poem of yours, Susan. The extended metaphor worked well. Yes, poets with base words create golden verses (we hope!)...

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