Poetry, by Adrian Rogers

[acrogers]

Here are a couple of poems. I wrote them some years ago for magazines, but none are in print at present so I can reproduce them without trouble.

CALLED --Inspired by Rose Macauley's 'Towers of Trebizond'

Dawn--
as light burned off the water's surface
hands--net tangled
pulled--
bodies leaned
against a struggling weight of fish,
distant mountains shaded
towards powder blue
before an ordinary day hardened.

Did they catch a silver meshed sun--
chafe against vision disturbed routine,
run counter
to the grain of suitability
for what might be--
drop nets, leave
because of the Word--
reject
the backward glance?

Did they eat
the 'Salmon of Knowledge',
barefoot tread stone paths--
walk with stars?


PASSERSBY--Courtesy of St. Thomas

For the outward bound--
finger pointing jetties spurned...

star paths imprint
wattle gold
their dreamflowers
on moon--clouded--
ink dark
and light contrasted seas
above covered wrecks
crossing processional surfaces

and passersby
when, but not where
runless horizons beckon
the never-to-arrive
nor becoming ones--present
between breakers--timed
to satisfy--
detached and frugal
unquiet seekers

are unfettered--
until sand/white
terminal beaches
halt the tides,
turn back--idealized
the paragons of quest
through running
foam-crossed shallows
to limitlessly turquoise rollers--

a restless homing
for passersby.

[LorrB]

You certainly have a way with words Adrian. I have to use brushes and paint to try and express the same thing.

Dawn--
as light burned off the water's surface
....
....
distant mountains shaded
towards powder blue
before an ordinary day hardened.

Where did the "The Salmon of Knowledge" come from? Can you explain that a little more for me?

[acrogers]

Yes, the Salmon of Knowledge comes from Ireland. Finn MacCool caught the Salmon of Knowledge in the River Boyne. He was told to bring it to his Druid teacher, but when removing it from the cooking fire he accidentally got a bit on his thumb. It was enough; his teacher, seeing a new look in his eyes realized that he was already becoming aware, so he told him to eat the salmon himself. Thereafter, whenever Finn wanted to know something of importance he only had to put his once burned thumb between his teeth to know the answer.