Thursday, August 9, 2012

Random impressions of a river....



The following is in response to the request by Claudia of dVerse.com to write an impressionistic piece, creating the atmosphere or surroundings of a given time, writing quickly, not worrying about too many details, conveying the mood of the setting....fresh in my mind was last evening's get together of friends on a small deck overlooking a tributary that flows into the larger Columbia River:





Afternoon sun played through the branches
 of tall firs bordering the river.  
For lack of deep water to swing into, the old rubber tire hung by a hefty rope and
 the swimming hole across from us - abandoned 
yet looked so inviting.. 

River narrow at this point, shadows cast the
 darkest dark green on the water.
Shimmery sun spattered leaves spun light around, like small mirrors falling on the river surface
Rapids heard down stream, beyond a wide bed of rocks,  more exposed
 these summer days.  

More visible meant easier to find agates
 churned, culled over to a polish
 by the currents, recovered by scavengers;  some gold and clear, others cloudy with green and blue layers; some a pearly white or mottled, oddly shaped - 
thunder eggs


Many such found rocks line the wooden deck 
of the one bedroom cabin, 
 Collections found before in baskets, a home-made coffee table indoors.  The retreat is restful and cozy, with scents of pine and clover; flower boxes decorate steps,
 inner tubes at hand.


Making the short hike up and down easier, 
dirt paths angle back and forth,
 protruding bare roots provide steps on trails through trimmed arcs of branches. 
Through the small gorge, dusk sends a breeze;
  dabs of color dash across the other side

 Creativity and character define the surroundings 
 Reading's the main pastime
Conversations and stories take over,  pouring glasses of red wine
Paintings of Indian maidens adorn the walls.
Schnauzers snore quietly

Peering through darkening trees in a navy night sky
a waxing moon greets us
Unable to stop time from advancing,
at least it moved slowly for awhile
- for some friends 


 -
by klr

27 comments:

  1. good when time moves a bit more slowly in such moments...great capture of the scene and i love that you included some scents as well...so i could smell it...

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    1. I always try to include a scent or two..thank you..

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  2. Lovely words .... the strokes sound subtle :-)

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  3. really cool...you took your time and let this develop...it was easy to see everything i would love to be there as well in person...i love nature and you really bring it to life in this....

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    1. Nature has always been written about..and thanks Brian.

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  4. Beautiful word painting! I have been to this place you describe--though not exactly there--and your detailed description of it is so clear, precise and vivid! I could feel the roots through the soles of my sneakers as I climbed the bank, the water rushing over the rocks behind me. Awesome, awesome write!

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  5. So vivid it is so realistic! kkkkty! I can feel the nearness as it can happen at any river and it is still a correct description!

    Hank

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  6. Lovely descriptive writing! I adore that last stanza.

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  7. Very lovely imagery. I almost felt I was there.

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  8. I love that Schnauzer snore, and the whole poem really illustrates this one line: "Creativity and character define the surroundings "--you give a very pleasing and complete impression of a place I'd love to be.

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    1. The dogs belong to the owners...thank you, hedgewitch..

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  9. Took me to my time in the Rockies...made me miss that cool crispness, icy streams, days spent hiking, reading, evenings playing games. Quite nostalgic for me.

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  10. just a smorgasbord of sites and sounds and felt scents

    esp liked,

    "Through the small gorge, dusk sends a breeze" -

    not even 'cause of it's one-line impact, but how it wrapped the images before it, the tire, the dark green and the mirrors on the water...

    really enjoyed it, thank you katy ;-) best wishes for a continued wonderful time!

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  11. Very pretty poem - I know rivers like that. Really lovely places and lovely poem. k.

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  12. beautiful painting and imagery and setting a scene.

    foam

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  13. "small mirrors falling on the river surface."--just one of the detailed images, contrasting with the dark green of the shade shadow--that makes this description beautiful and inviting. I would be so happy on the deck of this one-room cabin, even if I couldn't swing to dunk in the narrow and shallow water or float my inner tube dawn stream. Let the schnauzers sleep and I will read until twilight, using the natural light as much as possible.

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    1. ...I did take some poetic license here...the swing was there last year...gone this year ;)
      Still, a lovely place for doing just that!

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All comments, constructive and otherwise, are welcome and appreciated here. Thank you to those who show an interest in my quirky style of writing, photography, painting, and presenting a feeling or thought and for stopping by A Dwelling by the Sea..