Andromeda

Hi Gee, yes managed to fix those bad habit ampersands (which I have come to love actually, though I know some find them distracting so I am trying to be dilligent), but I had to race off to work before addressing my note... Done now! Well yes you did predict the spotlight too, hah hah hah makes me laugh, clever thing you, & thank you for your loyalty & your faith in me... How odd it seems though, I would never have thought that one would inspire a spotlight, it's an odd process that one maybe. Glad you like Andromeda, beautiful spiral she is... she sends me into dreamland that one Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

Ah well, I am so releieved you found this worthy of comment... I feel (much as I'm sure you hate this) we all await the possibility of a an "Arrow" word on our work. Because your comments, Arrow, are always so very precise and valuable, thought provoking too. They change me forever you know shape me slightly every time, these things you offer, so I accept them gratefully & hungrily. I am (thank you) listening to the 4th version of Rusalka’s “Song to the Moon”, I think I prefer the Rene'e Flemming take so far, but there are still a few more to taste (don't you love the immediacy internet provides in that way, delicious). I have only a little exposure to opera, in relation to my training as a singer mostly, since that school really have managed to develop the most effective usage of vocal ability, I incorporate it in my teaching on some levels, but otherwise have only seen maybe 15 operas completely in my life, I am open to more & am now inspired to look into making it happen more. Your pointers: At first I was hesitant to exchange those 2 simple words you suggest, it does change the intent of the line slightly, but you are so right it does read better, I have to learn to let go of my "babies" & allow them to get stronger in the world... that's what it feels like anyway. So there I am in the process of editing as a write/read this. How funny you should mention soliloquys, so relevant in another significant conversation current in my life... but here, actually, I call "Andromeda" as more of an acknowledgement (she is an icon or a representative as well)of someone not present, unable to hear, though offering adoration & empathy to, I hope that makes more sense (there is so much more to it, as there always is, the pull to her, the longing to have some of the oblivion she experiences, the adoration of her untouched beauty, & the parallels I feel (& see in others here also) in some ways to her silent unattainable existance, spiralling always into space, away, unknown, & so much more.). So the address is to another about her, with the implied relative connections & metaphors. & yes it is hopefully sensual, in a sad & precarious way, delicate I suppose. AHHH now I have reread to the end, I see your point more clearly & have changed the 2nd last stanza to be more consistent, though the internal poem is now different... No matter, it is a glaring oddity I missed on the surface (which is all you get to see after all, apart from your own internal response, & therefore important if I am now writing for others to read. Still getting used to that, forgive me, & thank you, I feel much better for that). I will look now to see what I can do about the 12 syllable line, I do tend to throw in a whizzy line now & then since I am used to writing for song where you can shift the phrasing to adapt, & it adds to the richness if you do it right, so I didn't even notice this. ..... There I have managed 13, which is in keeping with the 3rd stanza at this point (this is exciting!) I think it's ok, let me know your thoughts if not, I really love this process. And please don't fet about being rigid or anything, it is what I wanted, I doubt I could ever come up to your preicise standard, I am a bit sloppy by nature & don't mond that now & then, but I do want to tighten it all up a bit so it can be more pleasurable to read. And I am so glad there were some things here that pleased you, far easier to have involvement then. Next point (a dream beyond reality-no breath, no gravity) couldn't agree more, have done the change & yes, I love putting those little double rhymes in there. Same for next 2 points, have addressed the question marks (think I struggle because the latter two felt so strongly like rhetorrical questions when I wrote it, but you are entirely right) (so satisfying this, yum!). Now yes, I agree with your last observation & I hate to say it, but that was the awful sense of the poem. Ultimately I (as the speaker) felt so akin to the isolation of Andromeda (as a result of the middle stanza, the unrequited (or inaccessable) love). As if I were, in the end (or may as well have been... just quietly , don't tell anyone, I've come back now! Maybe!!), banashed to the far reaches of the universe to drift like that beautiful romantic phenomena Andromeda (cute rhyme, but far too cheap to put in here!) along with any beauty, sweetness or longing I may have ever known. It's really a powerful sigh this poem, with a trailing off, sense of powerlessness at the end... sorry, I know it would have been nicer with a gift, the gift might come in the next chapter. I guess it's that dreadful sense you actually MUST live with sometimes, where you are left with nothing to accept how something has turned out, no matter how you wanted it otherwise, not like a victim, but like a courageous myth, who turns (THIS time to the place of banishment, yet they WILL be heard of again... "The further adventures of...." Hope that's ok Thank you, I very miuch loved this bit of exploration. I feel great, I'll kiss Andromeda for you, though I suspect you may know her style as well. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

& I love yours They answer me with lonely ancient whale song melodies Swirling through & way beyond my own With ancient flesh & bone & souls that penetrate the galaxies beyond our knowing even Look at this Such honouring you bring me More precious than some ancient Persian trade Pearls that sing of midnight Gossamer & gold Shimmering among the silk brocade I wonder if within you lurks a dragon? One that covets treasure over lives Slumbering half hearted on your riches Oblivious to foolish knights with flimsy knives These words you shape so delicate with whimsy As if it were so simple as to breathe I know you deep somehow, not just in history Something in the imagery you weave. & here you speak these eloquent denials & offer up to me your OWN sweet praise Indeed it makes me sing at soul of oceans & sweep the song to surface as it raise Hear Whole Air, water, sound Words are oblivious Too synapse bound Something between us that silence still rings Following shadows the dawn only brings It’s ancient & echoed & cannot be held It’s seasonal flavoured & Beltane fire spelled Ethereal Priceless Translucent & cool Beyond any judgement of noble or fool It’s far from the physical Not of this realm Maybe we met at some ancient ships helm Regardless Heedless Fearless & sharp It is fierce to another, would quite overwhelm Still, not needing labels, or names to be known Over & over Your words have you shown I thank you soooo much O I truly feel so lucky that you like my work & bring to my pages such really beautiful responses, it feeds me so deeply & I end up so fulfilled & inspired. You bring me back to myself & then spring me way out into other extraordinary spaces of possibility, it is such an incredible skill you have… Ah it makes me sigh, I am so lucky. Your poetry is exquisite, even that which you use to honour me with here is so tremblingly beautiful I just feel, once again, in awe. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

I see you blind No light, no shadows you are woven words You are cradled memories you are light refraction dark. Every heart I feel beating with letters typewritten, scribbled ink under skin caught in the neon stunned, cold & stark. Reading our stories all of us writers hollowed & holy broken & bent folded & swept life is whale song & shark swift through the flesh crimson, but deeper red doesn't show in the depths, you would know & something more gentle seahorse & hiding camoflagued only soft shadow for mark Gingerly maybe sometimes you need to sometimes it's thunder & sometimes, just rain I step the tightrope, but I get to see more strip down these visions to see them more stark Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

& in the recognition of that cold & isolation that echo of the abandonned child that wicked cruelty of loss that vivisection of comfort from a young life I know you, you recognise me We know how to heal it in that swirling nebula no oxygen, no sound no weight ..... no time? there is warmth in kindred even if it's born in such melancholy cradle I feel warmth for you & yours despite the anguish & the tearing the hammering of your living beating on your steely history I know you the irony of these eye to eye word to word, I feel a constant goodness in this this interaction of verbage & recourse this reflection on the loss & sad remorse this bludgeoning eternal thumping force .... hearts beat & give us more to know more to see, feel, hear & write about ... I thank YOU Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

Ah, thank you Ginny, you know I love your own, so I am honoured. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."