Craig Norris

Apr 14, 2009 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Beyond the Neon

At sunset have you seen the silver sparkles flash
on white Cockatoos, as they fly homeward
beneath a grey and lowering sky,
wingbeats so slow and random
you wonder why.

Have you seen the golden light bathing
on a shield wall of trees
and felt your knees grow weak,

or looked out across a palleted sky
daubed in pinks and greys,
felt your heart tighten
and tear in your chest,
fall open as a blood red plum
and flood you on the inside
with the beauty of it.

Have you stood and felt the cool breeze roll
as it begins its journey downhill
from evenings throat.

Or are you caught,
are you caught somewhere,
somewhere between the neon and the fizz.

About This Poem

About the Author

Country/Region: AUS

Comments

Ink Dragon

17 years ago

Craig,

where´s your poem? Is there a problem with posting? Yours, ~Nina “Like plumbers and dentists, poets are fallible, and the possibility of genuine nonsense cannot be ruled out.” (Mark Haddon)

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Hi Nina

Yes something strange happened. I clicked the preview button after typing the poem, but only the title was posted. Now I can't seem to find my body. Craig

Ink Dragon

17 years ago

How tiresome!

Hope you have a copy somewhere, Craig. I will be revisiting your post when you have found your body. (Which is a curious expression, by the way, and evokes a strange image in my overimaginative mind.) Yours, ~Nina “Like plumbers and dentists, poets are fallible, and the possibility of genuine nonsense cannot be ruled out.” (Mark Haddon)

Craig Norris

17 years ago

beyond curious

That expression is seriously out there Nina.

themoonman

17 years ago

Hi Craig...

I don't know where it was, but it is here on my side... I believe there are many caught between the neon and the fizz... great ending line by the way... I totally understand the pink and gray skies, beautiful description... "you on the inside" I thought was un-needed, but it may just be the way I would have done it... "with" the beauty, maybe "from" the beauty... just idea's... by the way... great title.... Richard

Craig Norris

17 years ago

on the inside

Hi Richard, thanks for the comments, and yes, I didn't so much as find my body as reproduce it, but here it is. The line, flood you on the inside, was my attempt to capture the feeling of strong emotion as it rises up within...like a flood, and how it seems to fill you. Glad you liked the title, nearly didn't go with it, and yes, you were right about the "from" took it on board, ran with it for a while but have gone back to with. Cheers Craig

Tonya

17 years ago

Yes, Craig Norris, Yes!

Beautifully described, these wonders of nature. I have felt insignificant when I see these sights. Is a shame to be caught between the neon and the fizz, and not to enjoy these views as they are presented to us. Lovely, lovely description. One of those reads that takes your breath and gives us peace as we reflect. Awesome! Always Sincere, Tonya

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Hi Tonya

There are moments that seem to hang, to flow right into us, and for me I find them more easily at the beginnings and ends of days, at the cusp. Thanks and glad you enjoyed. Craig

Tonya

17 years ago

I agree, the changing of the

I agree, the changing of the guards (moon, sun) the quiet times, seems these are some of the most magical times! slight darkening or lighting, leaving/beginning traces of shadows that fuel our imagination a little more. :)

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Magic

Yes Tonya I think magic slips out to play then, and if we are quiet and still enough in those moments it surrounds us and takes us dreaming.

Rett

17 years ago

Craig

Awesome man. I loved the title and the ending and the in-between was great also. Been there, done that so many times (different birds though). All around, I really enjoyed this read. Sometimes the comments are nearly as good as the poetry. I am getting a real giggle out of the "can't find my body" comment, then Nina response to it, then to top it off the "didn't find my body so much as reproduce it" comment. Everything spoken correctly, yet funny as heck when looked at with my weird mind. There is a poem in that part somewhere! *LOL* update: I found the poem in that! *LOL* Just y'all wait! Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Worried about Nina

Thanks Rett glad you enjoyed. I must admit that I've been chuckling away and I hope that Nina's "overimaginative mind" is being rested. Cheers buddy Craig

Ink Dragon

17 years ago

No worries,

my mind is at rest after reading your beautiful poem. But beware the sudden inspirations of Rett! He has sent my mind off again with the poem that will be coming of this. See next comment for more!

Nordic cloud

17 years ago

Oh yes I have

I have, I have, although sadly the Cockatoos are never in such formation here in the colder north, perhaps the grey goose, I can imagine it so well your description has been so lucid, yes I can. I too am taken up with such things most of the day, wherever I find myself. Even the sky is there, over the neon lights and some of them in town when there is an avenue of trees, with their big leaves lit-through are wonderful; or when the rain makes magic rings with their branches, and the wet runs down into ones collar so that you forget you are in town. Or the sticky sound of the rain beneath the tyres of cars makes music mixed with the sound of people passing and chatting, then those are the 'colours' of the neon and fizz.. Anywhere one is is interesting if one looks and listens for it. But I prefer of course the country and the wilds, and wild nature. Yours Ann of Norway

Craig Norris

17 years ago

if one looks and listens

Hi Ann, you are so right about finding the beauty in the moments, it's everywhere. I'm blessed with a broad canvas here, but I know how difficult it can be in the cities with the background hum the static and the humans racing. If there were more poets in this world, some things would be sweeter. Cheers Craig

Ink Dragon

17 years ago

Craig,

here goes. My real comment for the poem that was lost, then found. "felt your heart tighten and tear in your chest to fall open as a blood red plum," are my favourite lines in this one. And, of course, the ending. Yours, ~Nina “Like plumbers and dentists, poets are fallible, and the possibility of genuine nonsense cannot be ruled out.” (Mark Haddon)

Craig Norris

17 years ago

in the lost and found

your words come to me, thanks Nina, I love that image and that feeling of pain exquisite filling hearts to bursting. Cheers Craig

orgami

17 years ago

Neon Fizz on rusted gates

birds sweeping at dusks eden and edens dusk in swaying cut offs the dirty gum shoes heel up on Heavens gate the stuttering warmth of neons glow soft on patina rust and dewy eyes informants of time bide their sweet charities neath that portal glowing the fizz of monuments keeping Absolutely love your words they send me off like now (re thinking of your other poem Im saving to comment on But have read many times...!) five stars

Craig Norris

17 years ago

informants of time

bide their sweet charities at heavens gate. This sends me off, sparking nuerons long disconnected. Must explore your work more, thanks for the positives. strips of light and shade draw lines across green trees leaves wave hello Cheers Craig

Craig Norris

17 years ago

he came from Texas on a big white horse

Thanks Janice, I don't know how it goes down in Texas, but to call someone a redneck in this part of the woods is not exactly a compliment, unless you're really close, then you can get away with it. Love his work, loved that short story, thought that was exceptional. Once again thanks. Cheers Craig

Rett

17 years ago

Craig, I don't mind if they aren't meaning it badly

because I am one in the original connotation. "A member of the southern working class". Hot sun, sunburned neck, so redneck. *LOL* If they mean racist, the fight is on. *LOL* BTW, thanks for the compliment. And Janice is a friend. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Got the connection

Wasn't suggesting Janice was taking a swipe at you, should have been more careful there. We never really got the "original connotation" of that saying, what was imported here with the words redneck were only the negatives. So if someone refers to another as a redneck in Australia or New Zealand, they are putting them down bigtime. To call someone a redneck here means you want to fight. Cheers Craig

Rett

17 years ago

L it has a few of the same effect here if not joking

But here in the southern USA, a real quick way to get into a real bad fight is to call someone a Bast*** or a Son of a ***** or to disrespect a man's wife or girlfriend. Not too different from where you live. I didn't take offense or think you were thought she was taking a swipe. I just find different outlooks interesting and wanted to explain here. Some situations being called a redneck is fighting words, but not all. Shoot man, if I didn't know you were from Australia, I would think from your pic you lived right down the road from me. Thanks for teaching me something about Australia. Respectfully, Rett: "A Democracy can withstand anything but Democrats." Robert A. Heinlein For the sake of children, read this. http://www.neopoet.com/node/19905

Craig Norris

17 years ago

All is good

Dear Janice, no offence was taken in the slightest. I totally got your meaning, was just pointing out how touchy people can be about that over here. But then it's a funny thing, I can see redneck being used as a term of endearment and as a sign of grudging or open respect, but for the most part here it's usually a negative. Cheers Craig

faerybeki

17 years ago

Craig, this is beautiful! :)

Craig, this is beautiful! :) don't really want to say more than that. much love b xx (Ok, so I can't resist..I seem to be experiencing speechlessness a lot in my reading here on neopoet this evening, and this one left me somewhere similar. wonderful imagery and simply gorgeous sentiment, loved it!) :)

Craig Norris

17 years ago

my pleasure

Happy that you enjoyed. Cheers Craig

Cloudthings

17 years ago

Lovely Craig, aren’t we so

Lovely Craig, aren't we so lucky we folk who get to live in the bush & daily see such incredible beauty & wonder. Lordy I don't even have a single traffic light in my little town, let alone neon, they eat the beauty of the stars sadly. Cheers Anni ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "...We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? ... Your playing small doesn't serve the world..."

Craig Norris

17 years ago

Mmmm don't know about that...

I wear hats working outdoors, my hair goes to my collar, so my neck ain't red for those reasons. I've worked amongst some pretty rough lads and could point out a few who are comfortable with red neck status,but not me, perhaps you think it's my attitude that qualifies, that redneck quality that flows from my poems?

Cloudthings

17 years ago

No, you appear sensitive & passionate in your writing

Well, I haven't seen you with your hair longer than in this picture, there is no doubt you have more gentle & refined qualities when you choose to (or you wouldn't be here)was having a light hearted stir due to the singlet & suntan, didn't mean to suggest you had a really violent nature, hope you'll forgive me. No, you appear sensitive & passionate in your writing. You have always been an enigmatic character in many ways, so many cultural influences & elements show up in you, I have always loved that, I am still surprised at times at what I see here of you, angles of you I had not seen previously. I am, as you know, eternally grateful to you for introducing me to this site & in relation to this i have a great deal of respect & humility in my consideration of you, as distant as we are in kilometres. I am loving the imagery of your lovely surroundings you have to offer us of late. Beautiful! Anni ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "...We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? ... Your playing small doesn't serve the world..."