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Oh Lake

 

Oh lake

can you feel the earth rotating

we cannot

do you shiver with earthquakes

or shake when thunder claps

or vibrate when breezes play on you 

or dance when rain falls fast on you

do you know that you are beautiful.

 

Know you make us gasp

at the beauty of your mirror

that is your pride and glory

great wondrous pond of tree edged water

how we love your look

our thirst you quench

our need for poetry as you lap

rhythms on your sands

 

Our need for open spaces when we feel enclosed

our ever loving lovers by your side

the sportsman skates across you

the fisherman finds his fish

the water skier copies the water-boatman

the stone thrower listens for the plop

and surface glancing stones do dance and hop

 

You act as mirror of the clouds

and bring the heavens down to us

close enough to grasp

your silky surface fascinates our feeling of calm

your choppy surface wakes disturbance

you are our witness to

the existence of eternity

perchance.




 


— Nordic cloud, May 19, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Oslo and Flatdal, Norway., NOR

Favorite Poets: Too daunting this.

More from this author

Critiques

B

bjp

17 years ago

Dear Ann,

I take this poem very personally and appreciatively. It is subtle as it has to be, and gentle as the ripples giggling upon the shore. You have been trying out this line of thought to pen approach for a few days. The poem is a great success for at least this set of ears. You are such the watcher. Olya is a watcher. She likes to tell me who to vote for from the style of their haircut. I have never found her to be wrong. One, she calls "helmet hair," and says, "stay far away from that." I suppose Iron Maggy would be an example. No candled romance near that patch of hair spray without the London fire crews at the ready. You have dug to my lake like a little spring snow melt. And I am here looking out the window at the sun. adieu, bjp
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

17 years ago

Thank you you lake lovers

You see as I the strange beauty. Wow I must just say what I see at this very moment, the sun is behind the cloudy mass of veiled rainfall making the colour a golden yellow, the "pencilled hills"(M Arnold)in layers towards the blank grey sky with only a few wandering pale tempests of deeper grey, you know what I mean, ooooo wonderful ever changing nature. Yes the lakes, they are something special and can reflect so much, as we fly over this wild rocky country the little lakes glint in the sun from the tops of most mountains, in the north they are white tablecloths and blue-turquoise visions, in intimate little GB they are so lovely too, Cumbria with its Wordsworth-praised glassy wonders among the rusty bracken and the green well watered hills. The Guadalquivir river passing through Spain also turns turquoise and is unbelievable against the red-orange of the earth and the white washed haciendas, one could go on but I have already said enough!!! Italy, Germany-where I saw the lake turn pink-orange in the setting sun and with raindrops making circles on its face. Ann you must stop as this is only a comment place!! Thank you bjp and samaira for appreciating my poem, from Ann of Norway.
S

Samaira

17 years ago

Oh Lake..

Dear Ann, What an amazing flow of thoughts into words ! I loved it. As I read it I realised that what you have written is so correct. There is a beautiful lake near my home too, and whenever I am sad, it welcomes me, lifts my spirit up and gives me hope to look ahead and strength to carry on. I feel bliss when I am near it. Thank you so much Ann, I will read this one again and again. Regards Samaira.
Cloudthings

Cloudthings

17 years ago

I am moved & cradled by this love song to a lake

So lovely darling Ann, the lovesong to the lake, I so admire this & feel akin also... but cannot hope to match the eloquence of bjp above. I visit my lake, no longer every day, perhaps I should, definitely I should, watching each morning as the season change upon her precious surface... Indeed inviting the sky to dance with us in such gentle rippling adoration. I realise with your lovely poem, I NEED a body of water close by at the very least. Thank you for this lovely one my beloved Ann. I am reminded of a song I recorded "Strange Waters", the sentiment is to describe all the exquisite things he (Bruce Cockburn) has seen, heartbreaking, & heartbreakingly beautiful... Nothing moves me like water & sky (well... perhaps humans - saying that makes me laugh, that covers just about everything then!, kidding) much love xxx~ Anni ~~~ "... sometimes I hear my voice - And it's been here .... Silent All These Years" ~Tori Amos.
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

17 years ago

So beautiful Blanka

We live in the Nordic climes and understand our lakes in a particular way perhaps? You have done the same for me as I too felt the surface of the lake and the soft down of the thistle on my cheek and your vision in my 'soul'. Absolutely lovely Blanka, form Ann of Norway