The jewellery of nature's burdenned plains (Ambrosia of nature’s breath)

Amid the lichen, rocks and eucalypt
Beneath the gathering of cloud
Between the morning passion
And tender eyes that shine out loud

Over the farmland highways
And past the spotted cows
The water tanks lopsided
Mt Arapiles, curt, bows

You bring me sweet expanses
With a multitude of jewels
Lichen, buds and moss on rocks
Nature’s precious vestibules

We are quiet adoration
Of a land erupting stone
My heart is filled with filigree
Of these bright gifts that stand alone

The children leap the canyons
Like the lessons life affirms
They are thirsty for this shifting
Impatient still, to come to terms

Our eyes, absorbed with detail
Massive vistas, micro heaven
And flickered adoration
Love, warmth, wisdom rise as leavin*

Ambrosia of nature’s breath
These ever changing views
We drink and share together
Intoxicating pleasures that you, knowing, choose

— Cloudthings, Jun 10, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Australia, regional Victoria, AUS

Favorite Poets: So many... Rumi, Spike Milligan, Keats. Many of the Neopoet clan, past & present. A myriad of song writers, Dylan, Jackson Browne, Lior, & I must add the poetic influence of painters, sculptors & creators across the world... Life really, especially the sky.

Critiques

themoonman

16 years 12 months ago

Anni...

I like poetry done well... and you are doing that here and over and over with your in depth look around you... the only suggestion I could make is in the title area... you seem to struggle there. They sometimes seem too long or like in this one, a direct line from the poem... many do that, hell, I have and may again, but if I do I want you to call me on it... I think the title should not only add flavor to the poem but if the poet is clever enough, another layer to the thoughts displayed... and you Anni, are very clever! enjoyed this poem of yours, breathing it in... the new pic goes well with the poem... Richard

Cloudthings

16 years 12 months ago

The picture does suit the poem since it was taken from the peak

Hello wise moonwalker, these are interesting comments as always, & thank you, both for your praise & for your insights, Indeed are probably right, I just liked those lines, but could probably come up with a myriad of other titles, often I come up with too many & cannot choose, as you may know, my challenge is in keeping the verbiage down rather than finding words, but it is no less a difficulty. The picture does suit the poem since it was taken from the peak of Mt Arapiles, the subject (in part) of the poem. Brooding inclement weather & all, it was a magical outing to an amazing phenomena. Flat farmland for miles & miles & a sudden eruption of rock faces facetted & teaming with life & flora. It is a fvorite place for rock climbing in Australia & was dotted with the place marking balloons of climbers & abseillers last weekend, despite the weather. My "otter" took this photograph, (& several others of my behind, cheeky thing! 'scuse the pun!) as I perused the amazing vistas & skyscapes from this unique vantage point.~ Anni ~~~ "The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself" Henry Miller

Nordic cloud

16 years 12 months ago

Proportion in nature and life

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself” Henry Miller Your quote describes your attitude to nature's wonders and with them you craft thoughts enabling us to SEE with you. I also LOVE mountains, hence my going alone to them and buying a house beside one, I can there look out at its every mood and see how fascinating it is. On top the grey stones are changed to pink. Among the mountains I feel at once so very tiny, and yet so great and appreciate the Chinese paintings where we humans are so small in the scheme of things. The right proportion in nature and life. Love the spotted cows and Nature's vestibules, I know of them. Your admirer for ever Anni, Anushka of Norway

Cloudthings

16 years 12 months ago

Sweet Anushka, yes, a lovely quote it is, & you & I know the ple

Sweet Anushka, yes, a lovely quote it is, & you & I know the pleasures it brings daily... My otter & I spent so much time that day, taking images with cameras, I found a rock with lacy baby ferns skirting it much like the photograph I loved so much of your!!! My battery died just as I settled to photograph it, & my mobile just could not do it justice, I asked him to photograph it, but he did not have my image in mind & it just doesn't look as I'd have liked. They do have moods don't they, Mt Arapiles was rather abrupt that day, in the brooding shadows of the clouds, but now & then the sun would beam & those rocks would wake somehow to bless me with their dazzling natural seduction. Yes, I agree & know just what you mean about proportion, it's why I loved to fly so much (partly), it reminds us of perspective... thousands of tiny lives all so big in our own heads & hearts, from way up there in the clouds these things are minute & merely one of thousands, millions maybe. It used to cause me to take myself a lot less seriously. I am blessed by you dear Ann xxx~ Anni ~~~ "I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings. I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels." Pearl S. Buck:

faerybeki

16 years 12 months ago

Anni, brilliant as ever, so

Anni, brilliant as ever, so descriptive, the place sounds amazing! You rhyme so effortlessly, it was only when I read it a second time that I noticed the rhyme scheme, I love rhyme, and you do it so well. Here it softens these rugged mountains and allows us a gentle absorbtion of the vista. Your otter knows just where to take you eh? how wonderful for all of you to be out in the wilds together :) Hooray! much love b xxx

Cloudthings

16 years 12 months ago

Thank you Beki, you are so very sweet & your new pic is gorgeous

Ahhh, look at you, you gorgeous woman... wooohoo, you are just gorgeous Beki... Such a lovely smile you have as well. As for Mt Arapiles, yes it is lovely - I will take you there when you visit with your gorgeous girl! We can love the rocks together. Maybe we can abseil down while you hover with your lovely wings! Yes, he takes me to the loveliest places, otter playful & attentive, I am finally loved as I always wished to be, I never want to take that for granted, I don't believe I will. I know what it's like to loose a precious love. Hooray, at last, I waited a long time to share these things. I wish it for you Beki, without the wait, you are so sweet to celebrate my good fortune now, when some would just resent it. I shouldn't say it, but I finished your "ode" today & am looking forward to posting it tomorrow. Much love, & thank you xxx~ Anni ~~~ "I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings. I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels." Pearl S. Buck:

faerybeki

16 years 12 months ago

Thanks Anni, I scrub up

Thanks Anni, I scrub up alright eh? ;) Two dear friends of mine got married recently, such a glorious day, tonnes of reasons to smile :) Definitely pop Mt Arapiles on the itinery then hon and I'll keep saving lol! I doubt dear Anni that there is anything in life that you would take for granted, you have so much love and gratitude for all the little things, seeing the beauty in the details, as this fine poem and all your work shows :) Oh and I am genuinely happy for you hon, I keep meaning to PM you regarding my own recent 'distraction' but the time just hasn't been right, I will if I need to :) Oh you've finished my ode, I'll look forward to reading it, but is it ok to be a bit nervous? lol How we love to shine light on others but shun it a little ourselves, you were right when you said, somewhere here, that it is easier to dish out than to take :) much love and thank you Anni xxx

orgami

16 years 12 months ago

a shift as always in your poems in this case the input of heavier thought or as someone qouted on my recently "casual intelligence" hurts my brain going round the corners but I know I can do it will have to come back later when its night quiet my brain slows down then this fragment of land is found out west too for us in Canada somewhere in Manitobe or elsewhere the glacier just moved around it There are ancient plants thriving atop this plateau too huge areas but without the great drop off slopes It looks very amazing this poem is wonderful from its first read to me glad to see Richards influence

Cloudthings

16 years 12 months ago

I am struggling a little to make time for Neo, it is becoming a

I really love that photo of you smiling with all that water wild & crazy behind you. Thanks to you as always O'. I wonder how these things reach people sometimes I write things thinking it a simple little thing & people find it complex, I guess we never know, & I suppose in a way it matters not, it is what it is when it lands. Thank you for catching it. I am struggling a little to make time for Neo, it is becoming a bit strained, I am hoping things will balance up. In hindsight I think it's why I got so ill though for so long, I was staying up late so I could have Neo time, & I probably weakened my system with too many episodes of sleep deprivation, it is a really importasmt thing sleep. I worry about you with that sometimes. Take care Steven xx~ Anni ~~~ "I feel no need for any other faith than my faith in the kindness of human beings. I am so absorbed in the wonder of earth and the life upon it that I cannot think of heaven and angels." Pearl S. Buck: