The Rarest Light

Poets post their works-in-progress here for crit and commentary. We want poets who are serious about getting their work published.
Post Reply
Message
Author
Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

The Rarest Light

#1 Post by Kenneth2816 » 13 May 2018, 10:40

Legend says Blue Ghost Fireflies are souls of Union dead pinioned to crag and valley, like a bug collection under glass,

their just deserts for beguiling
the virgin South.

No one knows why they come
or why they chose the Blue Ridge
as the only place on earth.

Males hover waist high
like miniature alien
craft, emitting a pale blue light unique to each one in brightness
intensity and duration.

The females are
wingless and thick
with lucifrase; secret themselves under pine comes and Juniper grass.

When she finds a lover
to her liking, she flashes the exact code to him until he drops,
secures her rice-sized
body in his proboscis
lifts her into the night
twirling and flitting
until both are sated,

and drop, edging back to back like two brave swordsmen
facing down a crowd, until she lays eggs in the ground.

He masticulates his wings, feeds her so she can join her young beneath the ground and winter over.

Other males will desecrate
has ravaged body.


https://www.google.com/amp/amp.wyff4.co ... n/20662729

Bernie01
Posts: 777
Joined: 30 Jul 2015, 11:14

Re: The Rarest Light

#2 Post by Bernie01 » 13 May 2018, 21:09

Ken---

magical subject.

illusive, almost abstract.


the male bets everything on one big night out, talk about Saturday Night Fever, drops back with his memory of a grand eloquent encounter to age and die alone.

firefly with a pale yellow lantern.

fascinating take on this marginal subject.

bernie

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: The Rarest Light

#3 Post by Kenneth2816 » 14 May 2018, 01:45

Ty Bernie. Their light is blue, hence the name. Only place in the world they are is where I live


BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: The Rarest Light

#5 Post by BobBradshaw » 14 May 2018, 05:15

Great subject... enjoyed immensely... love the swordsmen image

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: The Rarest Light

#6 Post by SivaRamanathan » 14 May 2018, 12:53

Legend says Blue Ghost Fireflies are souls of Union dead pinioned to crag and valley, like a bug collection under glass,

When she finds a lover
to her liking, she flashes
the exact code
to him until he drops,
secures her rice-sized
body in his proboscis
lifts her into the night
twirling and flitting
until both are sated,

and drop, edging back to back
like two brave swordsmen
facing down a crowd, until
she lays eggs in the ground.

Males hover waist high
like miniature alien craft, emitting
a pale blue light unique to each one
in brightness intensity and duration.

The females are
wingless and thick
with luciferace; secret themselves (is there a usage like that?)
under pine comes and Juniper grass.

He masticulates his wings, feeds her
so she can join her young
beneath the ground and winter over.

The males will desecrate
has ravaged body. (her)

No one knows why they come
or why they chose the Blue Ridge
as the only place on earth.


their just deserts for beguiling
the virgin South.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: The Rarest Light

#7 Post by Kenneth2816 » 14 May 2018, 16:10

Thank you both

SivaRamanathan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 14 May 2011, 20:30

Re: The Rarest Light

#8 Post by SivaRamanathan » 14 May 2018, 20:59

Kenneth
I think beginning with a love scene will first catch the interest of the reader. Then you may mention the factual details that the poem is all about.I wish you had tried converting the image into a poem--the blue --into something wildly beautiful.But as it is, it is interesting enough, albeit it reads like narration. I think you should bring in the personal,here.What it means to you,and how much your surroundings have made you a poet-what is your connection with them. This poem reads as if you have just now come to this information, or read about it. maybe your grandfather or grandmother could speak to you.These are the most powerful lines:
The males will desecrate
has ravaged body. (her)
and the mystery of their choosing the virgin South.

FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Re: The Rarest Light

#9 Post by FranktheFrank » 14 May 2018, 21:50

Duplicated post.

FranktheFrank
Posts: 1983
Joined: 02 Mar 2016, 18:07
Location: Between the mountains and the sea

Re: The Rarest Light

#10 Post by FranktheFrank » 14 May 2018, 21:50

I think you maybe mean 'desserts' for 'deserts' in L2,
and 'secrete' instead of 'secret' in L1`3,
and 'his' for 'has' in the last line.

Maybe 'mate' is more apt instead of 'lover'.

Otherwise very interesting.

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: The Rarest Light

#11 Post by Kenneth2816 » 15 May 2018, 04:48

Frank absolutely correct. I'll try to work on it because it is something important to me

Post Reply