A Ladder Our Boat

When we make a tree a ladder, we climb
out of the flaming fire, through our fear.
We are each from earth’s guts spilled,
Persephone rising, wild mint lacing
loose braids, sheaves of grain in hand,
spring’s re-welcoming cheered.

When we make the ladder our boat, we sail on
a kiss of wind above the Hades of our making,
spirits water-rocked in Zeus’s arms, seeds
of the pomegranate bursting, our offspring
full-disgorged.

We strike our fevered blessings on the wood,
water-tight, wave at the moon we circle twice:
the light, our safe harbor, shore.

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Write a poem of your own, based on Holly’s image or choose a line from Maureen’s poem as a starting place. Post on your blog and link to us (we love that), or just drop your poems here in the comment box.

Painting: ”Warrior Canoe”, 30″ x 60″, by Holly Friesen. Used with permission. See more of Holly Friesen’s work in her online gallery. Poem by Maureen Doallas, author of Neruda’s Memoirs: Poems.

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