As the Notes Fade
Š 2014 expresseum poetics press www.expresseumpoetics.org.uk Authors retain sole copyright of their individual poems, lines or fragments. Poetry and visual image collage: Mark Goodwin Visual images: Nikki Clayton Poetry: Helen Fortescue-Poole, Mark Goodwin, Mike Green, Sheila Lockett, Sheila Sharpe, Elaine Wheeler, Pat White.
The poems in this pamphlet were created from the Locks, Bells & Pealing Wallpaper series of poetry workshops facilitated by Mark Goodwin in 2013. The series of poetry workshops was a Writing East Midlands’ Write Here Residency.
Funded by: Writing East Midlands, Museum Development East Midlands & expresseum poetics
a crimson leaf spirals
from a deeply foliaged tree
late september wind
blows through the park
draws scent from the pines
hairs trembling
as sound wakens neurons
autumn arrives, a familiar comforting chink in the warm gold wedding ring of the wheel of the year
step by spiral step as through labyrinthine meditation, re-counting the resonant pilgrimage
rises then falls
tune on the edge
of recognition rusted. silent
rustling leaves
thud of conkers
pebbles glisten at the bottom and that is time here bent and distorted, but so clean so solemn and deep and unhurried
like a gold drifting feather
in the sun
wiggly lines of sound displayed straight, even, marked with bars and a treble clef
into a brass and leather cacophonic peal
smudged musical notes soft silver teardrops
with dragonflies, butterflies
fingers mark paper
it is a certain alchemy that can transform ashes
as the notes fade
the hum lingers
in your wake just to see them splash
you walk out into the pond, eating air greedy. Tossing wedding bands
charcoal echoed
fingers grow thin and rings slip dead trees pointing
chalk echoed
orange song wordless as each tiny clunk each
released leaf makes
from aeroplane above engine sound falls around us
cars pass by on the road
cockatiels rattle through pebbles searching for insects
hiss of wings
pigeons in formation fly in to roost, settle, softly cooing
all leaf is here
!
we know
scent
of dahlias chrysanthe mums
yellow orange green
something just seen
far away places
a bell echoed
trees like
wedding bands
ring inside stones tossed into ponds ; ripples
a tower surrounded
by air’s
halo the halo fattening on vibration
through this brick ringing chamber
intentions through stone