a turn to the poetic...

Because I want to post something... a poem for you to enjoy. I wrote this one about my experience in Namibia. It is in a form that was created by Billy Collins called a paradelle. I think you'll pick up on the structure :).

Africa, 2006

The quick streak of light echoes in my mind.
The quick streak of light echoes in my mind.
Drum beat of yesteryear reaches across time.
Drum beat of yesteryear reaches across time.
Streak of yesteryear, quick beat across my mind—
the reaches of light drum echoes in time.

Owl at dusk hurries to fly away.
Owl at dusk hurries to fly away.
Without power, all direction is lost.
Without power, all direction is lost.
All lost power hurries to fly—
direction is at dusk without— owl, away.

Old memories mingle with smiles and tears.
Old memories mingle with smiles and tears.
Scenes, once written, now burn in the fire.
Scenes, once written, now burn in the fire.
Once old tears burn with memories written
and now smiles mingle in the fire scenes.

With quick fire, memories beat in all tears
of light and power— mingle once in yesteryear.
Echoes streak, burn, fly without smiles.
Time reaches now across my old drum-
scenes of the mind, lost to direction,
written at dusk, hurries away. The owl is.

(c) SDD 2007