Friday, January 18, 2013

Mud Blossom



she washed herself
clean
in the dirty river—
sinking down
into
muddy banks,
covering herself
and the tar that lives
and thrives
raging
within her skin
emptied
the tree of herself—
leaves and
petals
flowing
buried
in layers
where dead things
find purpose
and nourish
the ground
lush with
undiscovered gold



Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

48 comments:

RMP said...

stunning. it took me awhile to wrap my head around getting clean in muddy water, but you definitely brought the idea to life perfectly.

Brian Miller said...

ha....took me a few readings as well....i like....i like the sections where dead things find purpose and nourish...cool write ma;am

Preeti S. said...

What a brilliant work with metaphors and imagery here. Absolutely loved this.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

This post made me feel cleansed and made me feel the need to be amongst nature.

Panchali said...

Great imagery...You have brought it out beautifully, poet:)

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Fascinating imagery. But was she clean?

Anonymous said...

I like the emptying tree - this is a very strong metaphor.

Dave King said...

Those last six lines are terrific. For me, the whole poem was leading up to them. Stunning.

anthonynorth said...

An excellent scene. Great words.

Mary said...

Washing oneself clean in a dirty river fascinates me....but I enjoyed the flow to the ending where the ground was lush with undiscovered gold. I enjoyed your write, Jennifer.

GoddessChhavi said...

What a beautiful though put to perfect words and metaphors! Brilliant! :) I really love how cleansing with muddy water works!

PhotoDiction said...

I like the idea - bathed in the mud of the earth. No wonder growth occurs, nourished by that which nourishes all growth. Wonderful read.

LLM Calling said...

really lovely, the words of a tree
http://llmcalling.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/showing-that-you-care.html

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Very intriguing poem - "emptied the tree of herself", I liked that. This poem makes me think of all that lives on the forest floor - just a plethora of life forms.

Serena said...

Yes, yes, awesome imagery... this is very touching and it seems to get deeper with each reading...

Unknown said...

What a lovely scene you've created here, offering a glimpse into the earth's mechanisms and our perceptions.

http://www.kimnelsonwrites.com/2013/01/17/glow/

rch said...

I like the contradiction in the beginning and the meaning at the end.

Willow said...

Her soul is washed clean in the muddy river of life, free to blossom again, now that her past is buried, yet fertile.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks RMP :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

I'm really glad you like sir!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much ES. I'm honored :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Both good things...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Panchali :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Of sorts...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks very much pd :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Dave, a wonderful compliment to me.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you for reading anthony!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Mary :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Chhavi! I'm glad you think the metaphor works here. Btw I love your name :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks PD, I'm honored you liked it.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I like that you saw it that way :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Sherry :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Serena...I always appreciate your thoughts so much.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Kim, thank you, your words are always a delight to me :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for commenting on it rch :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

I like your summation Willow, thank you...now for tea ;)

B said...

Hey! Undiscovered gold! that's pretty awesome!

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

The images seemed to take me through different states of mind, to arrive at a deep satisfaction.

Karen said...

This is lovely!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Blaise, appreciate your visit :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad they did...a wonderful compliment to me Rosemary. Really enjoyed your offering this week.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you!

my heart's love songs said...

i love the journey you take us on from the dirty river to undiscovered gold ~ well worth re-reading so as not to miss any detail!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Much appreciated Dani--glad you enjoyed the journey. Thanks for coming by :-)

blueness said...

oh my..i have an immediate urge for the warmer season to arrive and rivers melt to run and wash self clean in them...'dead things find purpose and nourish the ground lush with undiscovered gold..' -- this just explodes with life and longing! thank you so much for this beauty~

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank YOU for such a wonderful comment. Your words are continually an inspiration Yelena.

Anonymous said...

This title really added to the piece. The ending was great, the kind you realize you wanted all along only after it's read.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Glad you think so Jack!