The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 12/11/08

[BlueIris]

"Beginner's Luck"

Alone it would be impossible, the vertical ascent.
Wisdom of inner hands and feet, their cumulative weight—
these are a kind of light. Water breaks from rock,

sun flashing fire-white from wet granite. Friable
mica gleam. And you? When you grow up?

That trickster myth, the yanked rug, the trap door—
as if there were one arrival, or a place to stand

once you arrived. The fool at the cliff-edge,
blind Glouster at Dover, his foiled leap.

Counting our second chances, the dial set back to zero.
Dark circle of crags glinting with ice in the light
before dawn. You have climbed for a long time—

this mountain, other mountains, many. Each one the first,
the tooth of new terror breaking the gum, again and again.

—Colette Thomas

[TayTay]

1. Nice selection

I like your poetry breaks, btw. Thank you for doing this.

[BlueIris]

2. Awww, thanks. I turned over most of my personal library (and one public one)

trying to find an appropriate piece. I almost went with more Shakespeare, but thought everyone might enjoy something different this year.