Laid
bare,
barren,
broken down,
but pieces form art.
Driftwood rises above its end
forming a bird of legend with magical power,
spinning ashes to art, renewing the forlorn and forgotten, even transcending.
Copyright 2016 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: This is a Fibonacci Poem (0r “fib” for short). Each succeeding line is equal in syllable length to the total syllables in the preceding two lines, or: one, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen, twenty-one, thirty-four, etc. I’ve written two other fibs, Star Fairy and Fairy Ball.
This poem will be my weekly Poetry Friday tiddly-wink of word play. Thanks Violet Nesdoly for hosting and posting that moving photo and poem about forest fires. My heart goes out to the people of Fort McMurray, Canada. And to the wildlife equally homeless. May everyone have a safe and magical weekend. Warmly, Brenda
36 thoughts on “Driftwood Phoenix”
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
So cool. I’ve never heard of poetic fibs until my post … and wow … you’ve led me to one of yours. 🙂 … many thanks.
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I thought I’d made them up when I wrote my first — strictly my own idea, but then I looked them up and realized that others had been there first. Ah, well. Someone else invented the cell phone, too, and that’s a cause for celebration.
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Oh…wow!
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I love this format! And of course, I love the image. I have a few pictures of wood in different forms that draw me in. This one just begged to be written, and the growing format of the poem works so well with it!
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Thanks, Donna. I’m so glad you stopped by. I needed a lift. 🙂
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I love that you saw the phoenix in the driftwood. And a perfect form for this piece. Nice work.
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Thanks, Dori, I appreciate your words very much.
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“spinning ashes to art” — a bit more than a tiddlywink, I’d say. But then again, some of my ditties are not exactly ditties either! 😉 Just like that phoenix, Brenda, your poetry keeps reaching new heights.
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Thanks, Michelle, I’m honored by how carefully you read and by your kind words. Thanks for stopping by.
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I love look for stories (and creatures) in dead wood. And dead trees… #love Such beauty in the denuded limbs.
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Me, too, and it’s such fun. 🙂
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I love the idea of finding phoenixes in unique places, made from surprising materials. Transformation can be anywhere and anything!
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Thanks, Mary Lee. Yes, we should always be looking for transformation. And we’ll find it. 🙂
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Fibs are a great challenge, aren’t they? Nicely done. My favorite line is “Driftwood rises above its end.”
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Thanks, Tabatha. Those long last lines are always a challenge.
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Well done, Brenda! You make the Fib form look easy (and I know it is not!) =)
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It is a challenge to unify the content of the lines so the line breaks fall in the right places. Thanks for dropping by!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
“BY THE TIME I GET TO PHOENIX..”…MY POCKETS ARE NEARLY FULL!!!!
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Spinning ashes to art! Fantastic–and what poets do every day, right? This is just lovely, Brenda!
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Thanks, Laura. That is what you do. I may still be spinning and respinning in my little world. LOL
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Brenda, the photo is inspiring so I can see why your were able to compose a lovely descriptive poem. These words resonate with me: spinning ashes to art. When we look deeply at what is around us, sometimes words choose us. Will you offer one of your spring poems and photos for my gallery, Spring’s Seeds. The link to the invitation is at http://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2016/05/spring-gallery-invitation.html.
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I’m glad you were able to see the photo as I did, capable of inspiration. I will try to get my act together to contribute to your spring gallery.
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Gulp, I sent you Cultivar in all its digital glory, but if you hate the purple stars, let me know, and I’ll try to find time to redo. I’m so tired, I feel like I’m going to be seeing double soon. Hugs, Brenda
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Nice Fibonacci poem, Brenda! I recognized that it was a form immediately but there are so many forms floating around it’s hard to keep them all straight. I think the subject, photo, and form make a wonderful unit.
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Thanks, Violet. I always note my form at the bottom for the people who have to know what it is. It’s more fun that way. 🙂
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I love the poem, and your imagination, Brenda! And I love seeing “things” in wood, trees, shadows, so your words are just wonderful to read. Love fib poems, too!
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Thanks, Linda. I took the picture planning to write about a swan, but the words didn’t come until I stopped seeing it as a swan. 🙂
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Perfect pairing Brenda – wonderful words!
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Thanks, Mary!
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Love how they work together ..photo and poem!!!
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Thank you!
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☺️☺️
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i love the forms, both of the poem and the wood –
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Thanks, Beth. 🙂
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Lovely.
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Thanks!
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