Immortality's Feather


Peacock, the shimmer
trapped in your feathers
will not surrender to death.
The glory in your plumes speaks
of eternal gold and breath
reborn in lungs plague blackened.

Your eye feathers hold immortal’s vision.
Life in blood, bone, and flesh sends hope
God will collect our dust to raise our bodies
from tombs hollowed by sorrow.

The majesty of your movement
erases doubt the earth you stride
can ever own the wind ruffling your wings.

Oh what is beauty if it is only defined
by a mirror that denies the glory of the soul?
Blessed peacock, you teach us grace
is the heart’s paintbrush and our reflection
is an inward light no earthly artist
can translate to canvas.

©Susie Clevenger 2017

I attempted a more historical period feel in this poem other than my usual contemporary voice.

#NaPoWriMo2017

Comments

Anonymous said…
Beautifully crafted and at points,

"Blessed peacock, you teach us grace is the heart’s paintbrush and our reflection is an inward light no earthly artist can translate to canvass"

reads like an invocation.
April 24, 2017 at 1:12 PM
Sanaa Rizvi said…
This is soo beautiful! I love the voice in this poem, Susie. Especially; "Your eye feathers hold immortal’s vision. Life in blood, bone, and flesh sends hope. God will collect our dust to raise our bodies from tombs hollowed by sorrow" left me absolutely breathless!
April 24, 2017 at 3:45 PM
Jim said…
This is a lovely tribute to the Peacock, recognizing its beaut so eloquently. But then praising its other beauties, of posture and pose, and of character and inward beauty. Per your note, portrayed very nicely as might perceived possibly in the seventeenth century or earlier.
..
April 24, 2017 at 5:03 PM
De Jackson said…
I have been thinking about those "eye feathers" all day. You rocked this.
April 24, 2017 at 5:19 PM
Gillena Cox said…
"blessed peacock" 0this is so beautiful, enough for tears.

Much love...
April 24, 2017 at 6:27 PM
Rosemary Nissen-Wade said…
I like the reflectiveness, the stately movement of the piece, and where it all leads you (and therefore us).
April 24, 2017 at 6:38 PM
Anonymous said…
Your words helps us to see a world through a whole brand new light.
April 24, 2017 at 7:28 PM
kaykuala said…
and our reflection
is an inward light no earthly artist
can translate to canvas.

Yes, they bring with them such grace and elegance that one feels too afraid to cause them annoyance and not attempting to even sketch them!


Hank
April 25, 2017 at 2:59 AM
Anonymous said…
Beauty eyed by this beholder sees the invisible plumage of the soaring soul. You keep these birds in sight while something else flies proudly beyond.
April 25, 2017 at 4:27 AM
Margaret said…
"Oh what is beauty if it is only defined
by a mirror that denies the glory of the soul?"

A wonderful pondering and I like that you entwined so much of the myth and history of the peacock in this poem!
April 25, 2017 at 8:32 AM
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