Scarborough Harbour
-John Law
Jane Cornwell 
mysteries waving in every direction
-Kerfe Roig
Once the harbor was a bustling place
of summer light, with salty tang– the sky a vivid blue,
all day and night, we gathered and chattered–of clouds no trace.
Once the harbor was a bustling place,
full of hope and sweet mysteries–our love was new,
but star-crossed by autumn storms–gone ship, captain, crew, you.
Once–the harbor was a bustling place
of summer light, with salty tang, the sky a vivid blue.
For Paul Brookes’ Ekphrastic Challenge, Day 13, I wrote a triolet based on all three works of art. You can read all the poems here. I haven’t written a triolet in ages, and I forgot how difficult it is to get so much in eight lines with the repeated lines and rhymes. But here it is. This will be my NaPoWriMo poem for the day, too.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I like this! The repetitions are so melancholy, like hammering it home. Yet it’s so light and full of blue 🙂
Thank you so much! That’s exactly what I wanted. I’m glad it came through. 😀
You generally get it just right 🙂
Aww–thank you!💙
🙂
This speaks of a nostalgic moment captured in a sepia photograph. I get nostalgic when I think of Scarborough; last time I went there I was a girl of 18 😅
Thanks, Ingrid. I’ve never been there. I only know it from Scarborough Fair, the folksong. 😀
It’s an interesting place!
I’m sure it is. 😀
That would be Scarborough in England, not Scarborough in Maine? 🙂 (I’m nostalgic for Scarborough, Maine.)
I’m not sure which is in the picture though I don’t recognise it as the English one. A lot has changed there over the years!
The picture doesn’t look like the Maine one to me because of the style of the buildings, in particular the chimneys.
I’m fairly certain that the artist is British, and it’s Scarborough, England.
I think it is England–his other work has been of English places.
😀
Good use of atmospheric words to set the scene for your reader.
Thank you!
I love the repetition in this poem. It created a melody like the rolling of the waves.
Thank you so much! That’s so lovely!
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you, Paul.
I agree with the others, the repetition is nice, Merril.
Thank you, Jill!
Oh, I love this. That repeated line that is so insistent, like the person reading needs to fully understand…
Oh, I like that! Thank you!
Woot! My pleasure. 🙂
😀
Like a ballad, melancholy yet not too much, just right and lovely!
Aww–that is so kind. Thank you, Susan!
This is the first time I’ve encountered a triolet (to the best of my knowledge!). Your melancholy poem is the perfect introduction to it.
Thank you so much, Liz! 💙
Thomas Hardy was noted for his.
You’re welcome, Merril! I haven’t read much of Thomas Hardy’s poetry, just his fiction.
I only know because if you look up triolet, you’ll find him referenced. 😀
Ah!
😀
The repetition is so mournful, with nostalgic bright notes interwoven
Thank you very much, Derrick.
Gorgeously written.
Thank you so much, Jude!
My pleasure. 🍁
Such yearning. This reminds me of Sting’s songs about the death of his childhood harbor town. (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe.
I don’t know how you do it, or how long it takes to write a poem with specific needs like this one. It’s wonderfully morose and sad. Mournful yet full of “what was.”
Aww–thank you so much, Pam! Some forms are easier than others. I think it depends on coming up with the right first/last line.
You definitely got a lot in eight lines … well done, you! It is a sad poem and yet … a sad poem with happy memories? You can feel sad about “what was” but still happy to have had the experience.
Thank you–and you make an excellent point.