In the Murmur of After, or Before
Purple rocks–
a thousand dreams
lost and re-born
in a thousand storms—
what if one night
they set sail,
dazzling word-ships
flinging images to bob
like seals in waves of time—
moon-lichen, star-birds,
talking fish, and sea-flowers–
meadows filled with smiling daffodils,
and lovers, standing on bridges
that lead nowhere and everywhere.
My poem from the Oracle, and also the first Na/GloPoWriMo prompt from the Public Domain Review’s article on “The Art of Book Covers.” My poem, obviously, has nothing to do with the book itself.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Word-ships; what a great image. May our words hit softly in the before, after, and present. Floating, not sinking. Your poem felt like a soothing chant.
Thank you very much, Pam.
I’m pleased it did. We’re expecting some turbulent weather today. I hope the soothing chant goes out to the universe.
I agree about the word-ships. My illustration could go easily with your words, but my words veered into different elements. Still, my words could be an “after” to yours. (K)
Thank you, Kerfe.
Yes, your art could definitely go with my words, and our poems have a connection, too.
Especially enjoying the closer word-bridge to everynowhere
Thank you, Ron. 🙂
I love those “bridges that lead nowhere and everywhere”!
Thank you so much!
This is so beautiful.💖
Thank you so much! 💙
My pleasure.
Wonderful poem, the last verse is a painting and a dream by itself.
Thank you so much! 😊
Merril, that last line really grabbed me. Beautiful!
Thank you very much, Colleen!
You’re very welcome.
I love the last two lines!
Thank you very much, Liz!
You’re welcome, Merril!
You know what we were talking about yesterday lunchtime? Charles Kingsley’s Water Babies…
And you’ll see what I wrote yesterday for Paul’s Day 4 poem.
I love all the images in this, the ships and flowers and fish, and that bridge. Gorgeous.
Thank you!
Wow–such an odd coincidence. I mean, I assume it’s not a book you typically discuss. No wonder, why I kept returning to the image!
I’ve never read the book, and only know it by the title.
I bet we chose the same image for Day 4. 🙂
It’s really, really weird. We have never, that I can remember talked about Charles Kingsley, and husband had never read the book. No idea why I mentioned it to him. I think it was something I said, that he misheard.
We probably did 🙂
You are right–really, really weird! 🙂
Those “bridges / that lead nowhere and everywhere” would be a typical dream for me.
Interesting!
I don’t think I ever use the word “delightful”. I don’t really have a place for it in my vocabulary. Or at least didn’t until now. Each time I read this I just think, “wow, this is delightful”. “Lost and reborn in a thousand storms” caught me immediately… and then the voyage. Wonderful Merril.
Wow, Chris! You write the best comments.
Thank you so much!
I love the image of ‘word-ships’ in conjunction with the poetic feeling of discovery and the creativity of creation in this lovely poem. ❤
Thank you very much! 💙
Such boundless imagery
Thank you very much, Derrick.
This is so magical, Merril 🙂
Thank you so much, Dale! 💙
That last line…such a fitting finale to all the gorgeous images throughout the poem. ❤️
Aww–thank you very much, Punam! ❤️
My pleasure. 😊