A Western Harvest in a Field of Moonlight

[pointofviewpoint1983]

There is
an untimely
feeling
that moves
like my partner
in waltz.

[mat james]

pointofviewpoint1983

It is a good start, but where is the rest ?
OK, it does stand alone as an image, but I would like to "read on".

[madflowers]

Hey Mat
Would you want to continue with an untimley dance partner

[mat james]

Hey Mat
Would you want to continue with an untimley dance partner

Yes. Why not, madflowers?

"If a man does not keep pace with his companion(s)
perhaps it is because she hears the beat
of a different drummer.
Let her walk (or dance ! ) to the music she hears
however measured
or far away."

(Almost a quote of) Henry David Thoreau

[Steven]

Pointofviewpoint1983,

Yes, an image, but one that beckons for... (as Mat said). There is an interesting contrast between "untimely" and the timing that a waltz partner can have. Reading
the poem and title brought to mind Neil Young's "Harvest Moon."

[madflowers]

"Let her walk (or dance ! ) to the music she hears
however measured
or far away."

(Almost a quote of) Henry David Thoreau


Thoreau was a great man for Truth ....
But in this instance he cannot be talking about dancing ...well maybe Jitterbugging
certainly not waltzing
How could one waltz untimely Its just isnt right !!!!!

I have to agree with you Mat about liking to 'read on '.
And -Harvest Moon-A fine song

[Cate]

A Western Harvest in a Field of Moonlight

There is
an untimely
feeling
that moves
like my partner
in waltz.

Personally I really like short poems like this. Part of me would like to know a little more, but then that would take away from the so many possibilities that the above poem holds. I think the saying is - sometimes less is more.

I like the title.
Western Harvest - at first I imagine standing on flat prairies, and that wind that comes through - it brings a strong childhood memory.
but then I think of Western as we of the west and the imbalance that exists...
I'm sure if I come back to it another day, I'll see something different.

Speaking of short, I once read a great poem that simply consisted of a punctuation mark. It was definitely an example of endless possibilities even if the author had not intended it that way.

-------------------------------------------
BTW

"If a man does not keep pace with his companion(s)
perhaps it is because she hears the beat
of a different drummer.
Let her walk (or dance ! ) to the music she hears
however measured
or far away."

(Almost a quote of) Henry David Thoreau

I really liked this almost quote.

[mat james]

Speaking of short, I once read a great poem that simply consisted of a punctuation mark.

Ha. Yes I remember that quotation mark poem too, Cate.

I really liked this almost quote.

Here's ("contraction" apostrophe!)the original.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2053.html

How could one waltz untimely Its just isnt right !!!!!

madflowers
Maybe a bit of "poetic license", madflowers. Or maybe artistic lisence. It requires a "willing suspension of disbelief".(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artistic_license)

Steven, you have been quiet lately. (or have we just been noisy?)
As Cate and you seem to suggest, that "timing" does take us out, beyond the present and maybe it is better we are just left hanging, like that.

pointofviewpoint1983, thanks for getting us thinking. The poem works!

Regards, MatbbgJ

[Cate]

Point of view - you have been very quiet.
Are you still around, what do you think?

---------------------------------

Hi Mat - I think I prefer the almost quote which speaks to how to love another, as opposed to the original which is more self oriented. I guess the best relationships would be ones in which each partner places value on both the original and the almost quote.
I'm not sure what kind of dance that is. I suppose it's not always the most graceful one, but if partners can avoid stomping on toes (that's the hard part) then it's a good one.

[mat james]

I think best relationships would be ones in which each partner places value on both the original and the almost quote.

That makes sense to me, Cate.
Yes, somehow the "almost quote" implies that there is a love that allows for some dancing to the beat of a different drummer; or to take it in an oblique direction, dancing out of tune.

There is
an untimely
feeling
that moves
like my partner
in waltz.

So we (I)have ended up realising that in this poem, the author (pointofview1983) could be fed up with his/her partner
and is no longer in love, or perhaps never was.
The poem may be more about the partner than the waltz.
The give away implying this position is the word "feeling".

The title ( A Western Harvest in a Field of Moonlight) suggests the poem is meant to be about the grass swaying in the moonlight, each moving to a different measure of time, though each occupying the poets field of vision.
And the relationship between the poet and their partner, out of sinc.

Perhaps the title sets the scene very well.
good poem.

[Steven]

Hi Matt,

You are right. I've been quiet lately, relatively speaking. Time constraints
have kept me at bay. (I bought a brand new Bukowski book about a month
ago and have only managed to read about six pages, so far.) Hopefully,
things will ease up soon.

[pointofviewpoint1983]

There is
an untimely
feeling
that moves
like my partner
in waltz.

I'm here. Just finished writing up a research plan for uni. I now officially have time.

Nice to see a poem take on a few variations here
At first i thought, more! More?
Just from a subjective standpoint
I found that the poem (written a couple of years ago, I think)
has no definate answer.
Not that I think of it often, but when I do,
the answer is always left open, and unresolved.
BUT it is still up to me to think beyond its last period.
So I initially thought, "hey...can't you the reader do the same...
continue it on in thought?"

Unrelated answers to the poem:

After I wrote it, (adding recently some of your 'untimely' thoughts above)
I was at a wedding reception for a cousin.
Cut the long story short, I was post-meals and post-wine intake
and out of nowhere I thought how interesting it would be
if two people (strangers) went out to the dance floor of this ballroom
and amongst some upbeat dancing,
take on a half-time feel...to me it just made a nice image.

In relation to the poem, it reminded me of say, dancing a waltz at a rave party!
So beyond the partnered dance, the waltz is untimely.

Also worth adding, in ah hum witty thought,
After some postings here I felt the poem
may be something someone, say, Patti Smith,
wrote on the cover of a cd case, after a gig.
The obvious thought being,
there's only so much space on that piece of plastic!
How can anyone write more!

I've got a thousand and one more ways of seeing the poem...
And i'm assuming I have not thought of half of them yet!

Thanks for the input. Much appreciated.

[Manna]

play play play. don't call the children in, let the girl in the blue soccer jersey and the boy with the guitar continue at least until the crickets are calling for lovers...



half time

post-meals, post-wine I
beckon a stranger to the dance
floor and amongst some upbeat
jigging, we take on a half-
time feel

my partner is a few variations:
she likes to waltz at a rave
she is not going to tango
she is unresolved –
a hanging fifth beyond the last period

hey...can't I do the same...continue
on like a dot dot dot to un-
related non-answers written
on a cd cover after the dance
there's only so much space and
so many more ways
to see it