Opaque lifeless flagstones
until the rain animates your face
reflecting the splendour of the trees
that saw your laying.
Generation upon generation
of vary dressed visitors
tread upon you without so much as a glance.
S Jarema is an allotmenteer living on the edge of London.
Posted on June 4, 2009 in Literary
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16 Responses to “BRITISH MUSEUM • by S Jarema”
Comments
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June 4th, 2009 at 1:01 am
A thoughtful piece.
Overall I liked it a lot.
Not too sure about ‘of vary-dressed visitors’, though.
Perhaps ‘of oblivious pedestrians’ or something of the like might work better
June 4th, 2009 at 2:23 am
Lovely piece. Concise. Evocative. Well writ.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:00 am
Lovely concept and a clear image. I agree about ‘vary-dressed’ – it made me stumble a bit. I like the brevity.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Next time it rains I will make sure I take a look at the pavement and see what it has to show me. At the sight of the trees or the sky or whatever it reflects, perhaps I will see the world from a different angle.
Thanks
June 4th, 2009 at 6:19 am
Lovely restful poem. Made me take a moment out from my hectic day and breath in.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Interesting
June 4th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Question: Does this poem mean that too many people admire only old things tagged as offically admirable while they ignore contemporary admirable crafts observable free of charge at the local department store? Does “rain animates” indicate only glitter is noticed”?
June 4th, 2009 at 9:04 am
It gave me goose bumps as I read it ~~ I can totally relate to this beautiful piece.
Good work, Sonia!
June 4th, 2009 at 11:38 am
As I recall, the flags are made from Portland stone and are full of those cross-cut, snail-like fossils.
The rain does actually bring the fossils out and makes them more visible.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Agree w/ the “vary dressed” comments–that was awkward and marred an otherwise beautiful poem.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I love the fact that the title puts in your head the image of the grand imposing building and all its treasures but that instead of writing about that, you have uncovered a far simpler treasure.
I must have crossed those flagstones a million times and not looked down so desperate to get inside. It made me think it’s so true we just don’t take the time to stop and stare as we hurry from one thing to the next. I really like it.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Concise. How the rain conjures images as we hurry by.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Thank you everyone for taking the time to read, comment and vote. I agree I think vary-dressed isn’t right but I wanted to capture people wearing clothes from different times. Will carry on re working. I wrote the poem after walking past the brish museum on a rainy day and noticing how beautiful the pavement looked with the rain bringing out the patterns. I love the treasures (which are free to see)in the British Museum and do not think one source of beauty better than another, just think some are more likely to be overlooked. I am still learning a lot about writing poetry but am enjoying it!
June 5th, 2009 at 4:24 am
I really like the ‘vary dressed’ bit. Thought it linked into the many years gone by … how someone may have spoken back in Victorian times (my imagination)! The title threw me a bit – but it was lovely reading, giving a sense of peace and continuity, tinged with sadness about how we miss out on what’s right under our nose.
June 6th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Beautiful poem…remind me of a friend who worked at the Museum. She would have really loved this poem. I like the way you discribe things.
June 9th, 2009 at 3:31 am
Agreed with other comments about vary dressed but otherwise a very evocative poem. Will definitely make me pause and notice what’s around me or under my feet! I also liked way the title gave an expectation of something grander then made you realise that beauty is everywhere and not always the obvious.