The Tuesday Poem: “Listening to Glenn Gould on Orton Scar” by Kathleen Jones
Listening to Glenn Gould on Orton Scar
From Ravenstonedale
driving north on unfenced roads,
moonlight reflects the tarmac’s
frozen wake across the moor —
a snail’s trail in my rear-view mirror.
Bach unwinds from the c.d.
a landscape of variations
into this zero night.
The grass is white; trees black.
The walls run off like staves.
The moon fingers each stone
separately, in unexpected harmonies
and structures, endlessly practising —
compelling me to stop. Listen
to the quiet significance of the moment.
Across the counterpoint
I hear the chill cry of a predatory bird.
Single notes glitter like frost.
© Kathleen Jones, 2011
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From: Not Saying Goodbye at Gate 21 by Kathleen Jones, Templar Poetry, 2011.
Reproduced here with permission.
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Last week I featured fellow Tuesday Poet, Kathleen Jones’ “Winter Light” in celebration of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter solstice and the NZ festival of Matariki (which was Saturday 28th this year.)
When I was guest editor on the Tuesday Poem Hub on October 16, 2012 I featured another wonderful, wintry poem from Kathleen — Listening to Glenn Gould on Orton Scar.
With Kathleen’s kind permission, I am featuring the latter poem again for you today. Both poems are drawn from Kathleen’s 2011 collection, Not Saying Goodbye at Gate 21, which won the Straid Collection Award in 2010.
If you want to read more of Kathleen’s work, you can also check out To the Gods, the Shades (a personal favourite!) here on Tim Jones’ blog — or by visiting her blog:
A Writer’s Life
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To discover this week’s featured poem on the Tuesday Poem Hub and read other great poems from fellow Tuesday Poets from around the world, click here or on the Quill icon in the sidebar.
Thanks Helen – you’re really generous. Was travelling yesterday so have just picked this up. Thank you!
Kathleen, it’s a wonderful poem and an absolute pleasure — and privilege, too! –to be able to feature it.
so many images in this poem..I love the moon fingering each stone separately.
Thanks Helen and Kathleen.
I love the way the music metaphor is sustained through this, the black and white theme seeming so appropriate for a winter landscape.
I agree, Helen & Catherine: it really is a tremendously accomplished poem.