To Skip a Stone
reflective quatrains120 total reviews
Comment from Eternal Muse
Oh, this brought a nautical lover in me! How I love walking on the seashore collecting seashells! (lol). I just love those polished stones, caressed by the deep for centuries. Absolutely loved this rhymed verse, dear Brooke, rich in wisdom, metaphors and vocabulary.
Amazing.
Love and hugs, Y.
P.S. Look at the poem I wrote for you "Word Seamstress".
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
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Oh, this brought a nautical lover in me! How I love walking on the seashore collecting seashells! (lol). I just love those polished stones, caressed by the deep for centuries. Absolutely loved this rhymed verse, dear Brooke, rich in wisdom, metaphors and vocabulary.
Amazing.
Love and hugs, Y.
P.S. Look at the poem I wrote for you "Word Seamstress".
Comment Written 23-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Yelena. I have read your poem and am truly touched by it. I'm so glad this poem triggered good memories for you :-) Brooke
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Thank you, dear Brooke. Could you review my poem "The Golden Quill", when you get the chance? I did it as a 12 syllable sonnet.
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Coincidentally, I just this second finished reviewing it!!
Comment from Gaye Hemsley
Hi Brooke A cute playful poem. I have never been very good at skipping stones, I think it's a man's thing. Your words show the picture and the selection of stones in the picture is delightful Cheers Gaye
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
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Hi Brooke A cute playful poem. I have never been very good at skipping stones, I think it's a man's thing. Your words show the picture and the selection of stones in the picture is delightful Cheers Gaye
Comment Written 22-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 23-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Gaye. I must admit my father, husband, son, all way better than I. :-) Brooke
Comment from LauraKatherine
Finally starting to get back to reviewing...
"a rock made smooth by water's wear"
I am reminded of a song I heard that speaks of people being rocks in a riverbed, with God flowing over them, slowly changing the metaphorical rocky edges of their hearts into smooth reflections of his grace. A piece of "art," if you will, made gradually, without haste or carelessness; and this art-rock makes its own art by skipping across the water (creating ripples in the water) and changing the thrower into a patient person who is willing to take the time to learn this art. Hope that makes sense!
I've never been able to skip a stone but then again, I've never practiced my skills, steadied my hand and taken the time to learn this art.
I love the sounds of "skip," "rippled" and "skimmed." Somehow they sound like a rock skipping across the water, making those lovely rippled circles.
That is a cool photo, too; I have a little glass jar on my kitchen windowsill of pebbles that my daughter has "collected" for me in the past few months, and this photo reminds me of that.
Great poem! LK
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Finally starting to get back to reviewing...
"a rock made smooth by water's wear"
I am reminded of a song I heard that speaks of people being rocks in a riverbed, with God flowing over them, slowly changing the metaphorical rocky edges of their hearts into smooth reflections of his grace. A piece of "art," if you will, made gradually, without haste or carelessness; and this art-rock makes its own art by skipping across the water (creating ripples in the water) and changing the thrower into a patient person who is willing to take the time to learn this art. Hope that makes sense!
I've never been able to skip a stone but then again, I've never practiced my skills, steadied my hand and taken the time to learn this art.
I love the sounds of "skip," "rippled" and "skimmed." Somehow they sound like a rock skipping across the water, making those lovely rippled circles.
That is a cool photo, too; I have a little glass jar on my kitchen windowsill of pebbles that my daughter has "collected" for me in the past few months, and this photo reminds me of that.
Great poem! LK
Comment Written 22-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Laura - yeah, it takes practice, including lessons in locating the precisely right kind of stone, flat, not too big to skim but not so light it won't carry. So glad you enjoyed this one - it's always great to hear from you. :-) Brooke
Comment from Lokman
Ah that's great, Brooke. The boys and I had some fun last week doing--or at least beginning to learn--this. They think it's magic!
Shea
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Ah that's great, Brooke. The boys and I had some fun last week doing--or at least beginning to learn--this. They think it's magic!
Shea
Comment Written 22-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Shea - how great that you are sharing this experience with your sons :-) Brooke
Comment from amel
Very good poem, reflects the picture quite well, Adew. There's work behind a skimmed stone's grace,
no simple act of wizardry. Very nice. Excellent. Love, amel
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Very good poem, reflects the picture quite well, Adew. There's work behind a skimmed stone's grace,
no simple act of wizardry. Very nice. Excellent. Love, amel
Comment Written 22-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Amel - you are most kind :-) Brooke
Comment from snow leopard
Thank you for this lovely poem. Skipping stones, seeing the beauty in that simple act and in stones. Pablo Neruda often spoke of stones in his poetry, as souls of people that have died before him.
Charles Simic has written a beautiful poem called Stone
Go inside a stone.
That would be my way.
...
From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
...
Even though a child throws it in a river;
...
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.
I have seen sparks fly out
When two stones are rubbed,
...
Perhaps there is a moon shining
...
on the inner walls.
And one more poem:
closing the gate
alone with stones
on this beautiful night
SHUOSHI MIZUHARA
The poet has embraced silence, being alone skipping stones maybe, a gateway to thinking, renewal or healing. Alone with nature. We have always been drawn to ancient stones, to layers of earth and time, to precious stones. They have a spirit about them for us. To be quiet with stones we may find out way.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Thank you for this lovely poem. Skipping stones, seeing the beauty in that simple act and in stones. Pablo Neruda often spoke of stones in his poetry, as souls of people that have died before him.
Charles Simic has written a beautiful poem called Stone
Go inside a stone.
That would be my way.
...
From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
...
Even though a child throws it in a river;
...
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.
I have seen sparks fly out
When two stones are rubbed,
...
Perhaps there is a moon shining
...
on the inner walls.
And one more poem:
closing the gate
alone with stones
on this beautiful night
SHUOSHI MIZUHARA
The poet has embraced silence, being alone skipping stones maybe, a gateway to thinking, renewal or healing. Alone with nature. We have always been drawn to ancient stones, to layers of earth and time, to precious stones. They have a spirit about them for us. To be quiet with stones we may find out way.
Comment Written 21-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2010
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Vicki - what a thoughtful review - thank you so much for sharing :-) Brooke
Comment from AnnaLinda
Brooke,
Well, I have not skipped a stone in a very long time and I enjoyed your thoughts on the subject within your well rhymed poem. It does take practice to be good at it and your poem 'reflects' that well.
Linda
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Brooke,
Well, I have not skipped a stone in a very long time and I enjoyed your thoughts on the subject within your well rhymed poem. It does take practice to be good at it and your poem 'reflects' that well.
Linda
Comment Written 21-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Linda - it's been a while for me too! :-) Brooke
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You are welcome!
Comment from --Turtle.
Hi adewpearl,
I read this piece too, and I it makes it look easy. I didn't find the topic or use of words pretentious or overly anything. It was smooth and steady, and building off a simple truth.
This was easy and fun to read. Very lovely.
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Hi adewpearl,
I read this piece too, and I it makes it look easy. I didn't find the topic or use of words pretentious or overly anything. It was smooth and steady, and building off a simple truth.
This was easy and fun to read. Very lovely.
Comment Written 21-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Thank you - pretentious is something I never want to be - I read poems in The New Yorker that I cannnot understand at all, and I have a master's degree from a highly prestigious university - to me that is being pretentious when someone with my education can't read a person's poem, and I fail to see the point. Why do people want to write something nobody else can understand? LOL
I am so happy you said that to me :-) Brooke
Comment from patwannabe
Brooke, this was marvelous. The phrase that stuck out for me was "time to spare". Interesting, a person is either extremely deep in thought and trying to find an answer, trying to strike out in anger at an injustice, or just simply at peace with the world. Beautiful. pat
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Brooke, this was marvelous. The phrase that stuck out for me was "time to spare". Interesting, a person is either extremely deep in thought and trying to find an answer, trying to strike out in anger at an injustice, or just simply at peace with the world. Beautiful. pat
Comment Written 21-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Thank you, Pat - I really appreciate your comments and kind review :-) Brooke
Comment from rama devi
I think I like your reflective poetry the best of all. It is thought provoking and subtle, and always uses apt imagery and metaphor.
This is lovely and well paced. No ntis except that my preference would be for minimal end line punctuation; like this-
To skip a stone takes practiced skill
a rock made smooth by water's wear
a flowing stream, determined will
a steady hand and time to spare.
No art is made in careless haste --
this rippled flight's no mystery.
There's work behind a skimmed stone's grace
no simple act of wizardry.
Excellent rhyming and timing~ Effective presentation as well.
Enjoyed.
Warm regards,
rama devi
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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I think I like your reflective poetry the best of all. It is thought provoking and subtle, and always uses apt imagery and metaphor.
This is lovely and well paced. No ntis except that my preference would be for minimal end line punctuation; like this-
To skip a stone takes practiced skill
a rock made smooth by water's wear
a flowing stream, determined will
a steady hand and time to spare.
No art is made in careless haste --
this rippled flight's no mystery.
There's work behind a skimmed stone's grace
no simple act of wizardry.
Excellent rhyming and timing~ Effective presentation as well.
Enjoyed.
Warm regards,
rama devi
Comment Written 21-Jan-2010
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2010
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Thank you, rama devi, I'm particularly pleased you would like this poem :-) Brooke
