Poem of the Day
Poem of the Day is a changing display featuring one poem and photo from my archives. See below.
For additional information about the poem and photograph, contact Marc
____________
Forever Valley
My lover and I awaken at dawn
and stretch in the dim, early light
from a high ledge we survey our vast home
beckoning for our breakfast flight
one spirit and soul, we each have a wing
now joined we take off above hills
we climb far beyond the forest and lakes
so joyous in our soaring skills
the day has unfurled a clear gleaming warmth
the sun’s gold rays bathe at their peak
we swoop, circle, dip and leap in the clouds
and sky write with elation streaks
an infinite blue bestows caresses
streams and trees sing their support
we land and wander among creature friends
celebrating life is our sport
time has moved into orange horizon
and flows from the well known to rare
we hold hands and embrace in sweet silence
and radiate our blessed affair
a whisper unveils the nightfall and peace
and I compose in our journal
Forever Valley is all that I need
my love for her is eternal.
Copyright © 2003 Marc P. Anderson
and stretch in the dim, early light
from a high ledge we survey our vast home
beckoning for our breakfast flight
one spirit and soul, we each have a wing
now joined we take off above hills
we climb far beyond the forest and lakes
so joyous in our soaring skills
the day has unfurled a clear gleaming warmth
the sun’s gold rays bathe at their peak
we swoop, circle, dip and leap in the clouds
and sky write with elation streaks
an infinite blue bestows caresses
streams and trees sing their support
we land and wander among creature friends
celebrating life is our sport
time has moved into orange horizon
and flows from the well known to rare
we hold hands and embrace in sweet silence
and radiate our blessed affair
a whisper unveils the nightfall and peace
and I compose in our journal
Forever Valley is all that I need
my love for her is eternal.
Copyright © 2003 Marc P. Anderson
__________________
The photograph of a valley at dusk was taken in October 1991 during a hiking and camping trip to Harriman State Park in upstate New York. The location is a very special one that provides a wonderful view of the mountains, forests and lakes. I have a few versions of the scene, taken at different times, but this is one of my favorites because of its quiet beauty.
More than ten years later I began writing poems that indicated the impact of my camping and hiking experiences and how I connected to and was rewarded by nature. This poem was written specifically for this photo and it was an effort to capture the exhilaration and wonderful, almost fairy tale aspect of the valley. I chose the metaphor of the valley itself as my lover although that is not evident until the last lines.
________
NA9110
____________
MarcWords
My poems arise from moods and thoughts generated by my own life and from placing myself in the lives of others.
For decades I have written poems and mated them with specific photographs in the belief that the two art forms can result in something even more fascinating when presented together. Sometimes I have taken a photo first and written a poem for it later. Other times the reverse occurred. A time span of days to years can separate the writing of a poem, the capturing of an image and their final mating.
I am not a poet. Instead I am a photographer who also writes essays and poems. My poems do not follow any rules. I write what I feel. The style of writing is usually accessible and the approach is often personal.
Many of my poems with stronger, controversial themes, which appear in a collection entitled MarcWords, have been categorized under the headings Life and Death, Race, and Love and Sexuality. They are accompanied by equally strong images including artistic nudes. In order to keep this website accessible and non-offensive to the general public, such poems and photo combinations are not included in Poem of the Day but they are available in MarcWords and other non-public web journals.