For Poets and Storytellers United
Poetry Pantry
A day at Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo awakes to an
orange aura crowning the mountains
The sun suddenly jumps up
rolling a golden robe down a hill
Rays reach a red-brown bare tree
change it into a flaming torch
Fog tucked along the shore like pillows
urged on by the rising sun
to scatter over the lake like ghosts
dancing on the sound of singing water
I watch this wonderland framed by
the window of the charming Church
of the Good Shepherd
which sits like a sphinx
lapping the milky blue water
I breathe in the penetrating beauty
I digest this nectar for the soul
My blood streaming in the pace of wild water
my bones holding peace softly in my body
softly in my jaws whitening my words
orange aura crowning the mountains
The sun suddenly jumps up
rolling a golden robe down a hill
Rays reach a red-brown bare tree
change it into a flaming torch
Fog tucked along the shore like pillows
urged on by the rising sun
to scatter over the lake like ghosts
dancing on the sound of singing water
I watch this wonderland framed by
the window of the charming Church
of the Good Shepherd
which sits like a sphinx
lapping the milky blue water
I breathe in the penetrating beauty
I digest this nectar for the soul
My blood streaming in the pace of wild water
my bones holding peace softly in my body
softly in my jaws whitening my words
At night the sun ducks down
draping a ribbon of red
as a last goodbye
before leaving the sky
before pulling down the black curtain
Time for the theatre to start at
this place where you gaze at
the milky way nailed to the night
by a trail of streetlights of the sky
drenched in space dust
painted on canvas by the divine
He Whenua Ataahua
as a last goodbye
before leaving the sky
before pulling down the black curtain
Time for the theatre to start at
this place where you gaze at
the milky way nailed to the night
by a trail of streetlights of the sky
drenched in space dust
painted on canvas by the divine
He Whenua Ataahua
Dank je voor je felicitatie, wat een tijd he 50 jaar, kan het niet geloven, time flies. Het is toch een prachtige natuur daar in Nieuw Zeeland. Jammer dat ik er nooit geweest ben.
ReplyDeleteGroeten, Marianne
Ja een hele prestatie Dat is erg lang 50 jaar. Ja maar je bent vast op veel andere mooie plaatsen gewest en het is nog niet te laat. Je kunt altijd nog naar NZ. We zijn voorlopig nog in lockdown. Dat kan helaas nog wel even duren
DeleteHi Marja - what a wonderful poem ... your visit obviously 'got to you' and I can see why - it's beautiful ... so pleased you had the good weather. Do you get the lupins covering the hillsides? Oh now having looked - I see they're an introduced species and are considered an environmental threat ... as is gorse on Vancouver Island - which was brought over from Hawaii by one of the early explorers. Your poem is lovely .. thank you - Hilary
ReplyDeleteYes I was in awe, The lupins are there in the summer. I did hear that they are taking over a habitat so important for New Zealand’s unique wildlife. Not good but a shame as they are so beautiful
DeleteJudging by the pictures, the video, your poem - Lake Tekapo is certainly worth a visit.
ReplyDeleteI like the use of color in your poem:
orange' aura, 'golden' robe, 'red-brown' bare tree, 'milky blue' water, a ribon of 'red', 'black' curtain.
..and the sun as the chief actor of the day..
The sun is rising in the first stanza, setting down in the last stanza, and then the show of stargazing starts... Sublime!
Thank you Duta
DeleteWonderful poem! Heard you guys had another earthquake. Everyone okay?
ReplyDeleteThanks Yes that was a good shake but far away from us in the far South I think we will keep getting them
DeleteThe words and photos enhanced each other beautifully – what could be more perfect?
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary We are quite blessed to live in this country
DeleteA beautiful poem, Marja! I felt as if I was there with you – a welcome break from the daily repetition, and thank you for the photographs, which added to the experience. I especially love the lines:
ReplyDelete‘The sun suddenly jumps up
rolling a golden robe down a hill’;
‘Fog …
urged on by the rising sun
to scatter over the lake like ghosts
dancing on the sound of singing water;
and
‘the milky way nailed to the night
by street lights of the sky
drenched in space dust
painted on canvas by the divine’.
Thanks Kim It's a little paradise and Tekapo is one of the best places in the world for star gazing as the sky is so clear
ReplyDeleteYou took me there. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anthony
DeleteNew Zealand is a beautiful country and I have been there a number of times but never got to Lake Tekapo. I had better put that in my to do list! What great poem you wrote about it.
ReplyDeleteOh you must and close to it is Mount Cook which is beautiful as well. The trip there along lake Pukaki is already worth it. We live only 3 hours away so when you come in the neighbourhood stop by for a coffee :)
DeleteOh goodness, it is breathtaking! I'd be moved to write too.You did a lovely job taking us there with your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rommy
DeleteI believe you have described a little bit of heaven on Earth!
ReplyDeleteThanks yes it looks and feels like heaven I love NZ
DeleteA paradisal day compressed in this! Stunning and very welcome.
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeletePhotographs and poetry are incredibly beautiful. I have visited your country, but only the North Island. I must return.
ReplyDeleteYou should :) The North Islands is beautiful but the South Island is stunning :)
DeleteOh gosh this is absolutely breathtaking, Marja!💝 I especially love; "At night the sun ducks down draping a ribbon of red
ReplyDeleteas a last goodbye before leaving the sky."
Thanks Sanaa
Deleteoh this is beautiful to the max indeed. thank u for sharing your photos with us. God bless.
ReplyDeleteThank you The photos are made with a cellphone
DeleteBeautiful poem...I feel like I traveled to each location. Love the beautiful photos also
ReplyDeleteThanks Susie
DeleteOh wow, Marja! Your poem takes us in such a delightful tour. My mind's eye can still see the red ribbon the sky wears to bed before darkness comes to play. I love the sound that guilds the last line of the first stanza. And your offered photos are a treat.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this with us.
Thanks so much Magaly
DeleteWonderful lines of poetry …. beautifully rendered. And the photographs are stunning. I am there ~ smiles ~
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy
Deletethe milky way nailed to the night - gorgeous. On my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteThanks and if you plan to tick it off come by for a coffee
DeleteThe image of the sun jumping up and rolling a golden globe down a hill is sublime. FANTASTIC IMAGERY.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Vivian
DeleteI love all the warm spilling colors. It makes me feel playful. Love the milky way nailed to the sky part.
ReplyDeleteThanks Colleen
DeleteI felt I was there reading your words. Beautiful look at the lake. My sister's name is Marja. Nice to see you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ted The name Marja is very common in Holland and in the Nordic countries like Sweden, Denmark etc
DeleteYour words resonate strongly along with the thrilling video. Amid great beauty and majesty we live here on Earth. This is especially obvious from the perspective of your beautiful land, NZ.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria
DeleteYour poetry and photography are a thing of beauty Marja and a joy to read and view.
ReplyDeleteThey brought back wonderful memories of the time we spent there last year.
Namaste
Peggy xxxxx
Thanks Peggy Happy you like it and can't wait for our next adventure
DeleteIt is the most beautiful place. One of my favourites in NZ. Your poem describes it well
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem and one of my favourite places in NZ to visit.
ReplyDeleteLovely picyures and a beautiful poem, words and pictures in perfect harmony. The night sky must be incredible.
ReplyDelete