Dreamtime

[Rybka]

The first of the “Dram of Dreams” poems was posted today. Two days early, since we agreed on tomorrow, Sunday the 14th as the submittal date for display on Monday, but what is time in a dream? Go read perky baby’s Dram of Dreams. Vote and send feedback, and don’t forget to submit your own variation on the “dram of dreams” theme tomorrow!

Raise your drinks with me
Throw back your brain
Swallow me whole
...

Now if I can only get unstuck and finish mine in time.


Regards, Rybka

 

[Angeline]

My Two Cents

Another thumbs up for perky's dram! I read it very early this morning and thought it was absolutely beautiful. Easily a 5 (and more) to my thinking. Ms. Ruffle Duck was a frequent poeter when I joined this board, but has rarely been around these parts for quite a while. I'm so glad she's back--she writes great stuff, knows her poetry, and is pretty darned funny to boot. Check out her dram of dreams and, when you do, look at how carefully constructed it is and how well that makes the poem work overall.

 

[perks]

oohhhhhh, sorry, I didn't realize, I probably skimmed and missed when we were supposed to post. I thought we were just supposed to post before the deadline and then discuss. eeeeeep!

regardless of my blunder,
thankyou for the heads up, and I appreciate the critique Angeline. I'm looking forward to seeing the diversity of all our voices.

 

[Rybka]

DON'T FORGET TO POST !!

Today is the day for submitting your "Dram of Dreams" poems.

I have submitted mine, but it came out nothing like I intended when I suggested the theme. I blame darkmaas for this! He made a comment about drams vs gills and there went my nice gentle poem that I wanted to write! I ended up with a dratted List poem. Thanks dmaas!

If I ever write the poem I meant to; I will let you all know.
I hope everyone else had better luck than I did. I still think it is a great title image.

Regards, Rybka

 

[Angeline]

My Dram

is posted here only, but I did dream a dram of dreams.

Dram of Dreams

Today we mix our thoughts together
as paints poured on a plate are joined,
our ideas swirl in many hues, then blend
enfolded as in arms of abstract dance.

We shift words kaleidoscopic, patterned,
first as strangers in dense crowds, unaware,
but caught upon the hooks of commonality,
we circle mirrored, flow enlaced like fingers

reaching in desire, gingerly, but oh we want
collusion poured in streams thick as honey,
sweetly dripped with passionate restraint,
but slowly spread inevitably closer.

The solitude of thoughts that lived alone,
once separate creeks and tributaries,
flow as conversations, moving speech
in sentences as streams move to rivers.

Someday somewhere all these draughts
of individuality join brilliantly in swells
of consciousness, and crash like waves
paint sand, so we wash poems along the shore,

our streams of thought swirled in new color,
no longer separate drams of letters
poured, we raise words cupped in poetry,
thirsting to slake our numberless dreams.

 

[Rybka]

By my count we have four "Dram of Dreams" that made it to the light today. Mine was rejected (as was my Xtaabay poem).
I will try again today, but will pull an Angeline in the meantime and post it here. I was somewhat surprised how many poets focused on "DRAM" as a measure of drink and not as a measure of "DREAMS", which is what intrigued me about the phrase in the first place.

Champagne1982 is the first to mix alcohol with dreams to a fairly common result.
Dram of Dreams

He sat in the barroom wishing for someone to
bring back the dreams he'd dreamed.
He sipped at his whiskey wishing he'd never gone
and left her lonely that day.

The dram he was poured,
warmed as he pondered,
the dreams that he'd dreamed
he'd lived.

But yet he wondered would he still be lonely
even if he had stayed
there in the cozy country chic cottage that
they'd built for living their dreams.

The dram he was poured,
warmed as he pondered,
the dreams that he'd dreamed
he'd lived.

He cried in his heart not showing the barman the
ache that bled from his soul.
Another whiskey glowed in the soft light
waiting to dull his pain.

The dram he was poured,
warmed as he pondered,
the dreams that he'd never
lived.

Next is wespeak with, if I understand the work, something closer to my original concept. At least I believe this poem is a collection of short vignettes of dreamscapes. Drams, so to speak, not the whole bottle of dreams. - I have just been informed that "wespeak" is a composite personality
dram of dreams

~

over split rails
I lean for his adoring
sparks slingblading between us

between the cracks
I feel her
electricity and sharp cutting

we are primal
sparse words among the thicket

she ripped me
swearing at my wounds rubbing poison

below the rise of kudzu
we walk in crowing light
where wildness gathers beyond the crook

below the lowest carnivorous growth
is a place where only laying lives
where gentle is cursed and coagulates
and bends for certain prizes

stems splay with swift sever
falling my fragile bloom
before summer sleeps

wash in a puddle muddy
thank a passing weed
before summer sweeps you away

~

Tristesse gives us two booze based poems. The first is an homage to the liquid treasures of Scotland, an honor many would applaud.
Dream of drams

Laphroaig, smooth liquid velvet,
sea reminded,
as an afterthought.

Glenugie sounds fun - like a gingery joke
And it is.

Inchgower will warm the gut,
spreading like sweet fire,
slowing
to a salty undertone.

Dalwhinnie is a horse
of a different stripe,
fresh-mown grass and honey shaded.

Glenfiddich, all kilts and
hairy knees,
rowdy pubs with polished bar.

Mortlach is peaty and mossy.
Reeking of the glen
on smoky wood-fired nights.

Cardhu is no-nonsense, malt and peat prepared
Born to be held
against the teeth.

Scapa from Orkney hails,
sea-breeze and salt-tang,
heather sweet.

Macduff, the gold that Shakespeare missed.
Soft yellow-sweet and flower-kiss'd

That's but a dram of whiskey there,
Their numbers, they are legion.
They taste of peat bog, mountain stream
And of their very region.

Tristesse's second poem again tastes of scotch, a golden dew of which I had never heard, but I can taste the mellow sip with a spicy, heady finish. I can see the Highlands and the West coast smokily as through a dream.
Dawdling with a dram

Dawdling with a dram.

A sidelong eye on the Oban.
Slyly, I fondle the glass.
Dawdling seems to be called for.
Maybe the moment will pass.

Tasting a long-ago mouthful
Finding it still on my lips,
Inhaling the heady aroma,
Draining the last little sips.

I'll join you if you want a nightcap.
No, really! It's what I desire.
Having a dram-induced dream seems
A sensible thing to acquire.

So pour me a couple of fingers
And have one yourself if you choose.
Lets drink to our life-long acquaintance
And savour this wonderful booze.

Angeline's poem is just above. So go read it. It is well constructed as always and has a swirly dreamy essence to it.

We have yet to hear from Lauren.Hynde, The_Fool, darkmaas and any others who might have wanted to join us. Maybe they had posting troubles as I did. Lit. does seem to be acting strangely recently.

Here is my poor List poem for which I hold darkmaas responsible.
I too fell into the booze/dream view of the theme.

Drams and Dreams

Barrels of beer
Bottles of bourbon
Cups of good cheer
Flagons of fun
Jiggers of gin
Mugs of mead
Noggins of need
Ounces of ouzo
Pints of pleasure
Ponys of port
Shots of scotch
A tun of wine
Gallons and gills
And a minim of scruples


Liters of life
Liquid love
Drips and drabs
But the things above
Suck the flavor out of dreams
The love out of life



Regards,                                 Rybka

 

[Angeline]

Angeline's poem is just above. So go read it. It is well constructed as always and has a swirly dreamy essence to it.

Thank you kindly, Rybka, for the mention. I've been working on an illustration for my poem (which so far is not looking right at all, lol). If I get my act together and come up with something I like, I'll post it. I enjoyed all the dram poems thus far (though I feel a bit thirsty after reading Tristesse's Dream of Drams--make mine a Macduff ).

Exellent title and great to have this challenge revived.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the mention, Rybka.

Angeline, I swear I'm just a moderate drinker but maybe we could have samplers.


Looking forward to both your postings.