The Quill And Ink…
Quill and ink are like a frail, dark rose
Beautiful, elegant, unsurpassed;
But the thorns draw blood and clots as ye go.
The delicate flowers will not last.
But the glorious rose will bloom another day
In the warmth of the Spring’s golden rays.
The quill, the black feather, can turn on you
Blotting out the sun on the white pristine page.
Leaving coarsed lines and thickened loops,
The point skims across the grain of the parchment’s gauge,
Sprinkling blotches of Indigo ink,
Falling raindrops and tears as you blink.
The quill and the ink;
The rose and the thorn;
Teaches you patience and reticence.
So strike up the flint and raise up the flame
To drip the wax and seal the blame.
Copyrighted by Deborah A. Bowman, 1998
BowmanAuthor and Writer/Editor 
Deb, you’re a star! Jill of so many trades. I love this poem, it brings to my mind, the beauty and thorns of writing. š
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I am not surprised that my Twin should see all the layers of this piece…be it song or poem.
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Did anyone ever tell you that you look like Meryl Streep? I find it very interesting that you chose an anonymous bard’s tune. Keep it up!
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I hear all the time that I look like Meryl Streep. I’ve been told that for over 20 years…way over! lol I believe we’re about the same age. I definitely take it as a compliment. Thank you. I found the bard’s melody in a book on King Arthur, of all things. It was written in very ancient tablature for a troubadour harp (1-1/2 octaves, key of C only). I don’t know if I have it correct or not because I’ve never heard a recording, but my version worked well for my poem. I have two Celtic harps: The troubadour and a lap harp–3-1/2 octaves with sharp levers to change the key. I play both. I hope to be able to do The Quill and the Ink on the harp again soon. I had wrist surgery last September so I’m just getting back to the piano. Slow but sure. Practice, practice, practice… I must have been born in the wrong century or been a bard in a previous life. lol
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I’m sorry to hear about the wrist surgery. Thanks for the information about the harps and the melody. I think I, too, was born in the wrong time period. My fascination is for even older civilizations, however.
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B.C.?
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