It’s a funny kind of blue or green
That seems to match my oddly changing eyes.
Turquoise is a stone I recognize
More than that hidden self that stays unseen.
Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Lillian is hosting with the theme of birthstones. Mine is turquoise.
Photo: “Birds and Table at the Park” by the author taken at Navy Pier in Chicago. The people left and the birds arrived for the crumbs.
Love how you made the turquoise color into something more and deeper with that last line.
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I tried to put whatever punch there was in the short poem in the last line. Thank you, Bjorn!
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Ah…for the observant ones, a birthstone ring will tell the month, but never the age! And I have heard of moon rings that change colors as you’re wearing them and the colors give away your mood! TMI for me🙃
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I’ve heard of those moon rings as well. If the stone can respond to electromagnetic waves from our bodies, they might help display emotions, but I have never tried them. Often one can see those emotions on the person’s face anyway. Thanks, Lillian! And thank you for the prompt!
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Nicely done, Frank, from the oddly changing eyes to the hidden self that stays unseen.
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People say my eyes change color and they are a mixture of blue and green so maybe I have more in common with turquoise than I realize. Thanks, Kim!
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OH, how wonderful about the self, love how you arrived to that.
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Thank you, Hélène! That was the point of the poem with the detour through turquoise. I am glad you noticed it!
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Nice pivot to the metaphysical in that last line, Frank!
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Those stones are sometimes viewed as metaphysical themselves although I don’t know much about them. I did pick up a small turquoise stone some years ago, but I no longer know where it is. I would have used that in the photo. Thank you!
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I like how you frame the turquoise as familiar and the self as mysterious.I really like the picture too. We have become a valuable part of the ecosystem for urban bird-life.
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After the people left the table those birds could feast on the crumbs. The self does seem mysterious. The stone less so. Thank you, Alison!
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What is your birth month? My piece had a to to say about the selves within; love me some metaphysical underpinnings.
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It is December. I liked your piece about the selves within, Glenn. It made me wonder if our selves extend beyond our bodies. If so, we cannot be completely individuated or reduced to our bodies. I think that’s the case, but it is always nice to look for more evidence of it. Thank you!
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A beautiful turquoise poem Frank, it is said to be a great stone for creative expression too ;o)
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It is a stone for creative expression? I will look for one when I am at a rock and crystal store–something small that would fit in my pocket. Thank you, Xenia!
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You are very welcome Frank! :o)
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I like how you contrasted your birthstone with yourself.
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The stones are supposed to represent us or protect us in some way. They can sort of stand for us, but even with that clue about ourselves, and there might be useful information there, we are still mysteries. Thank you!
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Perfect.
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Thank you, Marley!
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I love how you the stone the focus of your vision . Good one
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Thank you, Vivian! I suspect the stone is a clue. It is easily seen and acts as a proxy for us in some way.
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The diversion within at the end is powerful. Nicely done Frank.
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Thank you, Paul! The poem needed the last line to divert attention from the stone. I am glad you liked it.
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A tantalizing bit of mystery as a clincher!
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Thank you, Bev! We are still mysteries even with the the help of stones, horoscopes or medical tests.
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There’s lots of it in the Southwest USA. Silver and turquoise jewelry is much sought after, as is your poem, very good!
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Yes, I’ve heard that turquoise is common in that part of the USA. I used to travel to Phoenix for work, but I never had much time to explore the area like I wanted to. Thanks, Walter!
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🙂
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Interesting that it matches your eyes. I am December also. But my eyes are dark brown. Love that color turquoise though. Great poem!
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I also like the color of turquoise. I don’t think it is the color of my eyes but some combination of blue and green that seems to vary is. Thanks, Mary!
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I like the insertion of unseen depths.
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Thank you, Sascha! The stone or crystal is easier to see, but what we really want is our hidden selves.
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Do you think we grow better at discovering that?
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Yes, we do–or at least that has been my experience. Crystals may work for some, dreams for others. Writing and reading seem to be the best for me.
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I agree with you on the last part. In the past year my writing seems to have opened mental doors that have surprised me.
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Unusual to have eyes that change color..yet most everything is constantly changing. I’m sure there is more than meets the eye.
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The change isn’t extreme (I hope) and maybe it is just the light others see them in. It is what people have told me, but I haven’t paid attention to it myself. I think of my eyes as a mix between blue and green which is what turquoise is, at least as I see it. Thanks, Kathy!
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The changing life and a changing self with it!
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There is change although neither random nor completely predictable. Thank you, Vandana!
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Nice. You inspired me to write a pocus:
BEING GEMSTONE
If gemstone is a being
for sure it will be more
than tacit understanding.
It overruns the core.
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Nice one, Vaccinius! I don’t know if a gemstone is an agent or being or not. The modern assumption is to claim it is not, but I like doubting such assumptions to see where it leads.
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Again a gem. Love how the verse moves from something ‘funny’ to profound in the last.
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Humor and depth are different perspectives of the same level. I am glad you liked this, Peter!
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This is so pretty, Frank. The last line was excellent.
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Thank you, Robbie! I’m glad you liked that shift from turquoise to talk about the self in the last line.
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I agree with Bjorn. Nice twist at the end.
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Thank you, Imelda! I am glad the ending worked.
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wow…such a brilliant closing line!!
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Thank you, Sreeja! There is a contrast between what we can see that stands for us such as these stones and who we really are and are usually unseen.
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did you take the picture? i like it. 🙂
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Yes, I take all the pictures on this blog using a Samsung Note 4 phone except a few that are part of photo prompts, but I credit the photographer for each of those. I am glad you liked the photo. I enjoyed watching those birds and think of the people who have left that table as the selves that are hidden referenced in the poem with the birds being what is now visible. Thank you!
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Little Birds
care not for stores
For
Little
Birds
Sing Pecks
FooDFuLL..:)
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I think they get plenty with those crumbs. Some people deliberately leave them crumbs. Thanks, Fred!
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Well Fed Birds
Happy Fly.:)
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Fascinating poem and deep. Turquoise is one of my favorite colours too. Have you read about blue eyes. That they (and green eyes) were initially a genetic defect that spread from one person blue eyes to many until people both with blue eyes (or green) has kids together and the colour continued on. Blue eyes are essentially without pigment but reflect light such as the colour of the sky or ocean so that is why they are blue. Green eyes have some pigmentation that is brown and some pigments that are not colored so they have green eyes. Your poem makes me think of this.
Hope all is well!
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I didn’t know that about blue and green eyes. I wonder if it is the why my eyes seem to change color at least some people have told me. You’ve got me curious about that. I will have to look into it further. Thanks, Amanda!
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You’re welcome. Yes that’s why your eyes change for sure depending on the light, mine tend to go from a grayish blue to a brighter blue color. And I know many friends with blue/ green eyes that say the same. Yes, definitely check it out, it’s fascinating stuff!
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