31 Comments
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Miner Poet's avatar

“The melting world

swallows distance”

Every one of your poems is worth waiting for. What a gem, Nora!

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ross!

Siddhartha Mukherjee's avatar

“...no wall, no border

can withstand

that swelling tide

of hope and humanity.”

The poem quietly transforms instinct into empathy...

Direct Teleport - natural world to the human one - without ever raising its voice.

Elegant. Compassionate. Thought-provoking. I'M SUBSCRIBING!

I write at The Reflective State, where one of my ongoing series is Mountain Mysteries—atmospheric tales of mystery, folklore and the unexplained set in the mountains of India.

If curiosity ever brings you my way, I'd genuinely love to know what you think.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Siddartha, for your thoughtful comment. I appreciate that so much. I look forward to reading the Mountain Mysteries!

David O'Boyle's avatar

wonderful weaving of zoomorphism and irony mixed with a really sophisticated apolitical-political statement. It would be interesting if a news source captured news this way. Oddly enough, it may get closer to the truth, as so often fiction ironically does.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thanks very much for that interesting observation, David. There’s so much noise out there, and the news cycle is measured now in minutes, that it’s nearly impossible to digest the doings of an hour let alone a day. Fiction ( and poetry) have the advantage of space. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

School of Blue's avatar

Wow, Nora. You deal with difficult stuff humans face superbly.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thanks so much, Richard! I think you do the very same.

Antonio Castellaneta's avatar

I really appreciated how this poem moves without announcing its destination. It begins with frogs following an ancient instinct and quietly widens until that same movement becomes a human one. By the end, swimming is no longer just about crossing water—it has become something shared by every living being that is searching for a place where life can continue. That transition felt both gentle and deeply moving.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Antonio, so very much for kind and thoughtful response. I appreciate how much time and consideration you give to so many of us here. You are a blessing.

Gan's avatar

human invention confronted by needs older than nations

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

yes, perfectly said

Gub's avatar

I love how each stanza connects even though the imagery shows the reader a different visual, like the border boundaries the stanzas dissolve and show they are one through rhythm and nature

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you so much, Gub! I appreciate so much your careful reading.

Cathy Slobodzian Kress's avatar

Oh, that jolt from a froggy pond to that "swelling tide of hope and humanity." Thank you!

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you so much, Cathy!!

Jay Nachman's avatar

This took a turn for the dark. "Swimming." I thought this would be a fun poem about having fun on the water. I'm glad current events inspire you to speak out.

My favorite line: "in seal-black night"

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Jay! I appreciate that

Mahdi Meshkatee's avatar

These lines are woven together by hope and humanity.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thanks so much for reading and your kind comment, Mahdi!

Petra's avatar

The rhythm, imagery, and metaphor work together like a strong current. I feel the weight of borders against the force of hope. <3

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

I am so glad it resonated with you, Petra! 💕

Michele McNichol's avatar

Beautiful, Nora! I feel privileged to have been there when you wrote it. 💕

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Mitch! Love you ❤️❤️❤️

Ray Sweatman's avatar

Let that world melt into one. Beauty noraaaaa!

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Ray!!!

Rhea's Work's avatar

Oh, Nora --

'the melting world

swallows distance'

What an absolute joy to read.

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Oh, thank you, Rhea! That means so much to me!

Stephen's avatar

beautiful! when people belong, walls melt!

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thank you, Stephen!

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

Thanks so much, for the restacking @Martin Lane!