maelstrom

Today's word is

maelstrom

There are limits to Dictionary.com's Word of the Day feature.  For example, not only has this word already been a Word of the Day (in 2001), but nowhere does Dictionary.com appear to mention that there is a real place off the coast of Norway called The Maelstrom which has been celebrated in legend and poem for centuries.  Not one of my favorite books by A. S. Byatt, but one full of fun ideas such as a literary travel agency, The Biographer's Tale is probably the first thing I ever read that mentioned this fact.  You can see photos of The Maelstrom and read more about it here, if you are interested.  It's just off the Lofoten Islands, near a town called Hell.  No, honestly.

Sorry I haven't been posting poems or responding to comments for the past few days.  I'll repair the blanks over the weekend.  I just have to get through the next two days, a veritable retail maelstrom.  Meanwhile, this is probably the only time I'll get to be online today.

Please feel free to enjoy these words without me!  I'll be back before you know it.  Cheers!

*****
Monday, November 28, 2005
Still brain-dumping.  And for this word, too, just a little haiku:

Two sparrow maelstroms
counter-swirl in descent toward
seed-dusted bark mulch.

Startled squirrels spring
away, then waddle back as
the bird cloud settles.

Comments

[moose]

Inspired by you, Sara...

Retail maelstrom

products flying off the shelves
heaped and overflowing wire carts
wheels crooked and out of line
dragging bits of caught string
crowded aisles men and women
sweating in their winter coats
children crying uncomfortably
wanting drinks or Elmo or a nap
lines of customers backed up
shuffling impatiently or worse
lobbing insults and grim looks
elbowing for place among the carts
cash register tape flying out
landing in cascading spiraling pools
of white paper tinged purple with ink
plastic packaging and plastic bags
hanging heavy and cutting into fingers
slow moving hordes shouldering
through electronically surveyed doorways
out into the sudden brisk winter air
out into sun setting rosy hued over pavement
over rows and rows of cars
embraced by the bare black arms
of a small tree
a single star
shines flawless
white
on
indigo

[Sara]

Ah, thank you, Moose, that's very nice! I like the arm, too, which is not only very pretty and shines with serene contrast, but spreads the applicability of this to the Christmas season if you read that star another way.

Cheers!

[Sara]

Uh, typo... When I wrote "arm," I meant "star." I'm sure that makes more sense.

Sorry 'bout that. I'm glad I decided to catch up on comments and caught it!