Some Sounds Easily Missed

Some Sounds Easily Missed

 

In the beginning

When only sacred words

Were ever spoken

Each syllable was clearly

Broken

Then torn from the throat

With a cough and a cuss ..

While

The young uns of course

Without barely a fuss

Would all listen intently

From what they each

Thought

A safe distance …

Oh’ boy did they marvel

And gawp

At the sound his cupped

Hand

Occasionally made,

Like a shell

Juxtaposed a’gen waves

Like an unborn lamb, or a bud

Or a leaf

Gasping and gagging and

Scratching for air …

Aye, but since we are now

Both fully growed up

Can you imagine the sound

Of sheer joy

A wild salmon might make

Breaking free

From the constraints

Of a weir …

Then for a moment, no more

The rest is but a tumble

Of noise

Barely more than

An utterance, yet coupled  

Against

A few muffled occasional sighs …

 

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Sacred words no longer Neville; we have become a society of newly formed words, jargon, slang…… it is amazing what little ears can hear….and gawk at…. Our words today are nothing like yesteryear…..I like the comparison of a child’s learning new words to a baby salmon’s “tumble of noise” or muffled……excellent!
Warmly, B🌷

[Neville]

Oh' my word, I am honoured and grateful and thank you so much Betty .. Bless you big time and warmly .. Neville

[Ken Simm.]

What an extraordinary use of words Neville. You have outdone yourself here. I could fit the description into my memories just so closely.

[Neville]

I am honoured & then some Ken .. thanks a load .. N:)

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous work my friend. You nailed this.

[Neville]

How kind .. Thank you so bloomin much Thomas :)

[Einstein Noodle]

sacred words from the beginning and straight away broken .. misunderstood and misspoken. Did you know that, in Old Testament days, if a Prophet spoke proclaiming as God has told etc ... and was wrong ... he was put to death. No second chance ... so words were very carefully framed without any adding to nor taking away .. sacred ... we are so flip and glib with things we say these days .. seems no filter .. i think our social media platforms has a lot to do with that .. i especially enjoyed the kind of backwoods language you use .. remembering back as a kid ... the analogies of the salmon and unborn lamb create a strong creative friction/contrast as words tumble to mere muffled sighs .. i can get a lot out of this one Neville .. it's one i missed of yours
E.

[Neville]

I don't for a minute believe that you missed this one Gene, I reckon you just took your time responding .. but thank you & truly regardless .. Neville :)

[emmajoygreen]

Not sure how this reviewer finds self three years ago but time catches us unexpectedly out of place now and again. However, your words remain timeless.

' Can you imagine the sound
Of sheer joy
A wild salmon might make
Breaking free
From the constraints
Of a weir …'

There is joy from any form of constraint - the mind, the heart and Self sing with gurgling delight, don't you know..

[Neville]

I do know & thank you for what might easily be taken as an encouraging compliment. Neville

[barleygirl]

Happy Easter! This is one of the most brilliant pieces of thinking I've seen from you, well-delivered in mind-blowing words. So many times, as children, we hear words completely out-of-whack, like lyrics of a song gone wrong, & there were times I puzzled for years over such misunderstandings. Like the time I broke a pane of glass but it was hidden behind the piano & I was hoping dad wouldn't notice (he played the piano), but he said "I feel a draft" (I thought he said "I feel a giraffe") -- I could not tell if I was in trouble or not! This is a beautifully created, beautifully stated idea! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Neville]

What kind and elsewise uplifting words you have bestowed upon my page dear Margie .. always appreciated and how so bloomin true .......... Thank you so much,
Yours Truly,
Me across the Pond (NUGS) N :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Children just love to eavesdrop on their elders....hoping to hear something they should not. The salmon loves to escape....their freedom is a feeling we can all relate to. Perhaps we will feel that freedom when we no longer have to wear masks! We will sing....even if silently....and give thanks. Lovely write, Neville. Lydi**

[Neville]

Thank you so very bloomin much dear Lydi** many thanks indeed :)

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

the opening stanzas were brilliant and these lines are perfectly penned and visually stunning:
Can you imagine the sound
Of sheer joy
A wild salmon might make
Breaking free
From the constraints
Of a weir …
Bravo!

[Neville]

Hey Rico .. You just made my day .. and I aint even finished my porridge yet ... Cheers my friend ..

[Chris Shaw]

So visual is this write. The young uns listening and watching, maybe a father or grandfather from a distance. Now all growed up. Silence is best when appreciating the wonders of nature. As for salmon, of course they sing for joy as they leap. Just as we both know the sun can sing so do salmon. If we listen we may hear it, but if not then technology is clever enough to pick it up these days. You took me to the weir. I was in my element. Sight, sound and smell stimulated. If I caught a salmon, then touch too. That inner child isn't far away,. Don't you love it when they come out to play? Only a sensitive man would remember such detail of childhood. days. Children more inclined to remember what they see, but I remember clearly the sound of the sea in a conch shell and the hiss of the kettle on the back burner and the call of the rag and bone man and the clip clop of hooves.

Chris

[Neville]

................. tis not amiss to reminisce :)
................. thank you Chris ...........

[Chris Shaw]

Past experiences can influence forward thinking. Methinks it is fine to go backwards. Good Sunday morning Neville.

[emmajoy]

' .. his cupped .. Hand .. Occasionally made, . Like a shell .. Juxtaposed a’gen waves .. Like an unborn lamb, or a bud .. Or a leaf .. Gasping and gagging and .. .. scratching for air … '

Pause to think... and think again, listening for silence wrapped in past thoughts spoken aloud. Strange priorities subtly mentioned in this, as i interpret. Especially at the end when, surely, none of us know how it would be to be that wild salmon breaking free.. hearing a noise reminiscent perhaps of a long past life. Perhaps.

[Neville]

........ I once heard, or thought I heard a salmon sing as it leapt clear of the water down by Weir Head in the Tamar .. a long time ago ... thank you for listening with me :)

[emmajoy]

How wonderful. relief more than likely ~ almost there!

[Neville]

... that is precisely what I thought .. and still do ..