Appetence

Jo Bryant

longing

that’s the bones of it

my bones

my frame

the hunger scratches an abyss

long raking bloody ridges burn deep

running from heart

volvere

unconfined, immured

juxtaposed adversaries

an elemental keening

to infuse the torrents

caressing the flesh

#

calling

crying

convening

convoking

collecting

#

come

#

This poem is written for the photo prompt over at Magpie Tales #84

Check out what others have done in response to this photo.

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I also submitted it to Poetry Pantry #68 over at Poets United

The definition of appetence: “strong desire,” c.1600, from Fr. appétence “desire,” from L. appetentia “longing after something,” noun of state from appetentem (nom. appetens), prp. of appetere – sourced at: The Online Etymology Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=longing&searchmode=none

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

66 Comments

    1. Thanks 🙂 The image adjustment wasn’t me – you can Google it. I usually Google the prompts to research any history about them, and I found it online as a gif.

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      1. Nice writing Jo! Awesome how you got the rain falling!
        #

        calling

        crying

        convening

        convoking

        collecting

        #

        come

        #
        That is haunting. I can almost hear these words hanging in the rain.
        PS: Er, how does one “google” an image which hath no name?

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        1. So glad you liked this one Em. 😉
          There are a couple of ways to Google an image:
          1. If you hover your mouse over the image sometimes a name will pop up – this one did with ‘woman-in-rain’ or something like that. You can then type that into Google images.
          2. I think I typed in ‘Woman in the rain’ in Google Images (because that’s what it looked like) and just went looking – and there it was.

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          1. Hey, Jo. Thanks for the info on googling images. You helped me find…
            Well, please have another look at my poem and let me know what you think.
            How’s that for suspense…LOL 😀 (Oh, and, BTW, I AM being serious her…heh, heh, heh.)

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  7. Jo, I liked this poem a lot. I especially like the way you used ‘c’ words in the last part of it. And the one word lines added to the strong effect of your message.

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  8. Jo,
    Very innovative,very refreshing! I find discoveries, many new things in your posting. In the essence,contents/vocab and the form. Thanks for sharing! The verse is fascinating!

    Hank

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  9. Jo,
    I really enjoyed reading ‘Appetence’. There was an obvious build up to a crescendo of all the c-words, crying out and full of desire.
    Loaded with atmosphere………..
    Eileen

    Thank you Jo for your supportive comments at my Blog. Much appreciated!

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  12. The way you are passionate about everything is so refreshing. I will now call it a variation of one of your commenters coments. Ready? I love the channel Jo-a-vision. ha! The picture is so perfect a match for the poem. I can feel this.

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  15. Absolutely stunning. The image was amazing, yet you even outshone that. I love the way the emotion builds, stretching taut within your words, before the release and finally… well, you know it ends. 🙂

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  16. I’m always learning new things here! I have not heard of ‘appetence’ before – such a lovely word. I’ve stored it away for future use. Your poem is so descriptive and so beautifully evocative that I think I would have realised its meaning by the end without being told. ‘Elemental keening’ is just lovely.

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    1. Oh thank you for those wonderful words. I am so happy you liked it. I did some thesaurus diving today for that one. How I love my thesaurus – were it possible I would do some elemental keening just for that…

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  17. very cool jo…emotive…esp when youget to the cascade of single words…like this much…and def nice touch on finding the animated pic…

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  26. Jo you’re so clever with your poetry. I also sensed some erotica here (or is it just me, and it’s always on my mind..). It’s a timely poem too for me personally, I can relate to the subject matter. Only wish I could say why….. I like the pic.

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    1. Thank you Marcia – yes there is more than some erotica within this one – knew YOU’D get it…hehehehe

      The picture spoke to me too – and then I found an animated version of it online – well I was a goner.

      The rain – the moving water – her stance – it all screamed sex, and the longing for it !!
      😉

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  28. Longing and desire fulfilled. I like the play on ‘elemental’ and this: ‘the hunger scratches an abyss/long raking bloody ridges burn deep’

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  29. Jo, that is wonderful and it speaks very clearly to me. I came from a different angle, trying to convey a sense of loss, rejection and abandonment but I should just have put a link straight to your piece!

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    1. Hi Cathy – well thank you.
      Love that you liked it so much.
      I thought it was a cool image as well.
      They have some great prompts there for you to work with – that’s why I like doing them – stretches the imagination.

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  31. Love, love the animation–how did you manage it? Very sexy poem. Love the word “volvere” the intensity of bones…
    Thank you.

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