Whodunnit in the Garden?

Over in the Garden Corey took us to a virtual bar in New Orleans, a touch of spirits, great music and a poetic mystery linger in the air.   A damn WhoDunnit on Bourbon Street has left our blog proprietor Kerry in tears.  Stolen words was how the news release put it.  The announcement of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry had been awarded to a poet by the name of -lets just say it wasn't a Toad who won.  Everyone who lingers in the Garden is called a Toad.   The mystery involves Kerry-she had just written the same poem-with the exception of the last line-which really didn't fit. 


Absinthe photo credit: wallyg via photopin cc


We are to write a poem revealing the last line of stolen poetry and announce whodunnit!



Words spilled everywhere
 like glorious dew or swamp water
which pond do you prefer
clean n' fresh
or scum thick
dangling participles stirred the night
Green Goddess
clouding your sky
making new pigment
floating colored eyes
in a fish bowl
What taunted Van Gogh?
 Goddess told him his ear was Luna Moth
"But best of all was the warm thick slobber
 Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water" 
as fingerprints faded into lost stars.



© Ellen Wilson



Whodunnit-Semus Heaney
In his defense, he was a spirit when he tossed one back with us at the bar.  His last walk on earth.  We didn't know who he was-just a kindly elderly man with Chia pet white hair.

*From Death of a Naturalist, published 1966.*
Raise a glass to Seamus-he was a true talent!  I think he would of enjoyed our Garden!
Here are a few of his amazing lines~



Is wooed into the cyclops' eye
Of a tarn. Our unfenced country
Is bog that keeps crusting
Between the sights of the sun.

They've taken the skeleton
Of the Great Irish Elk
Out of the peat, set it up
An astounding crate full of air.

Butter sunk under
More than a hundred years
Was recovered salty and white.
The ground itself is kind, black butter



From his poem:  Bogland

Comments

Mary said…
Very clever, Ella. I like the way you solved the mystery. Ha, and there can be no penalty for the 'guilty,' in this case........
Brian Miller said…
seamus def would have appreciated...and fun prompt too the whodunnit...colored eyes floating in a fishbowl...ick! ha.
Kerry O'Connor said…
I love those lines you quoted from Heaney. So apt and a fitting tribute to a great poet.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Ellie, this is marvelous, from the WONDERFUL quote on your beautiful banner, through your set-up, to your amazing poem and then Seamus's incredible write. Sigh. I am replete. AND the mystery is solved. Ribbit.
Not guilty when you look like a Chia pet!
Helen said…
Scum thick? I'll have to (pond)er on that one. :-)
Other Mary said…
Ah - but of course. Very fun tribute to SH.
Anonymous said…
cool tribute, Ella
Marian said…
oooh Ella, love this. i'm impressed that you managed to link Seamus Heaney with our lighthearted challenge, which felt slightly odd to me, focusing on, when i have been feeling a bit sad and heavy about his passing. this is awesome, well done.
Mary Ann Potter said…
Oh, so very, very good, Ellen! I especially liked the fingerprints and lost stars. A most memorable poem in honor of this man's passing.
Unknown said…
I enjoyed that Ella
Herotomost said…
Elllllaaaaaaa!!!!! How good are you??? Damn that was some work, and it exonerated all of us toads to boot. That was one of the smoothest transitions ever! You rock....and I mean that! Thanks so much for coming out....
Scarlet said…
A clever response to the Corey's prompt ~ I love that Heaney's verses ~ Thanks for sharing ~
Susie Clevenger said…
So beautiful Ella...you always bless me with your words when I visit here.
L. Diane Wolfe said…
Frogspawn! Very creative.
Ella said…
Hi L.Diane-not mine, but yes very creative! He was very talented :D

Susie-I feel the same about you n' your beautiful poetry ;D Thank you so much!

Grace-Thank you! His view amazes me!
I will be reading him now~ Black butter-whoa ;D

Corey!!! Thank you! I want to buy you a drink someday, when we all meet at our bar~ I love your Clue mystery-so fun! And well you know how I feel about the Chris radio post(my fav) YOU rock Corey~ I am thrilled to be part of the GARDEN :D

Hi Wendy-I'll be by to visit! I have had computer issues-our ISP had issues! I hope you are doing well~ Thank you :D

Mary Ann-Thank you~ Wow, what a talented poet~ I'm in awe of some of his phrasing :D I hope you are have been enjoying art-lately :D
I think of you often making tiny houses(I love them)~

Marian-Yes, I heard it on the news last night. I thought I had to read his verse-awe struck! Wow-I knew I had to include him, especially after Corey said Irish pub :D His poetry was a gift~
Thank you~ It is sad...

Grapeling-Thank you! What a man, what a voice~

Other Mary-Yes, he deserves to be honored :D Thank you~

Helen-lol! You are so fun ;D

Alex-tee,hee! He kinda looks like a mushroom I had in my yard ;D
Chia hair works on only a few~ Be safe this weekend Captain!

Sherry-Thank you so much! I did think of you and your tattoo and the blue sky ;D YOU know what I mean! lol Yes, the mystery is solved~

Kerry-Thank you! I love his voice :D

Brian-Thank you! Yeah, I kinda worried that might sound like The Walking Dead-lol :D What a poet!

Mary-Thank you! No, penalty needed-just a toast to a great poet~ :D

Lolamouse said…

Ella,
You are quite the clever one. Plus, you taught me about another great poet!
Ella said…
Hi Lolamouse! I was writing the poem and heard this poet mentioned on the news. I had to check him out~ He was Irish and so was the pub-where our crime was committed. I knew I had to go there ;D Thank you! I know I can't wait to read more of his work~
Jennifer Wagner said…
Chia pet white hair made me lol! May he rest in peace even if you did go and pin the mystery on him ;-)
Ella said…
Hi Jen-lol! Yes, I know kinda sad to blame a poetic ghost! BUT, a poetic ghost would attempt it ;D