Earlier this week I was doing some research for a project I’m working on when I came across an article by Ferris Jabr reprinted in Smithsonian Magazine (June 21, 2017) titled “How Moonlight Sets Nature’s Rhythms.” The information was fascinating, but it was the words, the lovely language, that caused me to pause and take notice.
I saved the article and went back to it later, pulling out words and phrases from the first few paragraphs, irresistible in their images, rhythms, and sounds, to create a found poem. I didn’t follow the rules exactly. I took liberty to rearrange the order certain phrases appeared in the poem. The result was that, unlike the original article, you won’t find information about coral reproduction in my poem, but you will, hopefully, feel a sense of the beauty.
In the Great Barrier Reef
(a found poem)
drenched in moonlight
parcels wait
in the lips of coral
round buoyant bundles
as small as peppercorns
blushed in shades
of pink
orange
yellow—
coral confetti
Poetry is everywhere! For more wonderful words, head over to A(nother) Year of Reading where Mary Lee has today’s roundup.
Imagine the Possibilities 
Such a lovely found poem, Rose. The words are richly evocative. My favorites: as small as peppercorns/blushed in shades, coral confetti. You make me want to find this article; I am intrigued about your project. The moon photo is also glorious. I wish I had a camera to capture the moon. My cell phone never cuts it !! Too many wonders, so little time!!
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Thanks, Janet. The article is fascinating and you should be able to find it easily- so we’ll written with such beautiful images.
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Nice job, Rose! You had me at “drenched in moonlight” ! 🙂
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I like hearing how this was inspired. Love the word “Peppercorns.” It really adds zing to the poem, something unexpected.
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Although you didn’t give us information about coral reproduction in your poem, I think you did a great job making us curious to learn more. The world never ceases to amaze, and poets are a necessary part of bringing the wonder to light…or moonlight, in this case!
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Oh, this is lovely! I’m always fascinated by corals, and I like that the language of this article was lyrical enough to inspire poetry! I should do more of this!
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My family had a marvelous time snorkeling on coral reefs in Belize last summer. I love thinking about that “coral confetti” Rose. And I enjoyed reading about your journey to this poem.
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Rose, I have been trying to capture the moon in its nighttime glory for weeks but the pictures always look like blurs of gold. You captured the beauty of what you read with thoughts like “drenched in moonlight” and shades
of pink
orange
yellow—
coral confetti!
If you would like to offer this poem and photo for my Bedecked in Autumn Gallery please let me know.
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Thanks Carol. Since the words and photo are not original to me I don’t think I should offer it as part of your gallery. But I appreciate the kind thoughts.
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How gorgeous. Yes. So much to love about those words. I can see why it made you pause. I’m caught ‘in the lips of coral’.
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Oh, this language is luscious! I love “drenched in moonlight”, “in the lips of coral” and “round bouyant bundles”. Beautiful!
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What a fascinating article, and a lovely distillation, Rose.
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A stunning poem…love the sensual description.
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“Coral confetti”…swoon! 🙂
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I love this! I’ve been so impressed lately by the use of beautiful language in scientific writing. Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
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