Rainbow’s End
I came upon a rainbow’s end that seemed
to have sprung full grown from a little field
and launched itself up to the sky and on
beyond the far horizon. Grass stalks gleamed
with all the colors, spread out like a shield
upon the short-cropped ground. Then it was gone,
but not the bow. I traced it as it streamed
up, out, and far away until, concealed
behind a hill, it came to rest upon
some unseen footing, suddenly bright-beamed
as I had briefly glimpsed it there revealed
before me on that sun-baked, grassy lawn.
Each rainbow is a revelation, memed
down to us, an ethereal bridge to yield
a link between things near and things beyond,
assuring us that all will be redeemed
one day, and all that’s broken will be healed,
and there is Good News yet to come. Press on.
T. M. Moore is Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife and editor, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Thank you, Mr Moore, for the lovely sentiments of this skilful and well-expressed poem. I love the rhyme scheme, including the way you give yourself some latitude with the third-line rhymes, and the terse ending! Best wishes, Bruce
I enjoyed it too especially as I’ve been thinking about rainbows and how
the earthly powers are using them as propaganda. This is a lovely poem
to begin the day on a good and truthful note.
Thank you for this poem and “the Good News yet to come.” Press on, yes.
‘an ethereal bridge…’ i like it. Your poem makes me long to see a rainbow again.
Thanks for the read, T.M.
A sustained pattern of ABC rhymes across the space of six tercets is quite an accomplishment. I like the coinage of the verb “memed” — something that was bound to happen sooner or later, with all of the usage that the noun “meme” is getting.
I like both ends of this rainbow, and the allusions to its folk and sacred significance. Gazing at the glorious display of optical wonder, T. M., you look around for the near end, and find grass gleaming with all the colors, which compares well with the elfin pot of gold. The other end rests upon an “unseen footing,” but leads you to recall the promise to Noah and the Good News to come. These transform every rainbow into an encouraging revelation, as does your beautifully expressed poem.
“A link between things near and things beyond” is my favorite line in this truly beautiful meditative description of a rainbow. I think that is one of the things that poets, artists, and musicians do, and one of the reasons that these arts exist: to connect heaven and earth. Lovely poem, T.M.
All y’all: Many thanks for your kind comments. It is a great privilege to be part of this esteemed company and to read and ponder your many fine contributions. Your encouragement is very affirming. T. M.
This form is new to me, T.M., and I am not unhappy about that. The poem itself is the sought-after pot of gold.
Thanks, C. B.
The most striking feature of this poem I thought was its remarkable clarity and simplicity of language — and yet it doesn’t sound prosaic at all. You achieve beauty with simplicity, sort of like Shaker furniture. I also echo the observation about your rigorous rhyme scheme, which is an achievement in itself.
Adam, thank you. I do strive for simplicity, to try to bring out the beauty of everyday things and common words. I am very encouraged by your comment.
What a lovely poem! I thoroughly enjoyed the radiance of this piece, and on a technical level I really love the inter-stanza rhyme—it’s a beautiful technique that is too scarcely used and seen. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Josh. I like challenges in poetry, but I don’t often surmount them well. I’m encouraged by your comment and those of the others.