Here is my latest poem, a day later than I planned. Circumstance and a mild virus conspired against me. As always, feedback and constructive criticism are much appreciated. This came together pretty quickly once I settled on the Three Fates motif (with thanks to Alicia for that inspiration).
Transparent (To Alicia)
by Francis Scudellari
Her life on a spindle,
slowly spins out, into
a too delicate thread;
knowing if not caring
hands weave in odd patterns
to make a broader cloth.
They bleach it, bony white.
They stretch it, transparent.
They dab it, fine-dust it
with mixed pigment palette--
butterfly-wing powders,
a bright-hue camouflage.
Over measured, hungry
days, rude visitors come.
They bump, up against her.
They feel, to fill a lack.
They smudge, her covering tints;
continue on, smugly
clap fatty hands, to rid
themselves of rubbed-off bits;
her color haphazard
pilfered now, then carried
off on indiff'rent breeze--
whorled wisp, smoky sparkling.
In sunset's cutting hour,
Atropos' polished blades
casting an orange light,
she senses herself fade
to too pale shade, the years
of so many touches
leaving a lone, small speck--
a bluish smear. She waits,
still, so unsure, whether
to fear the next visit
or hope, to meet that fate,
who puts the colors back?
9 comments:
Interesting and contemplative. I'm reading two and three times, just to try and figure out what she is. A scarf, tablecloth, dress, or simply a scrap left over from the making of another garment. I like the unknown.
This is fabulous. Like Eric, I'm not sure what the poem's subject is - a tapestry, a butterfly?
But the imagery, as always, is beautiful.
Hi Francis,
Yes, I agree with Eric, it makes one peruse and contemplate on the true meaning of the poem, Brilliant and interactive, what a true poem should be.
Your drawing is live now at my gewgaw blog. I composed a poem and used your drawing. Thanks for allowing me to.
Cheers and God bless.
I needed an awesome dose of Francis' prose,it seems to be on another level although I've been away for a while, it is always a breath of fresh air to see your creativity. I also love the Zazzle shirts! I might have to snag one.
Charles Sapp
I swear Francis if I didn't know better I would say you were writing about our flag and America.
But, your thoughts are always much deeper than mine. It takes a much greater thinker than me to interpret your writings.
But, you certainly are talented!!!
@Eric I don't know that she's definitively anything, but a life and a fragile one at that.
@Catherine I don't know if an explanation of what was in my mind will help clarify or just make it more confusing, but let's just say it's an abstraction of human life in the form of a piece of cloth.
@Jena In some sense there is no definitive meaning, just the impressions of what was in my mind at the time I wrote it. Obviously my thoughts move in strange directions ... but another hint is the reference I make to the Moirae or Three Fates of Greek myth.
@Charles Great to see you again... I have to pay a long overdue visit to your sites as well :).
@Jackie Thanks so much ... I may not have been thinking of the flag consciously, but that's an interesting interpretation.
Brilliantly done, i read it a few times as well, but the abstract becomes so many different things for your readers.
@Cooper I think the key is that I don't even know exactly what it is I'm writing about either :). And I'm only half joking.
hi! just dropping by. ;-)
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