Sunday, November 27, 2011

So Far

Image by Christine Donnier-Valentin
via Magpie Tales



So Far


I know where the cushions are buried,

stolen after one of those nights,

deep in between and underneath and hidden –

the wall is also my tombstone.



It was me: snuck them off to enlarge a posterior view

brocade red and plump:

now lying denuded, a mere frame of her former comfort.

Exposed to the wind and the rain and the scorn of passersby

hard up against the wall

(convict built, brick by hand-formed brick

frog-marked and irregular).

A kind of beauty

unseen and shunned

like my naked lap.



Thanks to Tess for hosting Magpie Tales and providing the prompt.  Many more in the showroom.

28 comments:

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

deserted beauty,

how cool.

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

Startlingly exquisite poem-- many bravas to you.... all of a piece and each image/statement earning the next! xxxj

Jinksy said...

Enlarging a posterior view? Hehehe! Guess where my mind went?

anthonynorth said...

A mystery explained with beautiful words.

Berowne said...

It's always important, vital, to know where the cushions are buried... :-)

Tess Kincaid said...

I love your explanation of the naked lap!

Laurie Kolp said...

Lovely explanation of those missing cushions.

izzy said...

Great, especially how you began!

Kathy Bischoping said...

Frog-marked is delicious and convict-built, a Dickensian treat.

Doctor FTSE said...

The Missing Cushions mystery solved at last. Nice Magpie.

Martin said...

Your description of the wall is great. I love the texture it brings to the poem.

Unknown said...

great observation some may say a urban street art installation ....thank you for sharing x

Trellissimo said...

Burying cushions would take a lot of digging... :)

Helen said...

... love where you took those cushions!

said...

I love this line:
"deep in between and underneath and hidden"

And oh my, your closing:
"unseen and shunned
like my naked lap"

This is a very moving piece.

Tom said...

such imagery, wow. and i really like the contorted vine/plant/thingy picture on your sidebar. nice

Brian Miller said...

hehe some nice word play in here...the posterior view and your naked lap they play well together...lol

Maggie said...

Wonderful take. The cushions, the cushions.

Other Mary said...

I like that you dealt with the wall too. Love the use of the word 'denuded' and then the 'naked lap' at the end. What a little gem!

CHummelKornell said...

'Naked lap'...bring those cushions back! So well done, thank you.

Zoe said...

This is exquiste - the words roll and drip succulently together. And I got a giggle out of the cushions too.

ds said...

Gorgeous writing, Isabel. I loved "frog-marked". Thank you for this!

rel said...

There are no memories in a new sofa such as these!
rel

Lyn said...

A very fine take on this.."A kind of beauty"...it does seem to last!

jabblog said...

An abandoned sofa is a sorry sight.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Excellent Magpie!

Anna :o]

Anonymous said...

nice word play

chiccoreal said...

Dear Isable: The analogous couch to woman was exactly on my parallel too! I think the "unseen and shunned like my naked lap" seems to echo something that happens for reasons I have questioned but not answered. "How unfair" is my final answer, couches should be in praise of older couches, especially all those pockets where crumbs end up!