RETICENCE
Masquerading as a goddess,
she looks out upon the city
as her lover sleeps.
The city looks different to her,
now that he has come back.
She marvels at this,
as she presses her face to the
dark, cold glass of winter,
studying the lights,
and the buildings -
the bridges, and
the streets below.
Knotted tendrils of hair
fall over her shoulder,
and her legs tremble,
as she looks back to
her lover who beckons
to her now.
Glancing out the
window one last time,
she sees dark animals
running on a windy hill -
and pockets of luminous light
in a dark and foreboding sky.
24 comments:
I have often been accused of reticence. I love this K. Especially the last stanza, where you look to the wildness and it seems, wonder about the possibilities in a world that maybe hasn't always been so kind. I can so very much relate to that. Just beautiful.
It sounds like possibly, someone is having an especially interesting time as of late... ;-)
Beautiful picture of that place between the act and regret. Masquerading is too often what we do. Leaving behind the
"...dark animals
running on a windy hill"
amounts to leaving ourselves, donning the masks with reticence.
You always shine your light in interesting places.
ooo nice twist, klg :D
gives me the bladerunner blues......
I guess we all go through times of reticence.
You've captured this scene so vividly with these lines. It's alive..
I loved it.
Lovely imagery! :)
Hi Cat - I AM having an interesting time...I always do - but, the poem is not autobiographical in any way.
I wrote this poem after seeing a painting of a woman sitting on a window seat, wrappped in a bed sheet, staring out at the city.
I like your interpretation. Thanks!:)
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Hi Karen, between the act and regret - yes, that is what I felt about this woman in the painting. It was a painting of a woman, wrapped in a sheet - tousled, looking out the window at the city, with a sad expression on her face.
I imagined the rest of it. But, that is the feeling I got from the artwork - like she was a reticent lover...Thanks a million for your insights and your compliment. ;)
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Laughing Wolf - I appreciate that!
I'll be over in a few minutes to see what's new at Paws and Reflect.
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Ghost Dansing - thanks for chiming in!
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Margaret - so nice to see you. Now that I know you are back, I'll be over. And yes, we surely do go through times of reticence. It is part of being human. Thanks for the kind remarks.
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Bob - I appreciate your comment. :)
Have a wonderful weekend.
I agree...what an excellent poem! And I also love that last stanza. It is perfect.
You have a way of bringing a scene to life that is so visually strong. When I read your comment about the poem being inspired from a painting, I was doubly impressed. I was thinking of a painting as I read the poem. Not a painting in particular, but a lovely and mysterious scene of regret.
Beautiful, K. Send it out!! You're doing excellent work.
Julie, I appreciate your perceptive insights. This poem just sort of "hit" me while I stood in the gallery staring at the painting. You described the poem as "a lovely and mysterious scene of regret" - that is just what I had in mind.
So much of what we see in life is a continuum. Something starts as one thing and then blends into another, and another, and another -the process is seamless, so we see each object as a separate entity, but in truth everything in life is connected. I guess that is my philosophical speech on existence today.
Thanks so much for the comments and ecouragement. You are such a great blogger friend!! :D
Whenever we find something, or someone, maybe we also lose some part of ourselves. The balance is shaken, and we can't help but look with some longing at the place we occupied before.
K, your poetry manages emotional complexity, but with a great precision of words and style. It's not fussy or overwrought. It just is. And it's a pleasure to recognize that truth, and a kind of humble confidence, in such a beautiful writer as yourself.
You are a great teacher, K, though you never try to instruct. :)
Sarah - thank you very much for that wonderful compliment. It is gratifying to be recognized in such an eloquent way. Your remarks are most welcomed and received with highest regard. K.
Hi K! Thanks for popping by my poetry blog and now I'm here to see yours.
Interesting that we both are taken by writing poems from paintings (as well as every day events).
I'll be back!
Gordon - Welcome to Old Mossy Moon. Yes, I am inspired by a myriad of things and one is paintings. However, most times I write a poem and then find the artwork to accompany it. But, RETICENCE was inspired directly from artwork.
Many thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Hope you will come by again soon.
Something about this makes me not want to analyze, but to immerse in the moment. Your skills at painting a vibrant, miles deep slice of reality seem to be growing and growing. Wonderful work Kaye.
Jason - I appreciate your very kind critique. I wasn't real sure about posting this one, so I am glad that it has been well received. Thanks for always being supportive!
Beautiful poem....
this feels almost animalistic to me - the tendrils of hair, trembling legs - as if she belongs less with the city she is in and more with the dark animals she sees out the window - something wild & nocturnal bound up by a pretense of civility. perhaps not your intention at all, i just get that impression - either way, the tension here is almost tangible - this is a strong piece.
I had to come back to read again. So powerful. Your poems always make me want to come back for repeat reads, and that is a great thing.
I love your philosophical speech. We're all connected, right? I'm so glad you and I have connected in this poetry family:)
findingmywings - thanks for the visit and the comment. Hope you will stop in again. ;)
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Joaquin - I like your interesting interpretation very much. Yes, that prehistoric wildness which still lingers deep in our genes. The wonderful thing about poetry is you can extract the meaning you want for yourself.
I always appreciate your thought provoking insights. Thank you! ;)
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Julie - you are too kind. Glad you liked my speech. (lol) I agree, my friend - it is wonderful to be able to communicate about poetry and writing with people who are passionate about it - writers AND readers. Thanks for coming by to take a second look. ;)))
Love this poem!
Please check out the recent post on Psyche Connections. There is a well deserved blogger's award waiting there for you
Linda
This is so full of meanings, Kaye. I see light and dark symbols everywhere; even those knotted tendrils of hair I imagine them black while the lover beckoning is a light...(or is it the other way around?) :-)
Wonderful!
Linda - many thanks for the sweet comment. Thank you, too, very much for the award! It is gratifying to receive recognition from a blogger friend. I will be over today. ;D
Vesper - References to light and darkness frequently appear in my poems. It is sort of a re-occurring theme that runs along in my work. I am a lover of light, of shade and shadow...I've always paid attention to them in real life.
Thanks for your comment. I always welcome your thoughts.
I have been intrigued by the juxtaposition of the Chicago nightscape with this beautiful poem...opening up all kinds of potential interpretations of the city at night serving as a kind of liminal space between "the act" and "the regret" ... but like others have said, your poem stands on its own because it rings true, regardless of analysis. This is my favorite amongst your work as I know it.
Cagey - I am grateful for your very complimentary remarks. I consider it high praise coming from one whose poetry I admire. Thanks for including that this is your favorite of my poems posted on OMM. ;)
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