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wordancer
Senior Member

since 2000-07-30

Posts 809
VA

0 posted 2014-05-24 08:45 PM

Isabella's Photograph

Your picture in sepia, a monochrome
of the past surfacing in an old album.

High neck, straight-laced prim and proper
fair-faced untouched by yesterday's sun,

Weighed down in black velvet, heavy pearls,
a locket and twin dangly earbobs.

Is your hair long, but twisted-up tight
to hold all those ancient dreams?

And those far-knowing eyes bordered
with careful flirtatious bangs,

What do they see so confined and contained
while waiting for that flash in time, and

As you stare out at this future generation
is your face in sepia . . . still dreaming?

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.
~Mark Strand

Redstart
Senior Member

since 2014-05-16

Posts 535

1 posted 2014-05-24 09:37 PM

Those eyes are dreaming, be sure of it. I'm wondering too if her hair is long. It would look magnificent draped around her shoulders.
One thing's for sure: she is haunting; as are your words.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2014-05-24 10:21 PM

Oh boy, did you ever capture your mother's/grandmother's sense of being. I so love these old pictures from the past. This one was mightily rendered. What caught my eye first and my eyes lingered on it, was her half smile/half grimace, as thought she was thinking of a joke, maybe even a ribald one when the picture was snapped. A very handsome woman. You could get away with calling a woman handsome back then.

~*~ The poor wish to be rich, the rich wish to be happy, the single wish to be married, and the married wish to be dead. ~*~

Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis

since 2007-09-16

Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California

3 posted 2014-05-25 02:47 AM

I love old photographs and I love this poem.
In fact I'm becoming a fan of your poetry.
Ida

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

4 posted 2014-05-25 11:20 AM

The picture, alone, speaks volumes, my friend and yours words, well that just add to the beauty and tie it all together and a neat bow.

j.

wordancer
Senior Member

since 2000-07-30

Posts 809
VA

5 posted 2014-05-25 12:05 PM

Thanks everyone, guess I should admit that this is not a family picture, well not mine. A internet friend on another board shared this picture from her family album and those eyes, oh those eyes, inspired me.

2islander2
Member Ascendant

since 2008-03-12

Posts 6825
by the sea

6 posted 2014-05-27 01:22 AM

a picture stops the time, and reveals unknown things to the viewer, this poem isabella's insight with accuracy and beauty,
yann

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

7 posted 2014-05-27 06:36 PM

a pleasure to read...James

latearrival
Member Ascendant

since 2003-03-21

Posts 5499
Florida

8 posted 2014-05-27 10:36 PM

love the photograph.I have so many in boxes and feel terrible that I have not sorted all by family connections and put into an album. truly enjoy your posting with the poem, Jo Perry

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