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Open Poetry #48
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Lady Goodman
Member
since 2012-10-04
Posts 193


0 posted 2012-10-13 09:27 PM



While in the moment watching them
she was her
and he was him
the sun tossed roses at her feet
as it was swallowed by the sea
with one last ruse before the night
a wave's refraction of the light
cast starry twinkles in the net
of her hat trick's curtained eyes--
a cap she'd worn with pained regret
an aged woman's compromise
"half a veil is half the lie"
she'd whispered to her vanity
before she drank the shot of gin--
for pain, for courage, for the whim
to return to where they had been
in love and young and bold and free.

* *

She'd donned her finger-less lace gloves.
A scarf would hide the sins above
the blush of cleavage held in place
by an under-wired brace.
She'd splurged upon a sweet Renault
so she could wear the heels he'd bought
for her, for him, to kiss each toe
so slowly in caress of less
covering of supple sin.

*

The shoes were wrapped in tissue; she
massaged them with the oils of mink
as she'd revive his memory
by candlelight in drunken sprees
singing songs in French that she
had memorized, pretentiously.
(For harmless lies of vanity
were simple shrugs of sanity
and understood by men.)

* *

Each year she'd gone to their cafe.
The same tableaux, on the same day.
Her lips remembered words that they
had never said as mouths confess
urgent hungry promises
when lover's lips together, pressed
they're blessed in silent sanctity
betrothed by tongues of certainty
in flit and dart as serpentine
as chains to future's past.

* * *

"I'd like my table with the view."
The hostess sighed, and asked, "Did you
make a reservation, ma'am?"
"I don't believe I understand--
of course, I did, I always plan
to sit right there, this month, this day--
I've always done this, the same way!"

* * *

"That table has been taken, ma'am."
The lovers sat, their hands entwined.
"That table's open to the sky--
ask them to move, oh tell them I
need to watch the sun set free.
He said I was his bird, that he
would become the sky for me
so he could hold me while I fly....
oh why does no one understand?
Where is Claude? I'm cold, I...am--


* *

weary, wary,

yet--

I am.

Just seat me, please.

I can not stand."

* * *

While in the moment watching them
she was her
and he was him
the sun tossed roses at her feet
as it was swallowed by the sea.

* *

She savored her merlot.

* * *


© Copyright 2012 Lady Goodman - All Rights Reserved
latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
1 posted 2012-10-13 10:31 PM


Junior member? This is lovely, not expected to be written by a "young member". Or are you just new to the page and therefor called junior member? What ever the story is this poem is lovely and written with deep respect and it seems with understanding. thank you , jo perry
Lady Goodman
Member
since 2012-10-04
Posts 193

2 posted 2012-10-13 11:09 PM


Why thank you, Jo.

*love you muchly*


Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
3 posted 2012-10-14 01:12 PM


Exquisite and so generous in emotions launched into the heart of the reader. Wow!

This is one I will save to savor again, just like a fine glass of ... Merlot .

Margherita

Lady Goodman
Member
since 2012-10-04
Posts 193

4 posted 2012-10-14 07:23 PM


Thank you very much, kind ladies.

And yes, it's me, Karen/serenity blaze.

and nope, not in hiding.

I just re-registered when I lost my password.

grin--I don't mind being a junior, either, Jo.

It's like I am young again. *laughing*

"Oh if I could do it all over..." People would still know it was me, methinks.



My love and gratitude for your generous replies. Be well, dear ladies.

ebonygirl
Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000
California U.S.A
5 posted 2012-10-14 11:22 PM


Wow, love the story ... in poetry!
Ms. E

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
6 posted 2012-10-15 12:13 PM


Serenity lady, You must have known I though it was you. It just sounded like  your writing as I read it. I am glad you are back with any name. I don't think you can disguise who you just by changing your name unless you were really trying to. love ya as much as ever. jo
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
7 posted 2012-10-15 10:50 AM


Tableaux, vignette...
beauty and sadness combined
by any other poet...

can not
out-do
you.



r v wooo
Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656

8 posted 2012-10-15 11:19 AM


An excellent story poem...oh, what story tales...a French table tells...only to relive a moment in time. Though the characters change...the moment remains the same...to be relived again and again.

Ah, you enable me to feel the emotion of having loved...being left alone...growing old...and trying to relive the moment encased in a memory.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
9 posted 2012-10-15 02:41 PM


Simply wonderful...a pleasure to read...thank you...James
Lady Goodman
Member
since 2012-10-04
Posts 193

10 posted 2012-10-15 03:20 PM


Thank you all...I really didn't know what I was going to write when I had started. I've been told many times that I write too personally, and so as I was thinking of my mother's loneliness I realized that there must be many women, many people, who are the last of their generation, with no one left to exchanged shared memories--even things as simple as styles of clothing, places that have come and gone, as well as how unsettling it must be to wake up everyday, and come to terms with a world so very different.

My heart was aching for her, as she quite often says that no one understands, or why she repeats herself so often when she says, "they're all gone." As the head of a busy household, I can relate to how many times she must have said, "I just need some time to myself." I can relate because I say that too.

And it's too bad I couldn't write this in French, but then, not knowing French except for a few songs, I thought that would be pretentious.

My love to you all.

"half a veil is half the lie"

Lordy.

My love to you all. And nope, not another true serenity story. I'm trying something a little new for me.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
11 posted 2012-10-15 04:03 PM


Ahhh . . . Sadly beautiful . . . To love the past cannot be all that bad when the future is uncertain yet certain as the tomb. My friend, this was hurtful, yet so wonderful, I lived and breathed each line. Each sigh. Each . . .

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Lady Goodman
Member
since 2012-10-04
Posts 193

12 posted 2012-10-15 04:14 PM


Jer? The folks who said I was writing too personally were correct. That became apparent to me when I had to stop writing for a time because it was so painful that it depressed me.

So now I just make people up. Then I feel sorry for the fictional people who must carry my emotional baggage. (I'm laughing, but they do become that real for me...)

Have a hug, my friend. With my gratitude for reading this.

Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
13 posted 2012-10-15 04:31 PM


Wow, the emotional depth to this piece is amazing...  from the freshness of new love to the aching need of one so attached to a memory life can seem impossible without it.  Beautifully rendered.

Michael

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
14 posted 2012-10-15 09:57 PM


Personal...is a poets first name. Always.

r v wooo
Senior Member
since 2007-08-07
Posts 656

15 posted 2012-10-18 12:23 PM


Lady G, one's personal domain is one's idioverse...don't ever leave the personal...but... study it!...to know thy self.
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