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miscellanea
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since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH

0 posted 2004-07-31 12:55 PM



If you've read Part I, you might want to skip on down to Part II to economize time. I think it will still work...

PART I  

    
Beautiful spinster lay to rest  
In chilled feather bed;
Her hands  caress
a cardboard jewelry box.
  
      White on black or black on white;
      It penned of him
      Of his black ink mazes:
      
            “YOU” start here  
            Go thin walls from arrow’s point
             Be careful the way you turn.
             Remember where you’ve been”

      The varied lines their width and shape
      Thinning walls to pinhole gates
      only a clever eye could  make
      Or follow.

She’d had her age of mazes
And determined  his not to try,
Had never opened the box,
But figured she should before she'd die.
  
       Her fingers momentarily twiddled
       A circle of gold mohair  
       Snaked along old finger
      
       Shaky palms unhinged the lid,
       Then she began to giggle.
       Underneath, another maze he’d hid.

                  With such intrique she wondered
                  Where for all these years he’d been.

             With this maze he versed:
  
                   "Through thin walls from an arrow’s point
                   Be careful the way you turn,
                    I’ll go with you every bit the end,
                    But for you,
                    I’ll set you free.
                      
                    Remember where we’ve been”

                  
            In the box, browned four leaf clover
            Resting upon soft cotton;
            Familiar to smiling eyes of once
            Unready lover
            

Part II


Through the night
The box of mazes
She held within her light.
Four leaf clover
Minding over
To dreams
of brighter might.
  
Then she awakened  
from feathers wrinkled nest,
Strolled to parlor
turned east
leaving
sallowed west.

On yellowed parchment
from desk she wrote
      
            
  
                        "I’m remembering where I’ve been
                       And still feel  arrow’s point.
                        Shall again we meet in field of clover
                        Though now, justa “little,”
                         just a tad bit older?"

          Addressed and stamped.
          But Something compelled her
          To envelope it with black maze
           “This is where you start
              This is where you end.”

             Letter sent, returned
             Addressee Unknown...
                    


© Copyright 2004 Cathy Farmer - All Rights Reserved
Midnitesun
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since 2001-05-18
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Gaia
1 posted 2004-07-31 02:13 AM


AW! guess you cannot end what didn't begin?
a poignant write  

Sunshine
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
2 posted 2004-07-31 07:00 AM


On yellowed parchment
from desk she wrote
      
            
  
                        "I’m remembering where I’ve been
                       And still feel  arrow’s point.
                        Shall again we meet in field of clover
                        Though now, justa “little,”
                         A tad bit older?"

          Addressed and stamped.
          But Something compelled her
          To envelope it with black maze
           “This is where you start
              This is where you end.”

             Letter sent, returned
             Addressee Unknown...

~*~

I would give my favorite fountain pen
to have you sitting across from me over
coffee, that we might share some thoughts,
and I've a place to take you, where this
very desk sits...

and the yellow parchment is sitting there,
waxed seal broken...
the ribbon still holding this, and all
of the other letters...

you travel the plains well, m'friend...
it's a pleasure having you on these
journeys....

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
3 posted 2004-07-31 07:20 AM


OK,Midnitesun and Sunshine, you've got me!  I had originally planned a happy ending but thought it a little sappy.  I'll try again to post an "alternative ending?"

                 miscellanea

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
4 posted 2004-07-31 07:34 AM


I think the ending is fine, dear.
All of life is not pleasant, and
sometimes we must face that reality,
and leave a little path to show that
we have traveled that road, too...


miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
5 posted 2004-07-31 07:49 AM


Shucks,Sunshine,
  This is just fiction, and I'm getting worked up over the ending?  Think if it were real?  Oh, the decisions people have in life to make!  Perhaps I'll personify a couple of worms instead of people next time--they'd be a little less easy to relate to!
  
Now that I've opened this can of worms...

    (If I was going to write a happy ending, I would simply remove the last two verses.)
                 misc'e

    

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla
6 posted 2004-07-31 07:49 AM


miscellanea
Well done, this happens to everyone in some form or shape, enjoyed.

miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
7 posted 2004-07-31 07:54 AM


Sy,
  I suppose you're right, but I feel so mean giving it a sad ending, leaving a bitter taste...
                 misc'e

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
8 posted 2004-07-31 12:55 PM


you know I like sad stuff, so I say leave the ending
Ericc
Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178

9 posted 2004-07-31 01:58 PM


What a beautiful flow of words!

Eric

iliana
Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434
USA
10 posted 2004-07-31 02:33 PM


Brava! Brava, Cathy.  Very pretty poem.  The old song "Crimson & Clover" came back to memory as I read it again.   ....jo
miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
11 posted 2004-08-03 07:31 PM


passing shadows,
   Thanks for the advice.  Yeah, I think I'll leave it this way. If anyone wants they can just delete the last two verses for a happier ending.   Thanks again.

                misc'e

Eric,
   So nice of you to say so!  It is you who has the beautiful flow of words!  
         misc'e

iliana,
   You're right!  That song does come to mind!  Now I'll be humming it all night!  
Glad you like it--I took out some of the more obvious bumps in the rhythym after we spoke.  It's funny how they are so easily overlooked when so close to the actual writing!  Thanks for your constructive help.
     LOve ya, Sis.

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius
since 2001-10-23
Posts 10549
By the Seaside
12 posted 2004-08-04 02:27 AM


I've read this over several times, and it is so loving and sadly beautiful.

The sentiment goes far beyond the heart.

Such a gentle and tender write, miscellanea~

Thank you for this~


miscellanea
Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060
OH
13 posted 2004-08-04 02:46 AM


Bluesy,
Thank you, dear Lady.  This is fiction, mostly... Take care.  I've been reading yours, too.  I don't know if I've commented on all of it, but I feel yours very deeply as well.  Thanks, Bluesy.
          sadelite

[This message has been edited by miscellanea (08-04-2004 03:18 AM).]

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