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Open Poetry #7
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Posing for a photograph...
| Open Poetry #7 |
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Posing for a photograph... |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium 
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Setting up the camera on a tripod Flashlights lit up, shining bright Asked me to sit on a stool, a gentle prod Made me look at the aperture, until it looked right. A reluctant me, posing for a photograph Strange subject, she perhaps thought, smiling bemused. Shy, introvert, village bumpkin, an epigraph, My uncertain blinking eyes were hardly amused. Click, went the first shot, a brilliant flash "Nah", she muttered, asked, "Why did you move?" There, I had triggered an unwanted clash, Said, "Can't you just get it through?" "No, I can't" she replied, "has to be perfect" "Smile gently, look here at the lens" "Be still, and please stay steady, bereft" "Of misery that your face shows immense" "Alright, and please try to make it quick" I wail, "The misery is from my slipping patience" "I had thought, posing for a photograph must be a trick" "Now, you are making me troubled in my conscience" I couldn't comprehend, the art of clicking a photograph Nor did I understand the choice of her subject For, I was a perfect caricature for an epigraph And to many a good eye, I had forever been a reject. Click, went the second shot, another equally brilliant flash, "Nah", she muttered, asked, "This time you didn't smile" A continuing clash, unnecessary hiccups, a bit too rash, A few more shots, and I lost the chance to have some style. "Sorry, you did not make it", she said, "You failed" "You captured my imagination, my heart swayed" "It is true, I fell for your obnoxious ways", she wailed, Dejected, saddened, I remain ruing my lost chance of being loved. Often now, when I sit by myself, staring At the wall of these empty rooms, sometimes, Looking out at the park, see lovers rejoice, hugging, kissing, 'Is posing for a photograph so difficult?' I wonder at such times. !!!IT PROBABLY IS!!! Life is like a painting, That in an art gallery is left hanging, Though many come just to look at it, A very few actually come to enjoy it. |
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| © Copyright 2000 Sudhir Iyer - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Trying to be perfect is sooooo exhausting...and totally unnecessary when true love is present. This is excellent, Sudhir! Denise |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
Wonderful comparative Sudhir! I really enjoyed this, and it brought back a sweet memory for me. There was nothing so annoying like posing and waiting (and posing and waiting) for my angelic grandfather to take "the perfect picture" with his little $5 instamatic ... such a long and lengthy procedure. When I was older, in sheer exasperation, I finally asked him "why" he took so long to get his perfect shot??? His answer was simply ... "it gives me more time to appreciate "you" ". Never again, did I complain. Wonderful poem (and thanks for the memories Sudhir). Best wishes, /Kit |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
Well, look at the bright side, Sudhir. At least you didn't get framed  Enjoyed the poem. |
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Corazon Senior Member
since 2000-02-02
Posts 1209 |
wow does this say a lot....and yes it is sad to not measure up to the picture in someone's mind....great writing  |
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brian madden Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 4374ireland |
Oh photographs, I remember having to pose for photographs after winning a poetry competition a while ago, I forget to smile for the phoographs well I kind of thought I was smiling, I had braces at the time so that was probably something to do with it but anyway everyone thought I looked pissed off. Sorry for going off on that tangent, I have forgetten my point myself. great poem, I guess I was trying to say I know the pain of posing for photographs, it is not easy. Maybe that is why models get paid so much. Still for that money it would be worth it. ------------------------ "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too? " Douglas Adams. "Here chewing your tail is joy" Richey Edwards "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time". Baltimore Grotto |
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netswan Senior Member
since 2000-03-28
Posts 1369Washington |
Sudhir! What a great comparison piece so full of imagery --- I am with Denise on this ----with true love one does not have to pose or pretend or be anything, but their own loveable self This is great writing! |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Enjoyed the underflying message and the smile. Good writing! |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Sudhir I enjoyed reading this...it gave me a big smile. Hope you have a more sympathetic photographer next time. James |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Denise, Kit, Balladeer, Corazon, Brian, netswan, Martie, James, Thanks to all of you wonderful people to have read this one, and I feel glad that this brought you a smile. Metaphorically, though, this one is sad, as the test of a photographer may be construed as a test of a lover, and the character having fallen short against her expectations, sits in a corner, gloomily, looking outside and feeling a jealous twitch inside his head, to wonder is it so difficult to please someone??? Anyway, thanks for all the comments. You people really know how to make a person at home... Regards, sudhir Life is like a painting, That in an art gallery is left hanging, Though many come just to look at it, A very few actually come to enjoy it. |
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shilpi Member
since 2000-05-24
Posts 73 |
Sudhir, i must say, this is a wonderful piece of poetry..... know whats the first thing it reminds me of? that, true love surpasses all differences and its more about accepting the flaws than enhancing the merits...... and.....she didn't deserve you, not the other way round !!! |
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Sudhir Iyer Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943Mumbai, India : now in Belgium |
Thanks a lot, Shilpi, you really cheered me up this morning...I see hope now for a better pose for the next possible photography session Regards, sudhir. |
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