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Open Poetry #37
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playing.with.crayons
Member
since 2006-01-02
Posts 362
Neverland

0 posted 2006-02-05 12:14 PM



He ushered me through
a heavy wooden door
laden with promises
and dripping golden ashes.

He advances
finger pointed in the air
and fanged teeth gleaming

I'm to watch a play tonight.

The first scene flickers
and dances in front of my eyes
A newborn baby
swathed in pink
Eyes creased and mouth indignant
as proud parents rest
Wearily ecstatic

The second scene
A little girl
Eyes wide
hand clinging to the bedpost
As the storm outside
beating her window with its angry fists
sends her into hiding
under a blanketed refuge.

The Third Age
a long black dress
with long black sleeves
Eyes hooded
plagued with memories
Close
and a white hand traces the scars.

The fourth scene, fourth Age
Is a woman
Eyes wild
and bare skin displayed
her laughter is enamoured
filling the timid with dare
and swallowing days
as fast as she can take them.

Then, a red-faced woman
with hard fought beads of sweat
ornamenting her face
And a final push and final scream
are rewarded with a wail.

And so begins the Sixth Age
Gentle lines of knowledge
fanning from her eyes
and hair colour faded weak to show
A weathered hand runs fingers
over a leather-bound photo album
and she sees tomorrow sliding away.

The Seventh Age
I see shifting silhouettes
and shadows against the wall.
A baby wails
woman laughs
And I see a photo falling

“I know,” I whisper

He questions how I understand
The Seventh Age

But before I answer
I turn to listen
To the final curtain call.

*              *                *

An assignment - a modern response to Shakespeares "Seven Ages of Man". No pressure, of course...

   http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/webstuff/poetry/Shakespeare-TheSeven.html  


© Copyright 2006 cheye - All Rights Reserved
The Lady
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-12-26
Posts 7634
The Southwest
1 posted 2006-02-05 12:19 PM



Ahhhh! Nicely done!



playing.with.crayons
Member
since 2006-01-02
Posts 362
Neverland
2 posted 2006-02-06 03:22 AM


*grinning* thank you xxx
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