Tuesday 27 September 2011

Knowing When to Speak. . .

You speak of sheep,
the modern man asleep at the wheel.

While you, with your vigor and verve,
have your ready muse, pouring forth
from your elegant and tapered fingertips.

You do not see yourself, in the mirror of the parry
and thrust that you use to strengthen your ego
and reinforce the satin thread of your diatribe.

And as I walk your book lined corridor,
to the green walled den, that has your smell
and your superiority stamped onto its silk lined walls.

I yearn to tell you that an opal does not get its fire by learning,
that some things intrinsic and raw, have a power
that intellect has long forgotten.

But my eye is caught by a moth, fluttering,
blustering against the cold hard glass. Shut off
from the majestic trees and the moon, rising
like a great silver disk in the violet sky.

And I see it as an omen,
an oracle speaking in hushed tones,
talking of a deeper truth.

And it cuts so deep, that when
I open your slow and creaking door
and see that there is no light.

And that your studious eyes
are roaming my face like a map.
Looking for my lips. Searching
for the x that marks the spot
where the treasure is buried.

I swallow my tongue, smile,
and don't say a single word.


Written for The Sunday Whirl

19 comments:

Ed Pilolla said...

you are in this amazing magical place and i am hanging on your every word. the omen, your authoritative perspective of the other. the dark. the pace of the story you are telling. this is my kind of stuff:)

Susannah said...

Thanks very much Ed. :-)

Rajesh said...

Sue,
Different lines. A Millay and a Plath together writes in you :) Feels great to read you. BTW...is there a story behind the lines?

Susannah said...

Hi Rajesh,

No there is no story, it is just a tale that the 12 words in the prompt suggested to me. That is the fun, it takes me away from my usual more 'personal' style of writing. :-)

It is always good to see you Rajesh, I hope you are well.

Liz Rice-Sosne said...

This is a very lovely and well written poem!

Susannah said...

Thanks Old Raven, it is good to meet you.

Renee said...

I love this, Susannah! I believe that sometimes taking it all in before saying something is the best approach. As always I am drawn in by your words and the imagery they portray.

Susannah said...

Thanks very much Renee. :-)

Good to see you. x

goatman said...

I like the leading pathways of this one.
My father always used to tell us boys: "keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth closed".
Not sure that is good advice for life, maybe for love.

Susannah said...

Thanks for visiting goatman, it is good to meet you. :-)

Mary said...

This is a rivetting poem, Susannah! I was captivated as I watched the scene unfold. But now, I want to know what happens next? LOL.

gautami tripathy said...

Your poetry is always rich and mystical. It does things inside my mind.

Thanks!

much

Laura Maria said...

Such an interesting poem. It sucked me right in!

Judy Roney said...

Oh, wow! I sure wanted the writer to speak up or just get out. The moth certainly seems like an omen. The whole story is a great metaphor.

Susannah said...

Thanks very much everyone. :-)

Good to see you all. x

Eileen T O'Neill ..... said...

Susannah,

Led and lost into that special place.
Just about where 'X' does mark the spot!!!

Beautifully sensual...

Eileen

Susannah said...

Thanks Eileen, it is good to see you. x

Jinksy said...

"an oracle speaking in hushed tones,
talking of a deeper truth"

And in the quiet places and spaces is
much said... even as your words spoke to me.

Susannah said...

Good to see you Jinksy, thaks for popping in. :-) x

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