she had thought of arresting the gush
of exuberant heart swelling hot and overfilled
she would be serious now, as serious was called for.
once, she’d known the game and all the rules.
she played strategically with eyes wide,
mouth a continuous soft surprised shape —
gathering all garnered grace.
she became as roses and
zipped a dress over them petals
with a come-hither smile.
one day she grew tired of control.
burnt the poems in praising hand
unzipped the dress,
released the hoarded blooms
which fell to earth and
finding herself empty
stepped
out of it.
walking as teeming soil
beneath fine fractured skin
soaking in
sky’s unconditional
monsoon tears,
she was a garden
not
a vase.
***
Image source: Tumblr, but original artist appears to be Eva Patikian. https://www.instagram.com/sirelissphotographie/
Inhaling & exhaling words & images from current vantage point in Zone of Emptiness, France. Thank you for reading. ❤︎
Hey, is this an ekphrastic poem? I ask because if you wrote that and just “happened” to find that feature image, WOW!
Whatever the case, I love the imagery of hoarding, then spilling, the roses. How at first they filled her meaning, and then were merely bloating. And not because they were “bad” but because she had been looking at her role with the wrong eyes.
Or, perhaps, I completely mis-read this. I’m not very gooder with the poetry despite my focus in college. That was a LONG time ago, so there’s a lack of practice, too.
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Oooh, first encaustic and now ekphrastic… love the words you keep giving me! I think you’re much gooder at the poetry and art vocab, Aeryk…
It started as a feelings vent and then the line with roses popped in but it was different than above (it was “she was made of roses” I think), but that line popping in reminded me of this dress-with-roses post image which I saw back in February (it truly is amazing is it not?), and thus which may have in fact inspired that line (unconsciously), and the poem began to (consciously) change from that point on… in the end, I really worked this one, a little too much perhaps… have mixed feelings my choice of end version…
On second thought yes let’s go with ekphrastic poetry, that sounds a heck of a lot better. ;))
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“Love is a Rose and you better not grab it!” a line from a song I once heard
Flower, Garden or vase
beautiful poetry
doesn’t come close
to describing your beautiful writing
Nor you
I love your beingness
Dr. Bob
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Oh this is so kind… really lovely words as always. You’ve made my heart so happy. Love that song line too. Thank you!! <33
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and I will be waiting for her resulting fruits 🐱👤🎺😎
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😍🍊🍓🥝🍉🙏😌
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looks yummy and nutritious 😋🤩
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Absolutely spectacular Nadine. So elegant and done with such a light touch. One of my faves of yours for sure.
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This is so kind Matthew and I don’t at all feel deserving of this praise… but I so much appreciate it, especially from you.
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Lovely appreciation for words
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Thank you! 😊🙏
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