Life is a circle,
old as my tongue,
and older than my teeth,
and older than my teeth,
a game out of joint, twitching
like an ancient Ferris wheel.
Is this checkers or chess?
like an ancient Ferris wheel.
Is this checkers or chess?
Curses pass between us
like kisses. Is Picasso
spelled with one 's' or two?
I hide to avoid
the ignorant, count to three
slowly, like in a movie,
then step away from the crazy.
like kisses. Is Picasso
spelled with one 's' or two?
I hide to avoid
the ignorant, count to three
slowly, like in a movie,
then step away from the crazy.
My naked hope
takes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world,
flying wild from this window,
takes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world,
flying wild from this window,
to join a flock of passing geese.
Tess Kincaid
October 13, 2010
A terrific poem, Willow, spare and a direct hit on what appears to be the intended target!
ReplyDeleteWillow,
ReplyDeleteI would have been first here if Blogger hadn't been napping, but # 2 is ok too!
"My naked hope
takes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world,"
Fall ignites the imagination to once again flee from the doldrums of day to day monotony.
If it's checkers I'm in but if chess it is I concede mate, but not the time played.
rel
At the risk of repeating Rel,
ReplyDelete"My naked hope
takes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world,"
really struck a chord. I'm so excited to start these up again!
That open door is such a temptation to flee! I agree!
ReplyDeleteCool! Here's mine
ReplyDeletehttp://thelunaticsdiary.blogspot.com/2010/10/kirimas-dangerous-honeymoon.html
Ah, to fly with the wild geese and run with the wolves...
ReplyDeleteThis one resonates so well with the open dutch door...every line works with the last "to join a flock of passing geese"!
ReplyDelete..or get in the car and drive!
ReplyDeletejust beautiful
"curses pass between us like kisses"
ReplyDeleteah yes I remember those days
"Flying wild from this window"
how often I have wished to do this, fly wild, step away from the crazy.And sometimes the crazy is within too.
Love the Janet Frame quote.
Beautiful poem--"spare," as George said, but in the best way.
ReplyDeleteCompelling indeed. Whoa.
ReplyDeleteMay I join you and the geese?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Ruth. Let's hit the skies!
ReplyDeleteRel, I prefer chess to checkers, but I'll play either, being the Libra that I am!
ReplyDeleteI've been on a Ferris wheel like that - twitching is the perfect description. I shudder at the memory.
ReplyDeleteWillow--
ReplyDeleteI love the image of eloping from a Tupperware world...
That touches my life so perfectly right now. I finished my little project today (hint) it will be flying your way tomorrow. K
ReplyDeleteFrom a tupperware world, lol. One day it will not be like that! Honest writing!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your poem, Willow. I do sometimes think it would be nice to leave this Tupperware world and join a flock of geese. Such freedom, and what a view!
ReplyDeleteOne has to fly with the geese now and then.....beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness...every poem of yours, every prompt, provides an escape. You keep doing good deeds...
ReplyDelete"Curses pass between us
ReplyDeletelike kisses." Love this!
'...elopes
ReplyDeletefrom a Tupperware world,
flying wild from this window,
to join a flock of passing geese.'
Very nice, Willow. :-)
"...My naked hope ...elopes from a Tupperware world...to join a flock of passing geese."
ReplyDeleteI think you are speaking in collectives right here, for all of us who are tired of curses and ignorance.
Can we join you?
reading the poem seems like i am with alice in wonderland. marvellous!
ReplyDeletethat is one wild, great escape :)
ReplyDeleteLakeviewer, yes, let's GO!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about life being a game out of joint!
ReplyDeleteVery our times poem. I have lived it. I'll take my drive now, breath some fresh air and turn on the radio..
ReplyDeleteyvonne
Dear Willow: There is a distinct angst in this poem, a futility yet an escape is offered. The persistence of memory; great image with the ancient Ferris wheel that repeats the circle image. Mind is confused, between "checkers or chess" "one 's' or two? "Count to three" like life is a child's game, trying to hold onto the fantasy of one's eternalized dreams and "naked hope". "Elopes" with the "passing geese". There is an erotic energy and difinitive gypsy spirit here with "flying wild" This poem is an excellent evocative of unrealized dreams. There is a self-imposed limitation in exile in this poem. Sounds like the self-examination found in middle age hence the 50's "tupperware" world of the somewhat montonous, boring conventionality world of the everyday which yearns with an eternal heart to break free from the chaos of continual sameness which can get "crazy"! Wholly relate!
ReplyDeleteDr. Chicco, when you count to three, will I be fully awake? ;^)
ReplyDeleteCan I just say, "What chiccoreal said"?
ReplyDeleteAnd the sort of poem I like, very much.
Love the ending, "naked hope" can't be a bad one to elope with (or can s/he?); in any case, a Tupperware world begs to be eloped from IMO, no matter who or what's out there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I hate Tupperware. For one thing, it's overpriced plastic, made to seal in (or out) the freshness. I just had to use it in this piece. It fit my message perfectly.
ReplyDeletelove the eloping from a tupperware world....heaven help us all on that....that is most of us write...I believe ...bkm
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Just loved it.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Shail
Geese?
ReplyDeleteSwans, more like it. ;)
But the flock of flying geese are highly organised and wouldn't want a fly by night free spirited escapee causing havoc in their slipstream. Besides which, they are a noisy squawking bunch and you'll soon wish you were back with plastic.Be really free and fly with and be where eagles dare...it's a rarified atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to analyse what makes your poetry so compelling. Help me out someone!
Your poem is mysterious and seductive. Like my favourite season: autumn. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Dear Willow, The Tupperware World....now that is something that needs to be escaped from, naked or otherwise!
ReplyDeleteI could willing join the flying geese today! Thanks for opening the window - or door- for us all, with this prompt! :)
ReplyDelete"elopes from a Tupperware word" is such a telling line!
ReplyDeleteBut just think of all those Tupperware parties when one's very life depended on having the right container. They solved all of life's woes. Really!
ReplyDeleteBurning off the dross!
ReplyDeletesetting the strange fragments
from dreams-to- waking, free...
need only taste the left over images for a few moments; and if one remains longer
just remain with it until it has done its job! Thanks! Great Magpie.
Dear Willow,
ReplyDeleteI am in a surreal dream and your poem is right at home.
I like your closing line....the sweetest! Thanks
ReplyDeleteAw, Jeff, you're so sweet. Actually, I do love that piece by Edna St. Vincent Millay about the wild swans. But geese, rhymed! :)
ReplyDeleteAll those poor dashed Tupperware parties. Thanks for the giggles, Derrick!
ReplyDeleteOh heck! Just get into my jet and lets fly home...loved these lines..
ReplyDelete'then step away from the crazy.My naked hope
takes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world'
What a great opening line:
ReplyDelete"Life is a circle, old as my tongue,
and older than my teeth". That is probably something that would not cross the minds of most people!
Love this dear Willow!
ReplyDeleteI often spend hours flying with the geese, feeing tupperware ... An open door is such an invitation, as is your lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteThat should be 'fleeing' ... my l absconded right through that door ...
ReplyDeleteMy naked hope
ReplyDeletetakes the queen and elopes
from a Tupperware world,
flying wild from this window,
to join a flock of passing geese.
cool lines,
love the imagery and matching words.
thanks for the stunning tale.
My dear, your poems are superb.
ReplyDeleteI also love that you read Rilke, too few people do outside of the German speaking world. Thank you for valuing my favourite poet.
Willow,
ReplyDeleteNice piece. Interesting possibilities for the mismatch. By all means, fly!
Trulyfool
Love it willow.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think of my poem from the other day (although of course mine is, um, not quite as poetic). It would be a Devious Detour indeed to fly away with the geese - tupperware be damned!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I thought I had made my comment
ReplyDeleteon this marvelous poem of yours,
but it seems that it must be over on
the Magpie side of your cyber pie.
This piece is riddled with fantasy
and angst and hubris and love,
partly cinematic like most of the
things you envision, iconography
strong in our nose hairs;
and those curse kisses could have
been passed from Henry Miller
or Dennis Miller or Denis Leary,
and be positive, in some warped
and darkly humorous way,
and even though you /hide to
avoid the ignorant/ bitches of
stupidity, rap, and Madison
Avenue still seek you out, even
there in the solace of the manor,
for the media streams its brew
into the quiet corners of your
domicile and your cortex, and
so like you /I count to three,
like in a movie/ and wait that
nano second for the scene
to change.
willow, this poem so completely rocks.
ReplyDeleteyour talent takes my breath away girl.
"...a game out of joint, twitching
ReplyDeletelike an ancient Ferris wheel." Boy, does this conjure up a picture or three?
I'll join the geese with you, let's leave the Tupperware behind!
ReplyDeleteLove the details in this one, Willow!
you are so talented...
ReplyDeleteI know ,
I think I've said that before... but it's true
So much good stuff in this poem. Whenever I write a poem I find myself flying with the geese.
ReplyDeleteHERE IS MINE
PG
Geese are the code for autumn, I think! This is a delightful poem - particularly like 'elopes from a Tupperware world'. Creatively current!
ReplyDeleteLove the poem Willow, so much sibilance and your imagery is beautiful...
ReplyDeleteRight about now...I'd love to join a flock of geese.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem!
I too would join you in fleeing from a tupperware world and fly with the geese!
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky to have Magpie.
ReplyDeleteWonderful piece!
'count to three
ReplyDeleteslowly, like in a movie,
then step away from the crazy'. You have my permission... not that you need it. Ummm...Honk if you are with the geese! :D
Just wonderful!
ReplyDeletelove the meaty imagery. such fun tumbling words out of mouth
ReplyDeleteSo much vibrant imagery in this poem - phrases leap out and catch in the memory. Plagiarism beware ;-)
ReplyDeleteLovely poems and thoughtful penetrating words
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking....especially the last 5 lines..read it many times and enjoyed every time..
ReplyDeleteWheee! Checkmate, Willow.
ReplyDeletegorgeous turns of phrase in here--I especially like "old as my tongue, / and older than my teeth" and "a Tupperware world".
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful poem - escape dreams, hope...desperate housewives meet the shawshank redemption!!
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful, dreamy poetry!
ReplyDeletefortune tellers
I agree with the lines ...I hide to avoid/ the ignorant ...
ReplyDeleteI do that 2. Smtimes it is more than I can bear 2 hear them.
Brilliant!
ReplyDelete"My naked hope" is one of the best lines I've read...
My my my my my....
ReplyDeletehow this line speaks to me...
>>>>>
Curses pass between us
like kisses. Is Picasso
spelled with one 's' or two?
>>>>>
Lovely...
My better late than never Magpie for this week.
Just love all the images in this one Willow....off with the geese we go! :-)
ReplyDeleteStrange, strange - life imitating art: as I hit that last verse a skein of about 20 geese flew over the house and away across the fields, honking away!
ReplyDeleteStrange, strange - life imitating art: as I hit that last verse a skein of about 20 geese flew over the house and away across the fields, honking away!
ReplyDeletelove the combined imagery of the need to flee and the flock of geese--great work!
ReplyDeleteOMG... This is so sweet.. I loved your take on the picture..
ReplyDelete--Someone Is Special--
You take the window to a new level, Willow.. and such beauty in thought.. I admire this poem for sure!
ReplyDeletewonderful. I really like the eloping from the Tupperware world and the ferris wheel image. The emotion, the need for flight, counting to three...brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of escaping from a Tupperware world. Flying out the door would be icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteArrrghhhh tupperware! On a personal note, Willow I thank you for bringing this fine group of ponderers together. Never have I read such a diverse group of writers. Your site makes me heart smile :)
ReplyDeleteWillow - a marvelous piece. And that's the whole, Tupperworn truth! *smiles*
ReplyDeletegosh, so many comments. What's left to say?
ReplyDeletetupperware is an image that strikes out from the piece for sure, but I also like;
Life is a circle,
old as my tongue,
and older than my teeth
as that is what "our" life is and it puts it in perspective.
love the prompts Willow; some days you hit me and others I am at a loss, but this one inspired me and many others it would seem
Thanks for all your wonderful comments, my friends. You fuel my muse. xx
ReplyDeleteMay I offer a third 's' ? As in 'awesomeness.' The Tupperware world image is truly outstanding!
ReplyDeleteCheck mate --- a perfect 'game of a poem...' I long to fly away with that kind of open air freedom...of the mind -- unchained not bound to earth by games, boredom or monotony of routine.
ReplyDeleteLovely twist of the open door to open minds and freedom.
Joanny
I have ridden a few of those twitching ferris wheels in my time! Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the road 'logging on' when I can but having problems leaving comments. Be assured, I am reading these wonderful Magpies.
This is utterly stunning.
ReplyDeleteSo many lines I could quote back - but I would end up quoting the whole thing. Tremendous.
First time visiting your blog. I am a fan.
And thanks for the comment on mine.