Wednesday, November 10, 2010

bling

I wear a necklace of dew
that dangles between
my breasts and takes me
by surprise, like a burglar.
I pretend it’s accidental,
time-warped, like a fly
in amber. I’ve forgotten
the password. Why does my
mind stray? The sing-song
timbre plays hurdy-gurdy,
says I’m not too clever,
my life’s half over. Who
is this shrink-wrapped
omnibus, this woman
disguised as a bookmaker?
I look long in the mirror
and watch myself think.



Tess Kincaid
November, 2010


Would you like me to read it to you?




89 comments:

  1. This was lovely. I enjoyed listerning to it's melancholy smoothness. Also, I can relate to it so well. "Who is that lady in the mirror?" I ask myself, as I expect to see a youthful face which no longer exists.

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  2. Dear Willow, How wonderful to hear your poetry read....such a treat. With advancing years, the size, situation and lighting of mirrors takes on a special significance....otherwise, as you write, one can be taken by surprise!

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  3. Too many unpleasent surprises lurking in my mirror - I love the images you have created here.

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  4. I would love for you to read it to us. I so enjoyed hearing your words read on that other website (sorry it escapes me just now - my mind also strays).
    My life is half over, yes quite a large thought.

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  5. How brave of you willow to be able to say 'my life is half over.' I can say my life is 3/4 over if I live to be 100. So where does that leave me.
    Thank goodness I am not worried about it. I am just so amazed at your ability to set this up so that you can read your poems to us. Made me think, however.
    QMM

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  6. And what you see in the mirror should give you much joy..it does so for countless others..always, thanks...

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  7. Willow,
    I 2nd Lynn X2.
    I,m jotting a post at the present moment and I'll be back with a more cogent comment as re: the poem, if and when... Leaving for Vegas this PM.
    rel

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  8. I think we all do this to a certain extent; man and woman alike.

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  9. Oooh, that necklace of dew that dangles between my breasts...
    What a vibrant word picture - I felt it!

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  10. Interesting poem -- quite thoughtful. Philosophically, the physical self is the material that eventually fades, as all of life does -- yet, it is the spirited soul that remains exuberant -- it will not fade, unless you let it. -- barbara

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  11. I always try to read your poetry as I think you might read it yourself. When I hear your voice it becomes that much more special. So poignant. This is a very special picture.

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  12. Exquisite dear Willow, made moreso by your reading.

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  13. That's gorgeous, Willow - as is the Monkey-Queen necklace. I don't know whether the parallels were intended, but it seems to me there's a certain amount of self-mockery in the way this little creature - all dressed up in diamonds and pearls - prances on the pendant.
    I feel that I've questioned the face that looks back from the mirror my whole life - it's just that the question keeps changing...the answer too...

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  14. I can't look 'long' in the mirror. Only long enough to make sure my hair isn't standing on end and I don't have any veggie bits stuck in my dentures. LOL
    Beautifully done. A lovely read.
    -- K

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  15. Yes, Geoff, the parallels were intended, and I'm glad you picked up on them. I was born in the Chinese year of the monkey, thus the Monkey Queen necklace, in all its silly bling.

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  16. Nice spoken out loud.
    ... watch myself think...
    something to focus on.
    -J

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  17. I look in the mirror and watch myself regret what I see.

    Your version is better.

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  18. love the voice-over! technology is so cool! haha

    the last line... perfectly finishing the entire piece.

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  19. Insightful poem, love the feel of that necklace, how your words create that for us. I can imagine the weight of it, I have several necklaces that are quite heavy, but I can't bear to part with them.

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  20. "My life's half over."
    So's mine. But don't forget, that glass is also half-FULL.

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  21. Terresa, the particular "necklace" in this piece is a menopausal one!

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  22. very nice willow...hurdy gurdy is such a cool phrase...never too old though...

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  23. Fantastic!!!
    resonates with me in more than one way ;)

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  24. I love the addition of hearing you read. Wow. lovely photo and lovely poem.

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  25. I liked what you wrote, but I will have to go back to listen. Thanks.

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  26. loved hearing your voice, giving substance to the words, keeping me grounded in this moment. You have reached deep, images and objects both ethereal and substantive. Who are we?

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  27. Fantastic poem of introspection.
    Particularly loved

    ...Who
    is this shrink-wrapped
    omnibus, this woman
    disguised as a bookmaker?

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  28. This was my first time hearing a blogger's voice.

    You've got a nice one.

    And it is a nice one.

    TFool

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  29. I love the way that this unravels into the corners of your mind and ends with you looking in the mirror

    wonderful

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  30. loved hearing you read it. i'm so stealing this idea.

    :)

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  31. Chinese year of the monkey, Menopause = the necklace. THIS is why I wait and reread your poems again after everyone has chimed in. My brain will start to wrap themselves around the inner meaning of poetry soon, but until then, I need someone to hold my hand. Truly a lovely, insightful poem.

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  32. i loved it - the fly in amber, the forgotten password and i too watch myself think sometimes - actually right now...your poem made me think and there's a mirror in my daughter's room where i sit right now..

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  33. I loved this Willow, my favourite of yours so far, beautiful imagery and gorgeous sing song feel to the poem.

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  34. Margaret, you know, the necklace of "dew", of the hot flash variety. Surely some of you understand what I mean.

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  35. Sometimes the mirror reflects back pleasant surprises, too.

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  36. "I look long in the mirror
    and watch myself think"

    You strike a chord here!
    Your poems do have attitude, Atwoodesque, I'd say.
    Love it!

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  37. Love the fly in amber image! So many layers in this piece.

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  38. Merisi, you know how much I adore Margaret Atwood. Thanks for the huge compliment!

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  39. "look long in the mirror
    and watch myself think". Mmmm... I wonder if you really do. But if you mean that you are aware of the subconscious as it throw gems at you as yours clearly does, I understand.

    BTW, thanks for the birthday wishes! Still working up the (silly) birthday poem. :-)

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  40. Lovely poem - I especially like your mind wandering. Even last night I was chastising myself for not keeping on task in my own brain. My necklace of dew isn't a necklace - it's a mustache! Makes it hard to put makeup on some days LOL.

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  41. The words 'hurdy gurdy' remind me of the monkey music box in Phantom! Your poem is entrancing ... a reminder that life is precious.

    No long looks in the mirror for me ~ I am in the homestretch.

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  42. Beautiful, TK.
    Really loved it.

    But could you talk slower...I'm from...well, you know. ;)

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  43. We could all stand to spend some time in the mirror watching ourselves think must of don't know ourselves very well! Great as always Willow!

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  44. I'll have to show this one to my sister, Claudia, who's having intense hot flashes these days! This is poignant and very touching, Tess. I feel like I'm seeing a different human being when I look in the mirror these days! What is it they say--that every seven years, all of our cells are completely different--so I suppose I AM a different person!

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  45. Willow, dear one, when those
    menopausal dew bubbles became
    pearls dangling between your
    breasts--you hooked me; the rest
    of the poem could have been a
    recipe for corn bread; it just did
    not matter. Your introspective
    nature engages us, and your poetic
    honestly thrills us, and your language
    puts us in naked awe of your talent;
    /the sing-song/timbre plays hurdy-
    gurdy/ puts my mind mid-rainbows,
    plunged into Victorian carnivals.
    Your view of middle age, hopefully
    as an apex or vertex, hits home with
    most of us. Thanks for the peek inside.

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  46. oh that mirror, it seems to catch me too.

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  47. I can't seem to get past that first line! Oh yes, the line "the sing-song timbre plays hurdy gurdy" also captivated me.

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  48. This is tremendous. I am only beginning to learn how to look in the mirror myself. It's taken a while....

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  49. Those mirrors can be decieving... or tell more than the truth than we care to hear.

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  50. What an awesome poem. I think we all need a necklace like that!

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  51. Indeed beautiful poem, Willow. I love your poetry! And, please, your life cannot be half over?

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  52. Ah I love audio bytes so nice to hear what bloggers sound like. Don't look in the mirror. I find it very youthful.

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  53. this is like a prehistoric treasure, willow! it deserves a writerly contemplation.

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  54. The necklace of 'dew' is an apt image, Willow. I too enjoyed the reading. The flatline put me in mind (again) of the Plath BBC readings. Go listen to them, they are on U-tube.

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  55. I take that back! I have just listened to a few of them again - she is much too melodramatic. I prefer your style.

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  56. Very nice,,,some melancholy,,,sweet poem!

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  57. Images come to mind. I feel you are very comfortable in your skin. And as comfortable looking at that mirror. Me? I have 3 hugh mirrors im my bedroom alone. So, I guess that says a lot. No, I am not the vain fussypot type!

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  58. How can a forever young poet think her life is half over . . . ?

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  59. Thats a beautiful piece... Absolutely loved it!!
    Have a great day:)

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  60. After reading the poem (twice) I glanced back at the title and decided it was pure genius.

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  61. You have made some more changes to your blog, I enjoyed looking around and still think of your blog as one of the classiest blogs around.

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  62. That is very poignant & beautiful.

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  63. Liked the juxtaposition of old images(fly in amber, hurdy gurdy) with modern(password, bling,shrink-wrapped) Excellent, short, direct, and effective work. Glad to have found Magpie, and your site.

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  64. You use such beautiful words in this poem. I pictured myself in front of a mirror, feeling the necklace around my neck. Your words had that effect. :)

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  65. "..The sing-song
    timbre plays hurdy-gurdy,
    says I’m not too clever,
    my life’s half over.." Must be the mentioned of a hurdy-gurdy that conjures thoughts of Donovan.

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  66. Beautiful Tess... you & the words. It was lovely hearing you read your poetry!

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  67. That necklace would make one stop and think about things! Nice Magpie.

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  68. the bling carries a story... i love the image of that willow... a new you has emerged within you... excellent magpie this week and when i saw you were first could not help but to pass by... glad i did...

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  69. I enjoyed this whimsical piece. :)

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  70. Elegant and poignant metaphor. Your reading enhances the words and the layers.

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  71. A satisfying poem and a clever extended metaphor.

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  72. lovely...I went a totally different direction!

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  73. It was lovely listening to you read it. Mirrors are to be avoided the older you get. Nice Magpie.

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  74. Heya! Sorry for me not doing my poem soon. My poem is at http://inkflowsforth.tumblr.com/ if you want to comment on it! This is a secondary blog which I blog every other day. I hope you like it!!

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  75. This poem...really speaks to me...actually brought tears to my eyes..can I identify...
    I am transferring my position within my field...a leap for sure... to a brand new office with young intelligent and sweet women...they think I am much younger than I am..not because of looks..by personna...auras are ageless.

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  76. Poetry is so nourishing to my mind and I am so glad to have found your blog! Truly lights up my insight ignited by yours.

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  77. thought provoking.. I loved it..

    --Someone Is Special--

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  78. When poets read their work it makes so much more sense. There is sense and emotion in the voice which the paper version does not convey. Loved the reading. I could be blind (like my sailing mate)and still i could enjoy great writing. That's something of a relief.

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  79. Thanks again, dear readers. The pleasure is certainly all mine. I love to share my poetry with you. xox

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  80. Willow i so enjoy hearing you read your beautiful poetry...it adds something special to it....this one is so captivating and thought provoking...so many questions to ponder here....ones we all ask...in the mirror...truly a lovely poem! :-)

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  81. I loved hearing the poem read. It was a great poem and the reading made it even more special. This evokes a lot of emotion and thought. Loved it!

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  82. Willow, I loved this prompt. And hearing your voice read the poem was a special treat. The prompt spoke to me this week and this was a good time to jump back in. Thinking of life being half over is startling; hmmmmmm so startling to consider that. Where's my 20 year old face??

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  83. perfection
    Great imagry and such real feelings echoed.

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  84. "I look long in the mirror
    and watch myself think."

    ah, a challenging thing. Sounds like you are getting to know a stranger. So many of us too busy to slow down long enough to hear our own words, to look into our own eyes.

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  85. Brilliant poem. I so want to hear to read it too. need to get eh link issue worked out--it is on my end as I am using a proxy to surf since I am in a public setting.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)