Now it has become
a love narrative
something conceptual
strangely enough
it has taken on the shape
of plump lips
of plump lips
I find myself compelled
to take running leaps
airborne for at least a minute
airborne for at least a minute
before landing
between the cushions
in the crease of your smile
between the cushions
in the crease of your smile
tk/November 2011
R.A.D. Stainforth's charming reading of this poem:
(visit his fascinating blog Black Dogs here)
R.A.D. Stainforth's charming reading of this poem:
(visit his fascinating blog Black Dogs here)
To join Magpie Tales creative writing group click here.
image: Christine Donnier-Valentin
nice...my boys have a thing for jumping on the sofa right now...like the comparison to lips...so comfortable and then diving between...
ReplyDeleteNow it is MINE!!!! Unless Brian carried it off...if he did, he'll find me between those cushions when he tries to watch Sesame Street tomorrow morning!
ReplyDeletelips as a sofa....amazing comparison my friend....brilliant.
ReplyDeleteGod. If only it could talk...
ReplyDeleteI love when Stainforth almost breaks into a laugh...
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. I love the running leap into the lips! As a child, I jumped up and down on mine singing songs from Broadway Musicals (or working out fear of flying monkeys--Wizard of Oz.)
ReplyDeleteK.
This is quite sad Tess.
ReplyDeleteTess,
ReplyDeleteA sofa bereft,
With only memories to
give it worth.
But, oh what memories it could tell
if only its lips
could spell.
rel
Weaver most of my poetry is tinged with a bit of melancholy, but this particular poem is a very happy one for me...
ReplyDeleteIf only its lips could spell...I love that, Rel...(oops that rhymed)
ReplyDeleteOh, like this very much. What great imagery.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
I love the lips too - so many memories!
ReplyDeleteYour sofa is most definitely smiling ~~~~~~~~:)
ReplyDeleteOh, Tess, I got a happy, sexy feeling from your script. Loved it! Only you could liken a used up couch to a pair of sensual lips.
ReplyDeletei like the use of the title as a lead in to the poem. I discovered 'Gamma Ways' doing this, but have no idea who invented it.
ReplyDeletesweet, romantic, and fun magpie.
ReplyDeletelove the plump lips imagery.
ah, comfortable and sweet memories :)
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSweet, Tess.
Like the petrified jelly bean under the cushion. 8^)
Tess, you are outshining yourself!
ReplyDeleteThe image, nailed.
The poem. A feast.
I am in love!
Love the lips metaphor!
ReplyDeleteAaah. A love narrative if ever there was one. Love it.
ReplyDeleteIf sofas could talk...
ReplyDeletesome sofa#s are more sensual than others this one sounds a hotty ! thanks for sharing and the fab prompt x
ReplyDeleteHard not to think of Salvador Dalí’s ‘Mae West Sofa’ when I read this. This is a good one. Enjoyed
ReplyDeleteR.A.D. Stainforth's reading too. Even went to his blog and had a listen to some of his other recordings of your pieces. He certainly puts a lot of emotion/character into his readings.
Red hot it may be, but the wall called to me today! *smiles*
ReplyDeleteThis creativity Tess is stunning. I so love this poem. My son was home this weekend and helped me eliminate half the words. :) And I think my poem reads better for it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration once again!
poor old couch- all the happy times now abandoned
ReplyDeleteJim, Stainforth is amazing...he adds a powerful element to my poetry with his excellent readings...after all, poetry is meant to be heard...
ReplyDeleteDali's sofa did come to mind when writing this piece, by the way.
A love affair of a different kind. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteA smiling sofa! :-D
ReplyDeleteI guess sofas can be behemoth,
ReplyDeleteand love seats more demure.
I see a love seat when you say
sofa; probably because your
wistful and playful sexuality
is capable of turning food into
porn, and inanimate objects
into lusty participants. This
piece did make me smile;
no real sadness here, all reds,
and pinks, burgundy and orange,
with dashes of ochre.
Love those sofa lips! Much better than a potty mouth - haha. Sorry, another fine poem!
ReplyDeleteLove the happy images this poem and photo evoke! You've got me smiling.
ReplyDeletelove this - like lips - very cool image
ReplyDeletea delight
ReplyDeleteGreat closing lines~!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Tess!
ReplyDeletei loved this, the image, your words everything..x
ReplyDeleteWe do get fond of old sofas and things. I'd have have a bounce on her myself, too!
ReplyDeletea bouncy poem for a bouncy sofa.
ReplyDeletenew sofa, old sofa, onward and forward, what adventures await?
ReplyDeletethe photo feel poignant and sad to me. with your poem though, it is turned into something magical and fun.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of lips and a smile....my kids used to love to take running leaps to the sofa....something I both miss and do not rolled into one. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Tess! :-)
ReplyDeleteReally. How do you do it? Write poem after poem after poem of stunning simplicity and clarity and image? How do you do it?
ReplyDeleteAmazing poem, from the first line until the last!
ReplyDeletereally nice work Tess! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat take on the picture, Tess!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much dear friends...you make sharing my poetry such a pleasure...you're the best...you really are...
ReplyDeleteRaspberry swirl lipstick ?
ReplyDeleteor watermelon- in any case fun!
Thanks.
Worded very well..
ReplyDeleteI love the whimsical place that must have come from,the child within the woman speaks as loud as ever..Lovely Tess!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Nice play on conceptual?
ReplyDeleteA fine poem and metaphor Tess
I like it that is a love narrative.
ReplyDeleteLove those 'plump lips'.
ReplyDelete"Airborn for at least a minute" is a lovely image
ReplyDeleteWords and picture in perfect harmony. Your poetry somehow makes the most complex simile into familiar territory so I end up thinking "I see where she is going with this" But you knew that ....
ReplyDeleteLovely stuff!
ReplyDeleteOh what tales sofas could tell!
Anna :o]
Who wouldn't love a poem that ends with a smile! This was simply lovely to read.
ReplyDeleteI love this!
ReplyDeleteMakes me long to take a running leap - it's been years. This one made me smile today :)
ReplyDeleteAww, I like this:
ReplyDelete"between the cushions
in the crease of your smile"
Great poem. But lots of folk have laid claim to the sofa!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bouncy lovely image
ReplyDeletein both words and pictures.....
Lively, engaging, entertaining...
ReplyDeleteLove it!!! This is one happy sofa! I had fun reading this; your wording is simply spot-on!
ReplyDeleteLove this...the shape of plump lips..landing in the crease of your smile...so creative!!
ReplyDeleteGreat imagination..and so romantic too! Those lips....
ReplyDeleteDear Tess: Harkens back to the day! Compelling!
ReplyDeleteyes! It feels like love...
ReplyDeleteA soft place to land is always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteJumping on the sofa, leaping into lips/smile. Lovely and fun. Thank you.
ReplyDeletePlump lips! But of course it looks like that. So great.
ReplyDeleteI loved this prompt, Tess, and I also love your new profile pic.
Enjoyed your take on the poem. Lips.. hmm. now who'd have thought of that? :)
ReplyDeleteI liked it very much!
ReplyDeleteso glad to stop by and enjoy the ride... ".. i find myself compelled... running leaps... airborne.. at least a minute..." yeah, that's how i wanna live my life... a most beautiful tribute to the abandoned couch... miss pie
ReplyDeleteThis was a pretty one :)
ReplyDeleteI could just see your running and jumping. Brought a big smile to my own lips. Clever and sweet.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes! I thought of Dali's Mae West lips sofa...
ReplyDeleteThis as they say is moreish. I want to keep reading it again for no other reason than to enjoy again what I enjoyed the first time - like good chocolate.
ReplyDeleteThis is very good. It reminded me of Dali's sensual red lips displayed in the Theatre Museum at Figueres.
ReplyDeletevery sweet
ReplyDelete