They
linger,
still
play in the keys,
stick
to my fingers
with
marmalade.
I
sip coffee impulses,
snack
between words
that
spill to the desk,
litter
the lunchroom
in
crossword kisses.
I
wear my best
alphabet
outfit,
see
London, see France,
munch
and crunch
the
sultry dance,
the
sideways glance,
the
clickety-clack.
tk/December 2011
Listen to R.A.D. Stainforth's sexy English accent:
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image: Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art
62 comments:
Thank you, Tess and RAD, for giving us another great start to a delicious Sunday.
Thanks, G... always nice to see you at Willow Manor...lovely new profile pic!
Interesting that there is seemingly no interaction between the diners. Each is alone but perhaps they are having a "sideways glance" at their neighbor. Nice post.
Nicely done!
Crumbs!
Have always loved this painting and your words are perfect. The painting is so poignant to me...together, yet separate.
Would like to see your alphabet dress : )
This poem brings life to the mundane...if only the diners could hear you think!
that spill to the desk,
litter the lunchroom
in crossword kisses.
I wear my best
love the lines, very dark yet wonderful imagery in your words.
a wonderful wistful whisper into my Sunday! nice.
was totally waiting for i see london i see france i see someones underpants...but kinda glad you did not follow that rhyme...smiles....interesting pic this week...have to think today...
Brian, glad you picked up on the reference to the kids' rhyme...
I notice how well the poem and your O. Henry quote fit together. Thanks for the picture, Tess, and your service making this whole thing possible. I am happy to be part of the growth of the site.
The interpretation of the quiet action in the painting has much more meaning now, with your words.
The diners look like something out of '1984' to me - can't imagine as less munchy bunch...♥
I enjoyed reading this Tess ...
Very well done--I like the reference to that childhood "chant" that we used to say when we saw someone's underpants!
Deliciously thought provoking....:-)
There is an infinitely better outlook in your rhymes than in Tucker's "Lunch". I'd rather dance with you, even if only on the keyboard.
I liked pairing my jumpy piece with the somber Tooker...nice juxtaposition...
Lunch in the ordinary to casual viewer who can't read thoughts...love it!
R.A.D. ...as always, thank you for this lovely reading...
I enjoyed the poem but the sexy English accent (which I pounced on with joy) eluded me.
Rinkly, although R.A.D.'s accent
is wonderfully British, it is mostly
sexy in Ohio; elsewhere it is robust,
audacious, husky with cigarette
smoke, and always a joy to hear.
Tess, your poem comes out of
OH like a Sinclair Lewis nightmare,
both a paean and a warning. I loved
it; more so the fourth time I read it,
looking for the threads of clarity.
What can I say, Tess? You're on fine form, as ever.
You really had me thinking here, I had to do a google search for 'I see London, I see France'.
For me, this surreal poem matches the picture. They both required a trawl through my subconscious but with enough lightness not to depress.
... this is actually quite sexy, Tess.
Thanks, Helen, that was my intention...
Beautiful sounds in this. Lovely, tight writing.
Enjoyable read, Tess. As always, you have outdone yourself. BTW, LOVE your Facebook badge...
a fun poem, with a nice beat read so well by RAD
I love crossword kisses and the clickety-clack.
Such a great take. I love the clicketyclack and, of course, marmalade. K.
Dang computer. Can't hear the audio, but no matter, the piece is wonderful.
Great depth in those words.
I like how you added dimension and sensuality to Lunch.
You've looked under the surface of these diners' blank exteriors to their hidden thoughts!
Found my way back! Great to be here! A stylishly Tooker painting. I like your poem, even though I'm not astute enough to understand each nuance...
And...I joined in this time. (Thought I had commented earlier, but it's my crazy, and I have to live with it, or die without it.)
Thanks for serving each Sunday, Tess.
PEACE!
Nice to have you join Mag this week, Steve! Thanks, I enjoy doing it...it's my little way of contributing to the creative writing community...
Dear Tess,
I have promised myself to enjoy poetry even if Ido not have the time to write at the moment.
And what a find.
The picture was too sombre for me. But your words - they give the diners an uplift.
This made me think of myself, endlessly playing words with friends like it was eating cake - the very best way to pass my time :)
I confess this one blew right past my comprehension ..but it did however, land right next to understanding
nice little poem to go with the painting delightful
and yes, I add my thanks for your
offering up these thought provoking prompts week after week
Yum marmalade- crossword kisses are interesting- and I would have been cleaning up the crumbs! thanks.
Taken right back to jump rope rhymes before a delicious return to marmalade. Delightful read!
Your poem is a delightful puzzle for me...lovely sounds and contrast to Tooker's depressing painting. Many thanks for the prompts.
The "Clickity-Clack" you can almost feel it snapping away in this poem.
Dear Tess: Love this! We think alike; the sound of cutlery and fingers! Ah-ha! We must have eaten in this very same caf! A most excellent "snack between words" and "crossword kisses" so much fun and very imaginative!
this just made me think of all the crumbs probably stuck in my keyboard for all the snacking I do while writing :) Loved the "see London, see France" reference
Such a lonesome group of people- all together, but all so desperately alone. Very nice post, Tess!
They look so glum - definitely no marmalade on the menu...
Cardboard sandwiches more like it.
Words and crumbs..can't have one without the other..love the abstract flow!
the title is delicious.... and the rest just sorta brings the broom out sweeping...
Marmalade might have produced some smiles amongst those diners ...
lovely poem Tess
What's the comment's equivalent of a standing ovation? If I manage to think of one, I'll come back and give it. For now, bravo!
... the sideways glance.
So true - scared to venture outside their bubble.
I went somber - I tired not too... ;)
Crumbs!
Loved the sounds in this poem.
I am late to arrive, as I have been away. The image seems a bit magical.
Great Write Tess. I like the flow & images. Some great lines too! "Crossword kisses"
I loved that "clickety clack" and can almost hear it throughout the poem. Beautifully done, disturbingly descriptive!
as usual....
i am blown out of the water with you gift at writing.
xx
i can just see these people lingering, not wanting to get back to work
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