It's the blue one at the end of the hall ―
cover it with poppies you bought yourself,
let pollen drop from your hair like wedding rice.
Lie on the child-like bed
under the narrow eyes of portraits.
Let your wasp eyes unhinge, draw honey.
Be made a woman here.
Slip endless stones from your pockets ―
raise the window against the rush of the river.
You prefer men to cauliflowers (and hours).
Let life stand still.
tk/June 2013
Thanks to R.A.D. Stainforth for this excellent read.
Charleston Farmhouse Door |
Beguiling.......
ReplyDeleteAmazing, Tess.
ReplyDeleteI watched RAD reading it via FB before I came here to read it. Exquisite piece of writing Teas.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletewow. best ever.
Yes, brilliantly done.
ReplyDeletelove all the Virginia Wolfe references here.....beautifully done Tess.
ReplyDeleteI know Ronaldo's nose is large but I didn't think it could fit a bedroom into it! 8^)
ReplyDeleteR.A.D. has an interesting nose...
Deletebeautiful...yes!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh Tess this is wonderful!
ReplyDelete"Slip endless stones from your pockets" Yes Brilliant
ReplyDeletePositively sirenic; quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDark references in this illuminating piece.
ReplyDeleteI've fallen in love, all over again with Virginia Woolf ~ great poetry.
ReplyDeleteMarvelous!
ReplyDeleteI like narrow eyes of portraits! it spooked me when I first saw them follow me around- : )
ReplyDeleteI've been away for a while. It's marvellous to be reminded how engaging your poetry is. This poem flows like a dance. Well done Tess. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you...nice to have you back Linda...
DeleteI am SO embarrassed to say I know nothing of this woman. She was a poet, a novelist, I take it. Do you have a favorite? A few? I googled her and find her interesting... now I understand the reference to stones in pockets. So, let me know what book I should read first... Thanks ;)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is "Mrs. Dalloway"...
Delete"Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness"... in her letter to her husband. That bit got to me.
ReplyDeleteOn my home ground again. Love it!
ReplyDeleteSorry! One more question. Did you see the movie "The Hours" with Nicole Kidmann as Virginia Woolf? If so, did you like the movie?
ReplyDeleteAn excellent movie...the transformation of Kidman into Woolf is amazing...although I don't think she deserved an Oscar for her performance...I recommend reading "Mrs. Dalloway" before seeing the movie...
DeleteThanks!
DeleteI'm wondering if I should feel like a peeper for peering into Virginia's bedroom!
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed your imagery.
I like 'the narrow eyes of portraits' - exactly so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your lovely comments, dear friends...
ReplyDeleteReading this was like keyhole soul surgery ! Thanks
ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete“...she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day.” (Mrs Dalloway)
Dearest Virginia, and dearest Tess, you enlighten the world with your words.
Life does indeed, stand still for this one, Tess.
ReplyDeleteWould that she'd slipped those stones out...excellent!!
ReplyDeleteThe images and the words are beautiful. :-)
ReplyDelete~Imelda
This is absolutely fabulous love it!
ReplyDeletecompletely wonderful
ReplyDelete... haven't been around in awhile... always a pleasure to pass through... your website is unfolding beautifully... as your words... i love virginia woolf.. what a gal... and you have so written her life's reflection in words i can see..
ReplyDeleteDelicious!
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
She's one of my favorites and I feel her move ever so softly through your words. Quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteEnticing..
ReplyDeleteuniverse will not hand it over to you
This draws me like a fly to honey.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
=)
Woman-made words. Empowering.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely so many hidden messages..be made a woman..
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your kind comments, dear readers...
ReplyDelete