Sunday, December 29, 2013

Selfie

self-portrait, Francis Bacon 

You step into the room, see yourself
look up from somewhere distant.

Your eyes reflect a safe interior,
without the anxiety of an unwanted stare.

Windows open to new air.

You stand unadorned
apart from the self-scorn
you wear around your neck.

Here is a place with no mirrors, no squinting,
thrust against the space between you.

Stretch out your arm, capture a forever moment
of the skin genuine, sweat-soaked and intimate. 



tk/December 2013 



Last month the word "selfie" was announced by the Oxford English Dictionary as "word of the year".

R.A.D. Stainforth's lovely bewhiskered read: 


18 comments:

  1. Nice to have a such place~ cozy 'bewhiskered read' :)

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  2. "You stand unadorned
    apart from the self-scorn
    you wear around your neck."
    Genius you!
    Love the poem, interesting selfie (even though, I have been told, in a true selfie, your face is not covered). ;-)

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  3. Great minds think alike Tess! Lol! I had the same idea only different perspective. What I love most about poetry and prompts-all the takes!! Happy New Year back to you! Looking forward to more great prompts and fun in the NY!

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  4. You stand unadorned..this line really speaks volumes as you look
    at the simplicity of the man in his environment..enjoyed your take.
    Happy New Year!

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  5. I didn't know it was a selfie when I wrote my poem. I love what you've done with this - my favorite line is

    >> You stand unadorned
    >> apart from the self scorn
    >> you wear around your neck

    (I suppose many of us can relate to this... some more than others!)

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  6. powerful reading. my first attempt at one of your prompts, thank you for the inspiration ~ M

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  7. amazing evolution of the spoken word....who would have ever imagined that "google" would become a
    verb?? And now we have "selfie"? hah! Love your poem with this image!

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  8. I'm a self-scorn admirer, as well! Wonderful words. Gee, I sure missed RAD's voice too!

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  9. capture a forever moment
    of the skin genuine,
    sweat-soaked and intimate

    Perfect description of the capture of a self portrait. Great write Tess. Thanks for all of the 2013 choices. Happy New Year to you Ma'am!

    Hank

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  10. Tess this was great .. wonderful written words, so well read by RAD. Just great!

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  11. Bacon was all "Selfie", wasn't he..you captured more than a moment! Skin genuine..oh, my...Best to you for all you do!!

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  12. Well done Tess. I enjoyed the clever use of this picture prompt. Looking forward to your 2014 prompts.

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  13. You stand unadorned
    apart from the self-scorn
    you wear around your neck.

    If only all self portraits were this simple...

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  14. Amazing the new words that make their way into our vocabulary. I am sooo out of the loop! A lovely capture Tess, I enjoyed reading this. Happy new year to you!

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  15. Not as easy as one would think ... looking into that mirror. Great poem, Tess. Happy New Year!!

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  16. Love the first two lines--and the rest!

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  17. I think taking selfies is an art form. :) You captured it with your words. Best wishes for the new year.

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  18. Thank you, dear readers, for your kind and generous comments...Happy 2014!

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