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| Summer Evening, Edward Hopper, 1947 |
Is it hares
or do rabbits dance
after the sun sets
in a peeved lilac bowl?
Is it written in some shepherd's almanac
or in the creases of a woodsman's hand?
Who holds the secret
that brings the bucolic vamp
infant and ancient
to swagger her spell
from the curve of her neck
hot, humming
like a boiling samovar?
Two long fingers twist high in a vee
strong with branches for many birds
she signals bats to circle
swifts to weave tribal high
in tribute above cattails
dame's rocket
before spitting out the bruised sky
chewed and swallowed
Tess Kincaid
August, 2011
Tess Kincaid
August, 2011
Many thanks to the talented R.A.D. Stainforth for reading this piece.
To join Magpie Tales creative writing group click here.
I most especially love the last two lines. "The bruised day, chewed and swallowed."
ReplyDeletebefore spitting out the bruised sky, chewed and swallowed...what a line...great pic for the mag this week too tess...
ReplyDeletesee you tomorrow with mine...
"hot, humming like a boiling samovar"
ReplyDeleteBeautiful writing.
Oh, my! No wonder there was a baby boom ;-)
ReplyDeleteGotta hand it to you, Tess...you certainly know how to write.
ReplyDeleteto swagger her spell
ReplyDeletefrom the curve of her neck
hot, humming
like a boiling samovar?
amazing lines, you sure know how to cast a spell with your words my friend...bravo :)
Love the lines:
ReplyDelete/swifts to weave tribal high/
in tribute/--this piece pulsates
with sexual energy and fecundity,
makes the moss on the trees
damp for sure, and it is so
forest spiritual, wicked and
Wick en, and when we try to
envision this female powerful
essence or entity, her beauty
enraptures us, like the silkies
before her. To know that there
is a glen somewhere near the
Manor where such goings on
occur and you are allowed
to be privy to on your twilight
walks is very insightful and exciting
and revealing.
Very nice.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done, Tess.
ReplyDelete— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Ah,,,,,,so beautiful and perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt suits *my world* to a *t*!
You always inspire....
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
Powerful evocation --love 'swagger her spell'!
ReplyDeleteI can feel the sultry summer in your poem. The heat seems to rise from your words. I, too, love the last 2 lines!
ReplyDeleteTess -- Edward Hopper is fantastic. You have such a great eye for great art -- barbara
ReplyDeleteYour poem paints a sultry picture M'lady! Well done!
ReplyDeleteSultry and samovar- Hmmmm that will get the brain working! thanks.
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought the vampire could create so much ire and havoc on an unsuspecting world. Beautiful poetry, Tess!
ReplyDeleteBruised, chewed and swallowed...
ReplyDeleteWhat a punch!
Thanks you. Delightful.
ReplyDeleteKaykuala, I didn't write this with a vampire in mind, but it works on that level, too, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteOh wow! This is not what I expected when I first saw the photo! Lovely twist! :)
ReplyDeleteI like
ReplyDeletespitting out bruised chewed and swallowed sky
wonder what's behind
that spit
that eye
the rabbit hair
and samovar
eclectic wanderings
across boundaries
push identities
to new shades
contact lenses give way
to glasses
and roses
give way to sky views
perhaps where even bats
get the boot
I love those sultry Hopper paintings.
ReplyDeleteTerrific imagery here, Tess.
ReplyDeleteTwilight does hold great sway over us; our hearts become restless for something to begin, our souls deep and wise enough to hold everything we've ever wanted. It's a sad place to be sure.
ReplyDeleteYou've written a wonderful poem, Tess, with imagery that lives and breathes, I know not through what magic.
I don't have much to say that's not already been said. The imagery and use of language is well done. The only shame is the title which has been monopolised by a certain series of books and films. This could stand a more interesting title than simply, 'Twilight'.
ReplyDeletemuch to ponder here in the last two stanzas. you relay so well the sultry heat of summer. the passing of the day.
ReplyDeleteI didnt think of vampire but i think there is a series of books about Twilight and vampires. oh my.
Jim and Suki, I am SO not a vampire fan, so believe it or not, I didn't know about the film and books...must come up with something else!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous...so lovely...thank you.
ReplyDeleteto swagger her spell - wonderfully delicious line :)
ReplyDeleteLove the painting, skimpy little number for the 40's no?
Tess--love the abandon and wildness of this poem...
ReplyDeletegorgeous and jam packed with inner tumult.
ReplyDeleteOkay...I changed the name to "Religious", to steer away from the vampire realm.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the title change. Well, I am also so not a vampire fan although once I read an Anne Rice just because everyone said her writing was so good. I dont know how I came upon Twilight in conjunction w/vampires, maybe browsing in bookstores.
ReplyDeleteAaaargh! Tess! Don't go changin! In times of trouble..I like you jus the way you are!...Not your fault that there are confused assumers out there!..If you must change it at least keep the Twilight and put something in front of it!..Grey! Bruised! etc..Cheers!..
ReplyDeleteGah! Okay...it's going back to Twilight. I like Twilight. You guys are making my Libra scales crazy.
ReplyDeleteIt makes such a beautiful read! Love the choice of words...its soft and sensual and very, very poetic! :)
ReplyDeleteMore than a read, it was an experience for the senses...and better each time I read it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing better than a summer evening. So many intoxicating scents and senses. And always the anticipation of what the evening has to offer. You captured this feeling very succinctly.
ReplyDeletewonderful use of language here. I love the Hopper, too. Always love his stark images.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as always. = )
ReplyDeleteSuch dramatic imagery..it just touches so many emotions!
ReplyDelete"to swagger her spell
ReplyDeletefrom the curve of her neck
hot, humming
like a boiling samovar?"
Do you really think she is there?
But... so many evocative images to test your readers as usual. You stretch me and I love it.
Each word in this delightful read holds a juicy image!
ReplyDeleteLoved this, Tess, it had a real 'Wuthering Heights' Emily Bronte darkness mixed with sensuality tone to it, fabulous last line.
ReplyDeletehot summer night writing
ReplyDeleteSultry and sensual! I can picture this!
ReplyDeleteall those lover reunited after the war- love the line "The bruised day, chewed and swallowed."
ReplyDeleteFabulous Tess.
Tess, yes it does, perfectly too! Less excitement is invoked in a simple one but not yours. An offering that could result in many interpretations is quality of a higher level. Keep at it!
ReplyDeletebeautiful...the feminine reigns here ...in the whole of your verse...sultry like the times...bkm
ReplyDeletemakes me think of Kali...what a force!
ReplyDeleteI have to get used to reding poetry again. Prose gives it all to you on a plate. I'm working with this one. Some images and lines there I need to chew and swallow.
ReplyDeleteGreat prompt.
Poetry is one of those things that is so easy to do - and so very difficult to do well. You, Tess, do it well.
ReplyDelete"Is it written in some shepherd's almanac or in the creases of a woodsman's hand?"
ReplyDeleteI love that line. And I love the idea that these two people are sitting on a southern porch, wondering about the mysteries of night.
And just for the record, this was my favorite Magpie prompt of all time :)
Wonderful Tess, absolutely wonderful - you captured something quite magical.
ReplyDeletewondrous wordsmithing
ReplyDeletea hot write for a hot summer.
ReplyDeletewell done.
:)
I liked the closing lines...
ReplyDeleteGreat Writing, Tess...
who would have though about a n infant vampire from this pic!very imaginative...
Thank you for the Prompt:)
before spitting out the bruised sky?
ReplyDeleteYuk!
Raindrops would be a kinder option....
She is so sullen, isn't she? Boiling samovar I really enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteDeeper than it looks, this one.
ReplyDeleteDear Tess: Definitely weaving magic word images here. I close my eyes as I hear your words on tape and I see the images clearly. Particularly infatuated with the tribal mother-earth goddess (Gaia) aspect of nature "rabbits dance" and then our man-made(er person-made) attempts to understand nature;
ReplyDelete"is it written in some shepherd's almanac or in the creases of a woodman's hand?"
I have to think you are giving a nod of the hat to one of your many poets in residence mentors; Miss "vee"? Looking up samovar! Awesomely original and imaginative!
Thanks, everyone. You make it a real pleasure to share my stuff. You're the best. xx
ReplyDeleteYou are such a great poet, Tess. I wonder about your process, how something this rich grows from you.
ReplyDelete"Two long fingers twist high in a vee strong with branches for many birds" is my favorite line.
I never read others' Magpies before writing my own, so was intrigued that we both referred to bats and to spitting in ours this week...in much different ways, but still, it's interesting to me.
You are such an amazing Poem Writer..
ReplyDeleteLove it!
JJRod'z
Exotic and mysterious...
ReplyDelete"Who holds the secret that brings the bucolic vamp infant and ancient
to swagger her spell from the curve of her neck"
...oh yes, who indeed!
Your poetry fills me up ... your voice intensifies the experience.
ReplyDelete** My Aunt Helen wore an outfit just like Hopper's young woman when she was being courted by my Uncle Tom ... no wonder he was dumbstruck!
Exemplary, perfect.
ReplyDeleteI am still wrestling with the notion of a "peeved lilac bowl".
ReplyDeleteSpitting out the bruised sky...Zowie! A sultry poem, ripe with images (I sweat just reading it; this is a compliment). But you don't need me to tell you that.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
I like the title and thankfully never gave vampires a thought!
ReplyDeleteThe 'bruised sky chewed up and swallowed.Perfect!
Intoxicating elements blended into one of those rare delicious flights from this suffocating earth.
ReplyDeleteI like your last two lines, too. :) gives the whole work a tie on the loose ends.
ReplyDelete