had eyes the color of a Caribbean sea.
Her hair held the many reds of an east African sunrise,
but, given her choice, she'd keep a cottage on the Rue de Compiegne.
Admiral MacFarquhar's lady
was, to her husband, a quaint gew-gaw; an astrolabe.
And while her ways did tend toward the stagey and the sensual,
even women in the bible are sometimes allowed a little strut and promenade.
"Look, Edward," she said, showing the Admiral his new son,
lately a denizen of his own secret waterway--
"Is he not more beautiful than any Antediluvian curiosity?
What will your search for Atlantis gain you, that you couldn't find here, with him, and with me?"
Alone again shortly thereafter,
Mrs. Admiral MacFarquhar took a train car to Paris
to visit the National Saint Creola Shrine.
There, she knelt, sending silver prayers to dance between the rafters
where the holy are said to be housed, and there is
at least a gambler's chance of intercession from the hand of the Divine.
Admiral MacFarquhar's lady
had eyes the color of a Caribbean sea;
her hair held the many reds of an east African sunrise,
and they say she lived for many years in a cottage purchased by her son--
quite a pretty one, with a garden full of climbing vines
that bloomed in Spring on the Rue de Compiegne.
_______
for the dolls at Real Toads mini challenge #24. This flame-haired beauty is the creation of Ms. Chelsea Bednar. The photograph is by her mom, Margaret Bednar, whose photographs so often tell me stories that I just have to write down.
Shay--When I checked out the dolls, this is the one I was drawn to. I think part of it is the difference in the eyes that intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote a piece that is worthy of such a wonderful fabric creation...
Those eyes bewitch! :) Love the lady's refrain... and so glad her son turned out to be a lovely man and took care of his mum.
ReplyDeleteLove, love the second stanza (and how true!) and love thinking of prayers standing a gambler's chance. So cleverly Shay.
Perhaps I live for my photos to find inspiration at your fingertips :)
p.s. When my oldest son comes home, he has to remove the doll from the room in order to sleep (ha ha)
I love the aquarium - just amazing. In SC we petted a number of sting rays - I was quite taken with them. The HUGE waves would do me in, however :)
ReplyDeleteThis, my friend, was nothing short of beautiful. Your weaving words left me a bit verklempt.
ReplyDeleteClassic story of a woman and the sea and the man in between. Wonderfully done!
ReplyDeleteOh Shay, this is good...
ReplyDelete"There, she knelt, sending silver prayers to dance between the rafters
where the holy are said to be housed, and there is
at least a gambler's chance of intercession from the hand of the Divine." Love that.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
xo jj
Yet another ,,,,,,,,
ReplyDeleteI've run out of superlatives responses from
yours truly.
Beautiful, Shay--the second stanza is so finely balanced, between image and language, both dancing a careful minuet that only dances more deftly as the poem progresses, and seems to whirl your character through her own artfully, tastefully appointed ballroom to the place she most longs for and deserves to be. These dolls have been a great vehicle for your always amazing imagination. (One of my fave Donovan tunes, too.)
ReplyDeleteOh...wow...I love the video here, Shay...especially the beginning with the speaking and the soft-floating fish.....matches so well.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is brilliant...perfect description of her and I love the story-line you've created for her. This portion:
"Is he not more beautiful than any Antediluvian curiosity?
What will your search for Atlantis gain you, that you couldn't find here, with him, and with me?"
I love that...the way you worded it and the idea that this is a question that one could pose today to a man...or woman who would want to leave their true-treasure.
Great one!! :)
"lately a denizen of his own secret waterway--"
ReplyDeleteThat's one of those only-Shay lines. Brilliant!
Well done tribute to that doll. She is very fascinating. I like the cocked eyebrow and the line "even women in the bible are sometimes allowed a little strut and promenade." LOL You don't hold anything back, Shay. That's what I love about you.
ReplyDeleteI hope a great holiday. Bark hello to Bosco for me:~)