On an afternoon dark as Egyptians,
I buy a used copy of Rimbaud
and cannot hold my bones in place.
Sit on the sand, the ocean will reach and draw back
like tempted nuns
at the proscribed birthday of boho ghosts.
Acrobats pull stitches from the binding for nets.
I have read more than several of young Rimbaud’s poems ~~ cannot hold my bones in place ~~ is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen!
DeleteI am left in awe of your unexpected similes - "like tempted nuns" !!! - each line so unexpected and amazing. Your signature style.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Sherry. I appreciate your readership not just today but for these past many years.
DeleteYour imagery always is perfection. You draw us even closer to a feeling or view. Every line is wonderful but the tempted nuns is absolutely brilliant. Love this Shay!!
ReplyDeleteI kind of liked my tempted nuns myself!
DeleteI like those kinds of books on gloomy days.
ReplyDeleteThey suit, don't they?
Delete“An afternoon as dark as Egyptians” paired with a book and loose bones?! What a heavenly day.
ReplyDeleteI can’t stop thinking about this. It’s like a basket of woven koans.
You’ve had me reading Rimbaud all day.
Then I have succeeded completely. ;-)
DeleteSharply evocative, Shay. Made me think of Jim Morrison who carried around a copy of Rimbaud with him.
ReplyDeletePax,
Dora
Yes he did! He was a hero to 19 yr old me.
DeleteYou delight me with this sevenling, one of my favorite forms. You give it your own flavor here, mysterious, sensual and yes, true to Corso and his period. That opening! Just beautiful, Shay.
ReplyDeleteI hope that I got it right. I tried not to say it too directly, as per instructions.
DeleteAll these lines are my favourite lines! I love the sense you apply to each image and metaphor. From "as dark as Egyptians" to "cannot hold my bones in place" to "the ocean will reach and draw back like tempted nuns." Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sunra!
DeleteThe Rimbaud and holding your bones in place is fabulous, but I think I like "the ocean will reach and draw back / like tempted nuns" even better. Wow.
ReplyDelete