The light now is a young man
at a long table
with a full plate,
holding forth as jeweled women lean
to catch his words and scent like hungry cats.
I stay next to the duenna, summer's old widow,
her skin a dead garden under the high neck and long black sleeves.
She used to read him stories
when the silence scared him
and he grew there in the crook of her arm
like a plum added to a grocery sack.
"I wish it would rain," I say to her as I have every day
since summer arrived like a visiting bishop
waving from a sedan chair,
cheered by women wearing head scarves
because others do, and God is watching.
The duenna pats my hand.
I am sick of the brightness of white shirt and linen jacket,
arms gesticulating as children's do when feeding the swans,
and the swans dip their faces in mock modesty.
If only the wind would rise and the sky darken,
this tablecloth would show
how wings are meant to be used,
plates and wine glasses smashing on the stone floor.
"In time," whispers the duenna, as calm as a bread loaf.
These blowy tales will wear themselves out,
the cats and swans will begin to bicker,
and the nights will lengthen beneath our feet like shadows.
Then the duenna will shed her weeds
and wear the moon on her shoulders glittering.
_______
Musci: Bananarama Cruel Summer
Gah. This is so good, I dont even have the words. A wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteSomething of this makes me think of young Rilke parading around Prague in the 1890s, in an immaculate coat with a lily pressed to his chest like Jesus on Palm Sunday. Just you wait, bro, dem Elegies gonna kick your whiteboy ass. "In time" is the triumph here and certainly worth the wait. Hope you're feeling back to your arch winged poetry ways.
ReplyDeleteThe opening metaphors and images are striking--as is the entire piece--and reminded me of Hemingway and his "moveable feast." You have shadows and religion and seasons and age all vying for a facet-wink of brightness in this. I'll say again the metaphors and similes are startling fresh and immediate and just dominate the reader's imagination. I especially loved the ominous feel here:"..If only the wind would rise and the sky darken,/this tablecloth would show/how wings are meant to be used.." Taking a short hiatus has only improved your poetic esprit, my friend.
ReplyDeleteA rich tapestry and a vividly constructed scene. So much to savour at this table but for me the winged tablecloth is so effortlessly crafted and yet so profoundly beautiful. Great writing.
ReplyDeleteI love the way your poem elevates and deepens into nature, then grounds me back with the hats, the tablecloth the bread. I also really loved the flow of the poem, the scenery vowing like this makes me think of a painting coming to life and I really enjoyed the familiarity and the warmth that these lines induced : "She used to read him stories
ReplyDeletewhen the silence scared him"
Wow. This is exquisite, Shay. So potent with atmosphere and mystery and drama, I absolutely love it. Especially these lines:
ReplyDelete"holding forth as jeweled women lean
to catch his words and scent like hungry cats."
"summer's old widow,"
"If only the wind would rise and the sky darken,
this tablecloth would show
how wings are meant to be used,
plates and wine glasses smashing on the stone floor."
"and the nights will lengthen beneath our feet like shadows."
I so want to know what happens next. It reminded me for some reason of the scene from Lord of the Rings when the elf queen woman held the ring for a moment and turned into a dark queen and began roaring, then once the ring was removed, she became all peace and calm again. I don't know why it brought that image to mind.
Anyway, it's beautiful <3
“ The light now is a young man / at a long table” what a great opening line. Also “he grew there in the crook of her arm / like a plum added to a grocery sack” And “ this tablecloth would show / how wings are meant to be used” How unexpected language opens light, plums, wings…
ReplyDeleteWow that first stanza really takes ones breath away Shay!! This poem feels like a journey in time and knowing and I read it many times to keep it close in mind. Beautiful and amazing imagery as always my friend!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best seasonal poems I have ever read.
ReplyDelete