I’ve not been participating in Poetry Friday of late and that’s mad me sad. So I have given myself the personal goal to address one of Tricia past Poetry Stretches each Friday for a while. For those of you not familiar with these wonderful poetry challenges please go check out
This particular challenge was prompted by the idea of having your picture taken.
And here’s my original poem.
SNAPSHOT
Before
the shutter snaps
I am still beautiful
hair, long and blond
draped around my shoulders
just like it did in high school
when boys wrapped their fingers in its strands
and pulled me close between classes
making promises
they would never keep
skin, peaches and cream
Noxzema fresh
a single chin
eyes lit from within
with a confidence
I rarely share
anymore
CLICK!
After
thirty tries
I do not know this
stranger
with my face
I do not like her
much
rosacea induced
zits
freckle her cheeks
two chins, now
eyes filled with fear
of what the world
might see
might say
might judge
but the hair,
the hair is still
long and blonde
and my husband twists his fingers in its strands
and pulls me close
whispering promises
he always keeps
Have I always been this shallow?
Perhaps
but what woman doesn’t want
to feel beautiful
for all time?
—Susan Taylor Brown
all rights reserved
The Poetry Friday roundup is over at Becky’s Book Reviews.
Susan: This is powerful and painful and beautiful and true. I love the Before and After framework and how I can feel and smell the people in the poem.
Don’t worry about not writing. Just don’t ever stop. Keep those promises we made to ourselves. {}
-Pamela
Thank you, Pamela. I appreciate you so much.
you
Susan- that means so much to me on this weepy funeral for an old family friend Thursday
you
Susan- that means so much to me on this weepy funeral for an old family friend Thursday
Re: you
Ah, Pamela…I’m so sorry for your loss but so grateful I have you in my life.
Love how honestly you’ve portrayed a basic truth. Oh yes, I can identify!
Thank you, Jama. It was one of those early morning self-reflective times.
This is beautiful…
Thank you.
Oh Susan…exposing our fears and sadnesses makes some of the best poems ever. I love the contrast and how your downswing in confidence is somewhat offset by your better taste in men:>) What a great combination of love poem and confessional. Yay!
Thanks, Laura. I was a bit surprised in the direction it took but I went along for the ride.
Aww – very sweet. I loved this line: “whispering promises he always keeps”
Thanks. He always does, too. Lucky me.
I love the threads of golden hair that ties the two halves of this poem together, Susan. Lovely….
Thank you, Liz. It was a fun challenge. I’m going to work my way through more of Tricia’s stretches.
Nicely done!
Hi Susan,
Nice poem. It strikes a chord of reality.
Debbie Ballentine
Garden buddy
Re: Nicely done!
Thanks, Debbie.
Poetry Friday
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful!
You & the poem =)
and you have a gem of a husband!
–LiZ
Re: Beautiful!
Thanks, Liz. I do have an absolute gem of a husband. I’m very lucky.
Susan, this is lovely! I can identify with all of it, especially the double chin : (
Wonderful work! You should post more of your poems.
Linda
http://ldkwritetime.blogspot.com
Thank you, Linda. I appreciate the support.
Love is the true camera. 🙂
It IS the true camera, isn’t it?
Saturday here as you know wonderful poem and writing as always just wanted to post my poem today as it is my birthday and perhaps given me extra courage to do so
– Anne McKenna
MY BOXES OF MEMORIES
There are three kinds of boxes
I use to organise my mind
The first is a big black steel box
to put all bad memories I find
The box has no key it only has a slot
for it will never be opened
In here I place all the things
That need to be forgot
I need them no longer
They only ever cause me pain
By dwelling on them
I have nothing to gain
I push the box to the back of my mind
to remain there forever more
I can add to the box but never release
For these things have gone before
The second is my silver box
For all the qualities I hold dear
Courage, wisdom happiness and love
with these close, I will not fear
I collect all those so hard to find
From people I most admire
I add to this box to help me through life
To grow as I desire
I place this box on my shoulder
So it can be in easy reach for everything inside
For I no longer feel frightened
Nor need to run and hide
For with this box on my shoulder
I can face anything life has in store
The box can be opened freely
to be used and then used some more
The third is my golden box
I place it close to my heart
It has a big golden key
In here I place memories of people
that will always mean so much to me
Those that have passed on
People I have met along the way
I keep these memories close to my heart
In the hope they won’t fade away
I feel that with these boxes with me
I can always see things more clearly
They opened my eyes to things around me
To remind me what I hold dearly
I hope I always have these boxes
And that they are always close by
For all those special memories
Until the day I die
– Anne McKenna
Thanks for sharing your poem Anne. I know you’ve worked very hard on it.