i buy
mangoes, plump yellow skin
amidst orange pumpkins and potted mums
i slice
with a sharp knife, along the seed,
sticky juice drips on my fingers
i scoop
the flesh, sweet but not sweet enough,
but tangy to stir a faint memory, ever so lightly
i cube
the fruit, up and down in little squares
then spoon the rest into a bowl with sugardust
i drain
wine glass, vigorously cleaned from your stains,
inhaling autumn leaves on ground, unraked, spilling colors
i savor
solitude of where i am: not in a perfect place
but untroubled, safe from your lies and pity crumbs
as i wipe
kitchen top, peace comes like a sip from young coconut:
fresh, awakening senses, content in one's choice-
alone
D'verse Poets Pub: Unexpected - Based on my friend's life, after discovering that her long-term boyfriend was keeping secrets from her, the most damaging being his sexuality. Strangely enough, this conversation happened last year when I went abroad to visit my mom who was confined then in the ICU. My friend came unexpectedly for a visit, and told me her story. Thanks to Karin Gustafson for juggling my memory.
Happy weekend to everyone ~
Picture credit: here
What a fantastic poem, in use of form and words. Really enjoyed what you did here, especially liked 'i savor
ReplyDeletesolitude of where i am: not in a perfect place
but untroubled' That is usually the best we can expect and hope for when the unexpected happens.
Thanks for the lovely words and visit ~
Deletethe process of slicing the sweet fruit, the draining of the wine glass, stained...and then the wiping...surely speaks about finding the way out of an unhealthy relationship and towards a new beginning...great images grace..
ReplyDeleteI wanted to focus on a clear image, rather than generalities of a broken heart. Thanks for the compliments and visit Claudia ~
DeleteI had to read this twice, not really understanding the first pass thru.
ReplyDeleteFunny how all hell breaks out at once, isn't it?
Peace reigns til we're at rest, then trouble comes in waves.
Your telling is lovely, grace, but it seemed to me more a hope to the conclusion, than the closure of having arrived.
The mention of the wine glass, the need to eradicate, led me to this.
Rick
I agree that trouble comes in waves, sometimes unexpectedly.
DeleteBut peace can come too, after a decision, even if its a painful one. Thanks for the visit Rick ~
Very simple and lovely - quite wonderful - the unexpected peace that can come even with a bit of loneliness. k.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful prompt K ~
DeleteYikes! I have no idea why my comment posted thrice. Sorry
ReplyDeletePlease delete the excess.
Have a great wknd
Rick
This was wonderful. Now, I need a mango.
ReplyDeleteyep, the fruit confused me until I read your explanation of the poem :)
ReplyDeleteI love how this poem progressed, verse after verse. Sometimes talk of food/fruit can convey a so much deeper message, as did your poem!
ReplyDeleteCan't help thinking it was more then fruit that was being cut and sliced away...
ReplyDeleteOh that would hurt so much. To discover someone we love has lied about their sexuality. Not only does it break the heart with the betrayal there is also the worry of whether he has caught and then passed on any STD's too. I'm glad she felt she could confide in you Grace.
ReplyDeleteThe cutting up of the fruit was an intricate and, delicious aside to the main course.
"peace comes, like a sip from young coconut". Lovely. Betrayal and pain- why so many of us choose to remain alone.
ReplyDeleteA luscious poem with an ending of courage and triumph. Really love this. K
ReplyDeletePerhaps the attention to the mango was a way to say that life returns to normalcy after a pain such as this one. It's better to be alone and have a 'mundane' life of living with integrity than one with a deceitful lover.
ReplyDeleteI went back and re read the verses after you'v explained the meaning and it read so very differently. No longer abstract, but concrete the meaning.
ReplyDeletewonderful images....
ReplyDelete"i savor
solitude of where i am: not in a perfect place
but untroubled, safe from your lies and pity crumbs"
absolutely loved this bit!
I love this, "vigorously cleaned from your stains" - so metaphoric in it's meaning. I'm sorry your friend went through this, Heaven.
ReplyDeleteIt has a nice progressive feel.
ReplyDelete'Potted mums', had a giggle at that.
Great play on the topic at hand, admit the cat's mind was elsewhere and then the explanation filled it right in. Sucks people have to go through such things.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity when trust went asunder.I like the succulent mango. Our tree unfortunately isn't fruiting as before for this year. Wonderful write Heaven!
ReplyDeleteHank
alone is not always a bad thing....and finding those routines and normalcy in the small things ...like prepping the fruit helps you find balance again as well....cool piece grace...like the structure of it as well...
ReplyDeleteBlessed peace. What a beautiful write.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly told; I went back and read it several times, found myself more and more intrigued and liking it more and more also ... very nice
ReplyDeletehttp://nsaynne.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/suddenly/
I like the form and structure -- each stanza beginning with an action, the structure encouraging pause, followed with emphasis and care on the details of the task at hand, or the thought and moment. Savoring the fruits, the solitary time -- a sort of sanctuary created giving much needed attention to self.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this.
I didn't totally get it; but I love your rhythm and use of the fruits for symbolism. And it was just beautiful.
ReplyDelete....dhole
this is different....
ReplyDeleteVery nice, almost ritualistic I enjoyed this a terrific write.
ReplyDeletebeautifully written, Heaven!
ReplyDeletehave a lovely Sunday.
♥
wonderful poem...solitude can really be nice sometimes.
ReplyDeleteNicely done. The background info made the world of a difference for understanding your poem -- without it, the words would have just floated away. Thanx.
ReplyDeleteI savour solitude where I am not in a perfect place.... really like that, so well put...if we waited to get to a perfect place before we enjoyed solitude then there'd less enjoyment all round....thanks
ReplyDeleteBeautiful lines and emotions :D
ReplyDeleteLovely and sensuous tribute to solitude.:))
ReplyDeletewow, really well done, such a sense of sadness even without the back story... love this phrase: "safe from your lies and pity crumbs"
ReplyDeletea sad and very unexpected story that you have made quite memorable with your imagery.
The rhythm of rote activity can clear the brain and soothe the soul in times of distress. I like the positive note at the end when she wipes the kitchen top and moves on--"content in one's choice"....Perceptive story.
ReplyDelete