Monday, 18 February 2013

Of black and white



the room plunges into shadows
as your silver tongue licks my face,
slowly stripping my colors & exotic scent
in your haste to drink deeply from me- 

 you have turned limbs into fishes
that swayed & followed your swagger & steps 
i grew blind eyes & numbed hunger to what
existed outside these walls, painted in milky gray- 
rainbow colors in a palette,   
shades in varying degrees, now 
roots me like winter trees, searching 
for my clothes,  my fruits, my words- 

our daughter, now grown up     
asked only one thing from you --

look at us- 
violet leaves, scarlet blooms, dark olive eyes-   
not a canvas of black and white -
Posted for OpenLinkNight of Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (Monday) - Free-verse and Ekphrasis poem
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32 comments:

  1. Jinksy18 February 2013 at 11:57

    Oh, how your words reminded me of one of my drawings plus graphics HERE ?

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    1. Scarlet18 February 2013 at 12:07

      Yes, I remember this Jinksy ~ It speaks much, doesn't it ~

      Delete
  2. Kerry O'Connor18 February 2013 at 12:10

    It's amazing how you 'coloured' in the black and white woodcut. Gorgeous, Grace.

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  3. Outcast18 February 2013 at 12:19

    So beautiful, the photo makes for an amazing prompt and really sets the tone of this Heaven, love it.

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  4. DEZMOND18 February 2013 at 12:51

    stripping and licking are my fave pastimes, but you know that, Grace :) Me is a bit slutty :)

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  5. Pat Hatt18 February 2013 at 13:12

    Like the plunging to shadows and just more vivid from there. And happy day off at your lair, we don't get it, hmph.

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    1. Scarlet18 February 2013 at 13:16

      Yes, happy day off indeed ~ Too bad for you though ~ Thanks Pat ~

      Delete
  6. Brian Miller18 February 2013 at 13:40

    nice.....really like those first two stanzas....the tongue lapping at the colors...and the fishes...ha...great touch grace...the daughter asking only one thing from you adds a bit of mystery as well..

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  7. Herotomost18 February 2013 at 13:52

    Its what I see when I look at my life, my children, my loves. The contrast always seems to be there, but I believe the black and white is a construction of the self concious...the color represents truth unending. I loved the feel of this, it is supple and bears weight at the same time. Great writing.

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    1. Scarlet18 February 2013 at 13:59

      I am happy that you see the contrast and what colors represent ~

      Thank you for the lovely words Corey ~

      Delete
  8. Abin Chakraborty18 February 2013 at 13:52

    remarkably moving play of colours.wonderfully done.

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  9. Marian18 February 2013 at 16:01

    i enjoyed reading this a few times, taking it in and making sure i understood its meaning... good for the grown daughter to insist on colors, on the memory of color, acting on color, that her parents not settle for muted. maybe they would have settled without the reminder. it's easy to do. very subtle and beautiful, Grace.

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    1. Scarlet18 February 2013 at 17:41

      I like the message from the daughter, who in my mind is fortunate enough to be educated and see more opportunities for growth ~

      Thank you for the lovely words Marian ~

      Delete
  10. anthonynorth18 February 2013 at 16:08

    Great inspiration from the pic.

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  11. Susan18 February 2013 at 17:29

    I remember the phrase, the demand, "Look at Me!" weaving through my childhood and my dating life and then, after I read Thornton Wilder's Our Town, I finally understood it. It was not the egotism I had been told but an existential need to know I am alive to the people I love--to spend rather than waste life. Here, I see through the dimension of black and white as well, and have the added benefit of a mother's thinking. This poem is brilliant and full of Grace.

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    Replies
    1. Scarlet18 February 2013 at 17:42

      I like that demand, to spend rather than waste life ~ I thought playing with colors are symbolic ~ Thanks for the lovely visit Susan ~

      Delete
  12. Mary18 February 2013 at 18:02

    I love

    "rainbow colors in a palette,
    shades in varying degrees"

    not to mention the very subtle sensuality!

    I like the Escher painting as well.

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  13. Susie Clevenger18 February 2013 at 23:12

    Black & white...a life void of color and expression...I love how your words transformed the image with color...not to fade into the scenery, but stand out and be noticed...

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  14. Anonymous19 February 2013 at 08:05

    the 1st 3 paragraphs are about lovemaking, not quite sure about the remaining 2 paragraphs!

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  15. madigs19 February 2013 at 11:31

    your poem reminds me of a 70s song by Chicago here are the lyrics:

    As time goes on, I realize
    Just what you mean to me.
    And now, now that you're near,
    Promise your love that I've waited to share
    And dreams of our moments together.
    Color my world with hopes of loving you

    and here is the link: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/chicago/color+my+world_20169781.html

    am so glad that your daughter has color in her eyes,
    just like you. ;-)

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  16. Margaret19 February 2013 at 11:52

    i grew blind eyes & numbed hunger to what
    existed outside these walls

    and the part about searching for her words, her fruits...

    I read it at first thinking it was a love story, and perhaps it is - but it seems he has let her down, that SHE let herself down by not SEEING beyond him. I guess that is the little thing about the daughter.. that she asked for more? And perhaps he couldn't offer it? I guess that is the mystery.

    Nicely done. Hope I read into it appropriately.

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  17. Ella19 February 2013 at 14:45

    Glorious always to find, seek and look for color! Muted is over rated, lol ;D We have to search far and wide to find the right blend~

    Beautiful Grace
    I have to read it again~

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  18. Anonymous19 February 2013 at 14:50

    I love this. I do think the first two stanzas are especially powerful.

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  19. scotthastiepoet19 February 2013 at 18:43

    A vibrant piece - especially liked: 'i grew blind eyes & numbed hunger to what existed outside these walls' and 'roots me like winter trees' A sparkling piece of work.. Regards Scott www.scotthastie.com

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  20. Hannah19 February 2013 at 19:11

    I love this:

    " now
    roots me like winter trees, searching
    for my clothes, my fruits, my words- "

    and I really enjoy the violet and olive...the other colors you bring in the end contrast richly with the black and white content of the rest. Nicely done!!

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  21. Ellecee19 February 2013 at 19:30

    I love the words "you have turned limbs into fishes",,,and in the end we all want to be seen, REALLY seen,,,
    I enjoyed this a lot,,,

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~

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