~
As the apple blossom
pinks arbors, then reddens
the green crowd,
her beauty drew rivulets
of aura in askance
at the Cotillion.
Public displays of protection
was his style,
tendering piles of scrip
exchanged for incremental intrigue
with interest.
Cornered lips hoped heavenward,
as he recommended
the dew pond
…petals wandered
and voices trailed.
They married.
Decades still sing.
Remodeling slows
but the blueprint remains fast;
timbre softens sinew.
Time hardened fir
replaces
paint and polish,
while callouses dim.
Practiced builders,
they have long since learned
not to deconstruct
the faultless cantilever –
She loves with respect.
He respects with love.
~
Author notes
paulcreates
image prompt
In a list
A contest entry
- NO GREENS - Round 6 - Invitation Only by Pamela A Lamppa.
15000 points, ended June 22, 2008, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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"…petals wandered
and voices trailed…"
there is a great deal of romantic imagery caught up in these few words; love can be a powerful magic.
as a machinist, I understand cantilevers and how their structural longevity is so often sacrificed by outside influences.
you have done love justice here with this wholly unexpected take to this image.
excellent!
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Interesting way you have used the prompt
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It seems a quiet understanding, singed withing the continuity of promise.
A different kind of magic, one more real than most would suspect. You have come at this from such a different angle. Most impressive. Well done poet, best of luck in the judging. ~Pamela
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Read aloud - this is truly more exceptional than it appears. I adore the way you fitted this free verse to give such a direct use of imagery.
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Thank you for noticing. I do try to taylor the text to poetic advantage as well as the meaning of the poem itself, being a visual person myself.
Paul
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public displays of protection... liked that wording with its twist of meaning.
this was wonderful to read... the last two lines sum it up, as she loves with respect and he respects with love. a relationship that will continue on from the conception of constructing it...
wonderful...
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This delves far beyond the image prompt and
delivers a tale with sensational metaphor.
The whole portrait seems to unfold line to
line complete with genuine feeling, drawing
the reader into this relationship strengthened
with time and timbre. Blue
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Thank you so much Blue for your wonderful comment. This is such a fun contest. I wish you all the best. May your muse thrive.
Paul
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i know this is going to sound odd, but when i read the line, "they married" it choked me up. Poetically, those two words are placed perfectly within the poem...and what a beautifully written poem this is, Paul. I would sigh, but I'd blow the candle out
Love, Lane
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What an interesting interpretation of the picture prompt. This view of courtship and marriage is filled with wonderful phrasing, particularly the use of the term "public displays of affection" turned into displays of protection. This relationship sounds a little paternalistic to me, but I admire the poetic way in which it was written. Good luck in this contest. Peace, Liz
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Thank you Liz. I suppose it's the old school genteel values of mine that show through. Both women and men need both love and respect but it's my view that when both love and respect are force-ranked, men prefer respect primarily and women need love primarily.
Thanks for reading.
Paul
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Whoa dude...DEEP!!!
good luck in the contest
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