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Storms you bring in disguise
by Shirin SwiftMy foot lost in the still water of the cold vase.
Wet blue towels hurled across the clothes horse.
I hear a woman's soul slip floor-wards.
It clears her body like a stale garment.
The afternoon is sails and petulant candle patters.
Anemic carnations twist to see the harbor view and clouds:
Lot's wives hardening in eggshell.
I lean on the hope of nudity reclining inside the howl of a vacated dress.
Repeating on the glass of the balcony door with a spray bottle psalm:
Lord, do you have a stormy one for me
in your basketful of charms and afternoons, beneath the clear reflections.
I am cleaning the windows to see better the gilded storms you bring. 04/03/2007 Posted on 04/04/2007
Copyright © 2025 Shirin Swift
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 04/04/07 at 02:35 AM There's something very cinematic about this, I feel I can see the movements the positioning of things in the room, a storm approaching, perhaps after glowing(though empty) days the feelings reflected within. The "howl" for clarity, for naked awareness is louder than any sea or storm. |
| Posted by Kathleen Wilson on 04/04/07 at 02:38 AM Mmm I like the "anemic carnations" and "still water"-- and your identification with them. |
| Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 04/04/07 at 03:36 AM Again, I gotta say I was really knocked a step back by your ending. This one in particular. You just seem to have a really great way of closing out an already strong piece. |
| Posted by Laura Doom on 04/06/07 at 12:58 PM Yes, this does have an 'abstract expressionist' ambience - I especially enjoyed the second stanza - combining the parallel, incongruous concepts of 'soul' and 'stale dress'. Also, the 'still life in motion' feel to this piece. I came late to awareness of the 'ekphrastic' form of poetry, but there is definitely an element of that here. |
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