A Suburban Sunday Evening
In the soft, dark light of the cosy cottage
Four faces gleam which in the bright light of day
display middle-age jowls, crinkly eyelids
with edgings frayed into crevices
And now
they become exquisitely beautiful
as they smile and laugh in the glow.
Fullness of face has gone
Ah, youth has returned as we laugh and
talk of the news : the missing plane,
kidnapped girls in dark Africa,
then to music, family, work, cooking,
books and favourite writers
We eat cannelloni with spinach salad
Salty, crisp olive bread, drink red wine
As we listen to the Ave Maria with Kiri
Age will return tomorrow at the office desks
In the silvery blazing light of neon tubes
Our heads bowed.
Isha Wagner is a New Zealand poet. She has resided in many countries including Iceland, Libya, India, and Australia. She read some of her work at the VIII International Poetry Festival held in Granada, Nicaragua, in February 2012. She has had three collections of poetry published.
Wow, Isha, your poem is an intricate word painting, set in what might be considered as a normal gathering, except for your intimate word painting that is unique and yet so filled with the reminder that no matter where we are from, we are all unique and yet so very much the same! It is wonderful to have the opportunity to read you within these walls of Whispers and I definitely look forward to more! Thank you! Sheri / www.poetryandbeyond.net
ReplyDeleteHi Isha, It seems that life in New Zealand is much like it is in the U.S. On weekends we relax and feel young again, but work days become harder as we get up in years. I enjoyed the way you described the "middle-age jowls, crinkly eyelids
ReplyDeletewith edgings frayed into crevices." Can relate to that! A very thought-provoking poem that makes readers realize that people from different countries share some of the same feelings as they age. Well done! Best wishes, Carolyn
Isha, thank you for sharing how you feel about
ReplyDeleteit all. Had my reminder when I attempted to curl
my eyelashes! ( laugh) Mary
Isha, I read your poem more than once because it touched my heart. It's very descriptive, filled with images that trigger memories from times spent in my childhood. Thank you for sharing. Continued blessings!
ReplyDelete-Maurice J. Reynolds, Owner / Editor
TGBTG! Publications / Creative Inspirations
www.tgbtgpublictions.com
I absolutely loved your description of the faces and the whole scene your words portrayed. Such a talent you have for encapsulating what gave me the feel of a Norman Rockwell painting. It left me with a feeling of sweet peace and joy I have myself felt on many a Sunday afternoon as I have visited with friends or loved ones.
ReplyDeleteLove, Charlene
What an emotionally beautiful picture you have painted with this poem Isha. I feel as if I was there with you eating cannelloni and drinking red wine. I have done so many times and this is just what it was like for me as well. How delightful that you have shared this moment with us through your poetry.
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