Miss Havisham, dear Ophelia, let us flee
this dark house, the cruelty of misplaced
desire, the paneling of which is suitable
only for our coffins. Let us find another wood,
a brighter home of our own choosing, lush
with fern, moss-hushed, honeysuckle glinting,
scenting the sunlight and the hill-born(e)
breeze. Let us step from the shade into glade
of pink foxglove, listen for rocks’ water-song
and silence of trees.
There is no revenge in pity,
no sympathy in surrender, so cast off your wrecked
dresses, your sodden tresses; care not about full-
filling hours. We will study butterfly wings, speech
of birds. We will deck ourselves with wild roses—
or toss them at the b(r)ook.
ah, such skillful use of the parentheses! Two meanings intertwined. I love it! I particularly like the music in “wrecked dresses, sodden tresses”…
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Thank you. 🙂 I admit it, I had fun with this one!
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Amazing–not just a fab poem, but lately I was thinking about dear Miss Havisham, so now you’ve activated my switch! I love your phrasing, word choices, the way you paint the scene for us.
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You had me thinking of Ophelia, too…then that art you had with the Lady of Shalott…I wanted to get those poor women out of the house and into the sunshine!!
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Too funny!
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