The Gladiator's Sword
the petals melt in her mouth
the faint taste of thin suede on her tongue
diffusing a soft lesson
gladiolus: n. sing., latin root "glad" meaning sword
all flowers are not fragrant
or color fulled
or firmly rooted
their limbs tear easily
(the sword lily can be split with pinky fingers)
and frequently
they are abused as guilt offerings
bruising even under rude glances
but still they bloom
in glorious defiance
on the coliseum floor
posted by Scheherazade | 8/03/2006 05:13:00 AM
14 Comments:
Gladiolas are hearty flowers- no wonder the origin of their name. New info for me.
This brings back memories because my father grew glads for my mother.
THe message embedded among these strong flowers is clear and well written almost savored like a beautiful flower's life. Love the phrase "The faint taste of thin suede" and the reference to "abused as guilt offerings."
may god save lebanon
hello m00n: yes, this was colorful lesson learned on a recent trip to market...and I returned home with an armful of orange glads. they are very pleased i think to know that they have their very own poem and blooming beautifully in approval!
oh, i also wanted you to know i have 2 other poetry sites, http://galileosdilemma.blogspot.com and
http://wetpoems.blogspot.com for the different phases of my own moon; would love your thoughts if you have time to visit.
haider: i did see the face of Lebanon while writing this. may He save us all from ourselves.
The dichotomy's almost unnerving. I'd never heard of a gladiola; the poem encompasses both the delicateness and force of the two.
Ô¿Ô : Hello Ô¿Ô. A very poignant observation. And thank you. This was an effect I was trying to achieve and somehow do this ravishing flower justice. Though flower doesn't even suit it. There are some on my tabletop at this moment and it is a wonder.
You really must see it in the flesh!
Thanks for visiting and do come again.
interesting style.hope in fragility. can feel the suede on my tongue.
touching tributes too. Who recorded 'Anfal'?
girl with the pearl skin came right at me!
Inkblot: thanks for stopping by. i'm glad you were moved.
I recorded Anfal. It's easier that way. Keeps the overhead low.;-)
Yes, thank you for your links to your other sites. Your very talented. I realized you wrote on Wet Poems because Cecilia invited me a while ago to write there also, but I don't have the time! I will visit when I can. SO many blogs to read, not enough time!
Absolutely exquisite... Thank you.
I know it's disgusting, but i first read this line " diffusing a soft lesson "
as diffusing a soft lesion...
Anyway, I think the psychology of this lies in the couplet
'they are abused as guilt offerings
bruising even under rude glances'
Without this couplet I would have read this in wet poems I'm sure.
Also there is a certain misandry in the lines
'their limbs tear easily
(the sword lily can be split with pinky fingers)'
The overall effect to me is like the red stripe on a black widow spider - it's meaning depends on whether you are the male or female of the species...
Finally in my interest of wordplay I would offer the following changes
'they are abused as gilt offerings
blushing even under rude glances'
Cheers
Glenn
I can't even respond to this b/c I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING!!!!!
Shame on you CW!
1) Now I can never read MY OWN POEM without seeing "lesions."
2) There was never any conscious play with double entendre. Honest. I just wanted to write an anti-flowery flower poem. Geesh!
3) However, in light of your critique, I must say I find your revision a little limp
:-P
Well one or other of us must have a one track mind.. I don't think you can help yourself!
Sorry about the lesions thing tho... guess it's safest not to odeo this one just in case.
In light of your beautiful Murawi Sulfur Gannet poem (i butchered the title i know), I thought you admitted to your "one minded track"
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