Cook’s Kiss
Run a finger to encircle,
delicate amber waif, edge of a blade of grass.
Find the boarded well
and the chamber utterly without doors.
Mad ghost under a furious moon,
our centaurs’ island kingdom falls,
buried in hours.
Why not dance once again a final dance,
play once again on the ends of our nerves?
March 1974
Posted for G-Man's Friday Flash 55 Fiction
(This time, title is not included in the word count, because I'm arbitrary like that.)
In Case You're Wondering Dep't: Title is derived from the occupation of the original donor of the offstage kiss in question.
Image: Education of Achilles, by Eugène Delacroix 2nd third of 19th century, oil on canvas
Eugène Delacroix [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Love your 55
ReplyDeleteOff stage kiss eh? Hopefully their love wasn't buried
Moonie smiles
Speaking of dancing on your last nerve, here I am!
ReplyDeleteI'm lovin "Mad ghost under a furious moon." I also like the boarded up well and the room utterly without doors. Both of those are perfect for the mood of this piece, and I don't think I've ever read a poetic reference to a boarded up well before, making me like it all the more.
@mdw Sometimes what's offstage is the better show. ;)
ReplyDelete@FB : No problem, I have no intact nerve left at this point. Boarded-up wells are fine metaphors, but not much good when you're thirsty, eh?
oh nice...lovely word play...some kiss eh? smiles.
ReplyDeleteMagical Mystical and FALLEN! damn! wont they rebuild or has the magic been sucked from them?
ReplyDeletepretty 55~
Dance indeed!!! Love this one.
ReplyDeleteMy 55 is posted!! Here is the link for you.
Beautiful..It flows well.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand a word of it!
I'm poetically stupid.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End...G
It's okay G-Man. This is how women (or at least women like me) secretly think about...you know, that L-word, okay? Don't worry, we don't expect you to understand that. Have a beer and a kick-ass weekend your own self. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks all, I'm late getting around to everyone else's stuff this morning but I'm getting another cup of coffee now and getting ready to head out.
The title counts as part of the word count??? Oh boy! I've been doing my 55's all wrong :)
ReplyDeleteThis was amazing...I was swept up and away...
@Talon: Only when you want it to. Last time I did, this time, not so much. ;-) Thanks, and hopefully this one didn't make you feel sad. I'll be starting to feel like quite the Debby Downer person. :P
ReplyDeleteVery intriguing 55. I have never included my title as a part of the 55 words.
ReplyDelete@Monkey Man--so I've probably been cheating,then? You don't know how hard it is for me to say anything in less than 55 SENTENCES, so have mercy on me, please.
ReplyDeletePlay at the ends of our nerves? Not our last nerve, clearly, as this is too sweet for that.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry too much about the word limits. I figure if I come within ten plus or minus it's good enough and so far people have even been confusing Suzie's House with my 55, and there's no way you could claim that was in the limits. Getting it right on the money really is a challenge.
But then, challenges are fun. :)
pleasant 55.
ReplyDeleteyou got the talent.
Lovely way with words, i like poems about kisses!
ReplyDelete..under a furious moon.. oh la la - what an exciting 55...
ReplyDeletehedgewitch nice work!
ReplyDeleteGood and dark. I like the way you arrange words.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful word play..... enjoyed it :)
ReplyDeleteThis is full of various words, and meaning. A poem in lines. Wonderful!
ReplyDeletehttp://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/the-perfect-poet-award-4-poets-rally-week-34/
ReplyDeleteaward notice,
Glad to read you today, prayers, hope all is well...
Happy Saturday!
you rock!
xxx
playing on the ends of our nerves....what a great line for describing such a sense of being alive.
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I love "mad ghost under a furious moon." What great description!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks. You 55-ers are a great crowd.
ReplyDelete@A. NONNY MUSS: Must I get stern with you? I have CAPLOCKS, YOU KNOW. I CAN MAKE YOUR EYEBALLS BLEED.
magical mystical n beautiful:)
ReplyDeleteThe choice of words is breathtaking.. it paints a very vivid picture in the mind's eye..
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope it wasn't their last dance though... I am sure the furious moon would love shower her warmth on them..
http://thursdaypoetsrallypoetry.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/thursday-poets-rally-week-34-participation-awards/
ReplyDeletepoets rally week 34 awards...
you could open a page titled awards and display them. best wishes for your day.
Happy Thursday!