A fruit knife slices through the
dawn breakfast
as the colony’s ignorant Colonel
violates the little girl’s innocence,
fondling his baton,
drinking the steaming tea
Damask damsels
knowing nothing
of true love and devotion
to the mother.
She embraces the chocolate doll,
hugging it tightly.
Bengali tigers are spread as butter
on the Empire’s toast.
Licking his lips and sucking his yellow teeth,
the Colonel’s hands wander.
His apple pie with too many cloves,
is bitter to the taste
No redemption
from this ugly fate.
God is only real for the believers
when the sun sets on this crime.
In her own virgin time
she repossesses her life almost too late.
Years have brought the children
to wits end
and sanity’s borders.
Kipling kills
the urge in her to survive,
although she seems to know,
the difference between
innocence and guilty denial
Oppression clouds consciousness.
The smouldering destruction
from a seemingly dark core
bursts into flames.
With known habits and other thoughts
she continues,
and now,
time makes the distant memory
fade.
Time makes the distant memory
fade
Comments
Overthetop1 | July 10, 2011 - 10:22
Wow Pia - this is incredibly powerful. Your empire metaphors are superb. I loved 'Bengal tigers are spread as butter on the empire's toast.' Also very thought - provoking.
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 10:35
Gee thanks OTT- sorry if it is a bit anti- Empire- I used to live in 'colonial' Australia as well, you see. Thank you very much for reading and commenting
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | July 10, 2011 - 14:49
A real thought provoker this one, you must have
worked really hard on this piece Pia. It's a real
challenge to describe a piece so poetically, but
you have managed to achieve a lot in this poem.
Jenny.
seashore | July 10, 2011 - 15:36
Pia this is my favourite of yours - just brilliant! x
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 16:01
Hi Jenn- yes it did take a bit of tightening up but you know I have been listening to Insert about letting it rest and then coming back to it. It is a good idea.
Thank you as ever for reading and leaving a comment.
;)Pia
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 16:02
Coral I'm so pleased that you have adopted this one as your favourite. Thank you very much for telling me
;)Pia
SundaysChild | July 10, 2011 - 16:33
Just wonderful
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 16:39
Thank you SC glad you enjoyed
;)Pia
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 16:43
Thank you very much cherry eds ;D I'm so pleased you liked it
barryj1 | July 10, 2011 - 17:48
Quite an amazing bit of writing - I was going to say 'fiction', but having worked with children as a clinical social worker many years ago, there is a paper thin line between the fictive and the real. This is really good on a dozen different levels and the patience you exhibited in waiting the poem out shows. By the way, I like the ending the best. Also, you wrote with laser-like honesty, refusing to exploit the subject or allow the salacious Colonel to usurp the theme.
Highhat | July 10, 2011 - 18:20
I simply love your profound comments Barry. I am really honoured that you have taken the time and effort to give my poem a word on the way.
You have got the meaning right on and I thank you for your fine well-founded analysis.
;)Pia
Overthetop1 | July 10, 2011 - 18:20
Such a well-deserved cherry Pia. I am really pleased for you.
insertponceyfre... | July 10, 2011 - 19:52
this is really really good pia - well done
MistakenMagic | July 10, 2011 - 19:55
This is brilliant, Pia. A lot of your images are just pure genius, especially this:
"Bengali tigers are spread as butter
on the Empire’s toast."
Well done on the well-deserved cherry!
Magic xxx
JoseHdz | July 10, 2011 - 22:35
Stunning~!
You have so many interesting images and sounds in this poem! It is quite impressive that you manage to make these diverse elements flow, smoothly. I think the transparency and simplicity of the ending is resoundingly powerful and contrasts with the complexities of the rest of the piece.
Congrats on the well deserved cherries, Pia!
Cheers,
Jose Hernandez Diaz.
Highhat | July 11, 2011 - 04:25
Thanks again OTT
;)Pia
Highhat | July 11, 2011 - 04:25
I'm really pleased you liked it Insert.Thank you for telling me
;)Pia
Highhat | July 11, 2011 - 04:26
Thanks magic- I'm glad you picked out that image- I like it myself.
;)Pia
Highhat | July 11, 2011 - 04:28
Thank you Jose- for someone who writes such stunning peices as you do I really appreciate your words on my poem.
;)Pia
Highhat | July 11, 2011 - 04:30
Hi Richard- I am glad you understood the anger- it is quite true. You are a star for stopping by and leaving such a great comment. Thank you very much
atb
;)Pia
fatboy74 | July 11, 2011 - 22:13
I think this is very, very good Pia. :-)
Highhat | July 12, 2011 - 05:07
Thanks a lot for reading FB and commenting. I really apprecaite it. I have the impression that your time is precious at the moment so it means even more to me.
;)Pia
RachelPatricia | July 14, 2011 - 20:37
That image of the tigers on toast is going to stay with me for a long, long time, Pia - this is just brilliant writing, many congrats on the cherry :)
Rachel xx
Highhat | July 15, 2011 - 02:32
Glad you liked it Rachel and thank you for telling me so.
;)Pia
maggyvaneijk | July 17, 2011 - 21:29
Another stunning piece, an abundance of beautiful imagery and then you tie it up so neatly at the end.
Highhat | July 18, 2011 - 03:04
Thank you for your comment maggy and taking the time to read. I appreciate it greatly.
;)Pia
CelenaGaia | August 13, 2011 - 21:23
Absolutely stunning imagery. This is poetry that, for me personally, is at its best. Beautifully woven verses, with clear and quite stark imagery at times, leaving uncomfortable feelings under the skin - as should be, given the context. Excellent.
Highhat | August 14, 2011 - 08:08
Thanks for reading CelenaG. I'm pleased you left such a nice comment and that you liked this one.
;)Pia