Current

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By london_calling79

Thu, 30 Apr 2015
  • 5540 reads
24 comments
 

Two tins clutched tenderly

Regimented to frayed puffer jacket, deep green

mouth low slung he stoops like a

question mark in the queue.

 

'It's not warm is it?’

 

I mumble a reply

mouth full with platitudes and morning breath

Glance at my hands replete with

doughy cakes and grains of coffee.

 

‘They’re not even my cats.’

 

Comes unbidden, tender whisper

as he half turns rheumy-eyed

Expectant.  I deliver my

gritty pearl of wisdom…

 

‘Ha ha oh really?’

 

Full turned now in

Farah grey, boat shoes timeworn beanie hat

askew atop an iceberg of hair

Carefully coifed.

 

'They know a soft touch when they see one.'

 

He’s an open hand,

gesturing.

An eggshell of trust.

A current searching for earth.

 

‘Good luck with those cats.’

 

Is all

I have

condescendingly puffed myself up

as his fullness leaves me empty.

 

Certificate U
Poem
New Set
Other Non-fiction
Miscellaneous
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

something small turned into something wonderful. Well done

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Thanks insert... I read something on here a while ago regarding a failed attempt at conversation and the feelings it leaves and have been ruminating on it ever since. Thank you for your high praise!

 

Submitted by scratch on

What an superb portrait of an intimate encounter. 

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Thanks scratch! It was intimate and yet cut off in many ways. Have we lost the art of conversation? Or is it just me!?

 

Submitted by scratch on

This is our Facebook and Twitter pick of the day!

Get a fantastic reading recommendation every day.

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Wow. Double, triple, quadruple chuffed for the picks. Thank you editors!

 

Submitted by Bee on

Great captured moment.

Bee

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Cheers bee! Just read 'Bin Day' and enjoyed every word. I must apologise for the mis-spelling of 'piece' though. As we say where I come from - scundered.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

A touching and subtly drawn observation.

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Thank you Phillip. Been enjoying your recent purple patch of poetry!

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

I deeply identify with this. It feels like a British failing as well as his personal one and the art of conversation is painfully illuminated - particularly like how you diminish your puffed up 'I.' Choice words.

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Cheers Vera. Diminished is pretty much how I wanted people feeling after this encounter.

 

Submitted by EB on

'They’re not even my cats.’ There's something super-lonely and telling in that line. This piece stirs up uncomfortable feelings of recognition. 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Not my words; all his.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Encapsulation at its best, lc.  

SSS

 

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Thank you triple S!

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

illustrations within this neatly laid out piece.

Congrats on the "golden globes"

Ed

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Cheers Ed. Loving Leaf at the mo.

 

Submitted by celticman on

some fantastic imagery, 

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Ta mate. Valued praise coming from you.

 

Submitted by tibi popovici on

I must say the conversation it's amazing and that's not all, the sensation of duality takes me directly to emotions. First, it's a great writting, second, congrats for awards.

T.

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Wow thanks T! I'm humbled by your praise.

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Congrats on POW. Wonderful piece. 

 

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Cheers Hudson! Praise also must go to 'Man buying cat food in Southampton Co-Op' as he delivered some of the lines.