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Who's Afraid of Pablo Neruda?

Posted by MistakenMagic on April 10, 2011 - 15:12
from the ABC set Who's Afraid of Pablo Neruda?

"But the hour of vengeance falls, and I love you."

I do not remember the exact second that I fell in love with you.
Yet I cannot forget September's hazy sniggers, how it hid
gold teeth behind leafy fingers, as if it knew a secret.
That time is fragmented like a slashed
pocket-watch. I can only just remember
the sweet bite of iced coffee and the touch
of brown paper bags. And Autumn placed
"I love you" in the back pages of my mind like a small add.

"And weariness follows, and the infinite ache."

Oh, Love's infinite ache! It blooms inside me
in red clouds - the way colour curls in water
when the painter dips his brush. A super-giant
suspended in a bottled universe.
This reaction is slow-moving. Unfolding
like petals - yet far-reaching.
This explosion will take its time
to carry out the needed motions.

"You occupy everything, you occupy everything."

Soon, they will take me away to bright rooms
to tap and zap and sap the life right out of me -
trying to understand. A white-coat will hold up a scan,
wave it like a flag, and your eyes will emerge
in the neon blue butterfly of my brain.
He will know; you have hooked
onto my every nerve. Your name
has grown in my mouth like a second tongue.

"I think, I explore great tracts of my life before you."

Hours of smashed bulbs and escaped sunlight.
On a southern beach I found a starfish
with one amputated limb. It sat on a rock
like a chromosome, and I lay next to it,
pretending we were part of the same string
of DNA. Now, those simple days are a rumour;
I am not sure if I believe in their existence.
Unicorn days at the bottom of an hourglass.

"I love you still among cold things."

January saw I was slipping away -
so it dug ten ice-picks into my shoulder blades
and dragged me back across the snow.
My exhausted, frostbitten brain couldn't
take the strain - and it longed for the leaves
on the railway line. My arms began negotiations
with sharp edges. But I somehow survived the winter;
a fond memory leant against my door like a snow shovel.

"So I love you because I know no other way."

I have gone away - across borders, over bridges.
I have waited patiently enough. But I do not
understand the Physics of falling out of love.
The equations and formulas of such a descent
are beyond me. I cannot calculate the needed
velocity - only the amount of counter-attack.
All I know is love is tidal; when I think it has
ebbed away, it suddenly comes rushing back.

Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

skinner_jennifer | April 10, 2011 - 15:36

Hi Magic,

this poem shouts of someone who is so in love, but
the person they love is not available anymore.

It's so sad, because I have been in a similar situation when I was young, so I could relate to
it so well.

I think I'm on the right track, but if not, please
put me right.

You really kept my attention with this one, much
enjoyed.

Jenny.

MistakenMagic | April 10, 2011 - 15:38

Thanks, Jenny - you got it in one ;) I'm glad you enjoyed this one!

Magic xxx

SteveM | April 10, 2011 - 16:23

'Unicorn days at the bottom of an hourglass'

That's a really great line.

For me this piece is a marvellously surreal vision.

Steve

RachelPatricia | April 10, 2011 - 16:45

Oh my giddy-gosh, this is brilliant. I was just thinking - when is Magic gonna put something new up? - and then I see this. It's completely blown me away. You end each stanza with some of the most stunning and inventive imagery I've ever read - the neon butterfly, the snow shovel against the door, and this -

'All I know is love is tidal; when I think it has
ebbed away, it suddenly comes rushing back.'

- so bloody true!

I think it's gonna take an awful lot to beat this to POW, Magic - this is by far my favourite of all of your writing on here, and I've got a feeling the rest of your fans will feel the same. Honestly, you go from strength to strength. It's just a shame you've had to suffer for your art, and I hope things are picking up for you now :)

Such a talented writer, Magic by name and magic by nature (think I've told you that before, I meant it then and I mean it all the more now) :)

Sorry for my Rachel-ramblings - it's your fault for being so bloody good!

All the best,

Rachel xx

Silver Spun Sand | April 10, 2011 - 16:52

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Magic this is magic;-)

Can't agree with all that has been said more, and my favourite line was Steve's but it is crammed full of wonderful imagery, as per usual. Definitely a 'Magic' special though, this one;-)

Tina xxx

Highhat | April 10, 2011 - 16:53

Yes this is quite outstanding Magic. Defintely a favourite of yours for me. Its so packed with fabulously imaginative images. Really better than well done. A stroke of genius.
;)Pia

MistakenMagic | April 10, 2011 - 21:43

Thanks, Steve - that's probably one of my favourite lines too ;)

Magic xxx

MistakenMagic | April 10, 2011 - 21:44

Wow! Thank you so, SO much for your comment, Rachel. It's definitely made my day :) Glad you enjoyed this one so much!

Magic xxx

MistakenMagic | April 10, 2011 - 21:45

Hello, Tina! This one had been forming in my mind for a while and last night/this morning I stitched it all together. So happy you think the effort has paid off ;)

Magic xxx

MistakenMagic | April 10, 2011 - 21:46

Thanks Pia - it's one of my personal favourites ;) Glad you enjoyed!

Magic xxx

shoe | April 11, 2011 - 08:40

I can only echo what has already been said,
Wonderful throughout!
I especially love the final verse though, :}

MistakenMagic | April 11, 2011 - 09:11

Thank you, Shirley :) I'd had those last lines in my head for a while - just needed to find a poetic home for them!

Magic xxx

fatboy74 | April 11, 2011 - 10:47

But I do not
understand the Physics of falling out of love.

Pretty stunning that and whole writing a real tour de force. ATB Fatboy :-)

MistakenMagic | April 11, 2011 - 10:53

Thanks, fatboy! Yes, writing this one was a real 'poetry egg' moment - think it was Larkin who said something along the lines of "I'm so shocked when I write a good poem, it's like I've laid an egg and I have to keep coming back to inspect it." Glad you enjoyed!

Magic xxx

fatboy74 | April 11, 2011 - 11:22

That's a fabulous quote - very fond of Larkin. :-)

Yutka | April 11, 2011 - 11:36

your poem blew me away by its verbal power and imagery. About the title... I love "Body of a woman" am a great fan of Neruda....With your poem you did it for me!
Yutka

MistakenMagic | April 11, 2011 - 16:25

Thanks, Yutka - I love that poem too. It's in his anthology 'Twenty Love Poems and A Song of Despair' which inspired this one! Glad you enjoyed :)

Magic xxx

SundaysChild | April 11, 2011 - 16:37

Outstanding x

MistakenMagic | April 11, 2011 - 16:42

Thanks, Sunday ;)

Magic xxx

barryj1 | April 11, 2011 - 16:46

I especially liked the tip of the hat to the master:
"So I love you because I know no other way."

There is so much exceptional imagery here, I would quote a few of my favorite lines, but the other readers have already beaten me to the punch. Beautiful poem!

MistakenMagic | April 11, 2011 - 17:09

Thank you, Barry! Yes, I love that line too - I just knew I had to fit it into a poem somewhere :)

Magic xxx

rjnewlyn | April 13, 2011 - 20:11

This is simply wonderful - I'm sure it's your best so far (or very close). The limbless starfish lying on a rock like a chromosome did it for me ...

Rob

MistakenMagic | April 13, 2011 - 22:00

Thanks, Rob! Yep, I'm pretty sure this is my best so far too :) Glad you like that starfish image - it came to me quite randomly and I knew I had to fit it into a poem somewhere!

Magic xxx

littleditty | April 16, 2011 - 23:04

I missed this? It's awesome! ---> going back for another read...commenteers have picked out some of the ace images - Neruda, inspired to read some now too!

maggyvaneijk | April 17, 2011 - 19:09

my jaw has dropped after reading this poem, it's so magnificent, my favourite one of yours! It's packed with too many wonderful images for me to point out, really every word in this is magical and I love the infusion of Neruda.

Glad I've found you on twitter now too :)

MistakenMagic | April 17, 2011 - 23:06

Thanks, ld! Hope you enjoy Neruda! Have to recommend his anthology 'Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair' :)

Magic xxx

MistakenMagic | April 17, 2011 - 23:12

Thank you, Maggy! Well, unlike this poem, my twitter has been a bit of a flop. Can't seem to pick up followers, ah well - probably too many poetic indie kids like myself trying to hog the twittersphere. Might have to give it up as a failed experiment lol!

Magic xxx

littleditty | April 19, 2011 - 13:10

yes - i'm a fan :)

celticman | August 6, 2011 - 11:39

a fond memory leant against my door like a snow shovel.' Missed this first time round. Glad I caught it now. Great stuff.