I was given a book
covered in hand painted silk
patterned with ripples
The pages were blank
and the colour of spilt vinegar
every page was edged in gold
It invited, implored, insisted
I write down my secrets
So I wrote, in indigo ink
on every page, top to bottom
until it was full, then
I gave it to you
and you read it all
dipping in at random
underlining favourite passages
until it became dog eared
and shabby
like well loved books do
It was a book to live your life by
this book of secrets
or they might be lies
for what else could one write
in such a beautiful book
Comments
Silver Spun Sand | March 6, 2011 - 14:29
Magic this one, shoe.
(Just a tiny typo - should be 'indigo')
I loved every line of this and I can picture that book in my mind.
The ending - perfect;-)
Tina
MistakenMagic | March 6, 2011 - 16:26
People seem to forever be buying me beautiful notebooks, Shirley, and I'm gutted that I just don't have enough to say to write in them all - love your ideas in this poem though. Beautifully conjured! Especially the 'spilt vinegar pages' :)
Magic xxx
Highhat | March 6, 2011 - 18:39
Nice ;)
ScoZen | March 6, 2011 - 19:22
Ah, shoe, lovely.
"...hand painted silk patterned with ripples..."
A little book to treasure I think!
fatboy74 | March 6, 2011 - 20:10
A lovely poem Shoe. :-)
Beeme | March 6, 2011 - 20:26
I really like, beautiful imagery. Really lovely :)
Beeme xx
shoe | March 7, 2011 - 18:19
Thanks Tina, for spotting that typo and for reading and leaving a lovely comment,
Thanks to Highhat, Magic, ScoZen, FB and Beeme, your comments are very much appreciated, as is your kindness.
seashore | March 8, 2011 - 17:54
Lovely
barryj1 | March 8, 2011 - 20:01
This poem surely proves the time-worn cliche that good things come in small packages. The final, five-line stanza was the perfect summing up. This elemental language has the feel of alchemy. Not a wasted word. Sure wish I could be so economical with my prose.
shoe | March 9, 2011 - 16:45
Thanks seashore for reading, glad you like it.
Barryj1, thats quite a comment and I'm thrilled you like it, I always think I haven't said enough and chide myself to try harder, we're never happy are we!
Dynamaso | March 10, 2011 - 05:28
For the sake of repetition, this is quite lovely.
anipani | March 10, 2011 - 11:24
Secrets or lies? Marvellous , I realy enjoyed this. Love 'pages the colour of vinegar' . Fresh and true writing.
sue dinum | March 10, 2011 - 23:48
I thought this was beautiful and it moved me, shoe, and I agree with the person above about the final stanza - perfect. Thank you.
sd
shoe | March 11, 2011 - 09:51
Dynamaso, a repetition I really don't mind hearing!
anipani and sue, thank you for reading and leaving such encouraging comments, really appreciated.