•
he is a stern man
she knows it
she finds him irresistible
she loves his stern face
his stern smile
his stern voice
she knows him
like no other
she has seen through
the part in the curtain
she knows the taste of his kiss
the twinkle in his stern eyes
she adores the touch
of his strong stern hands
warm sure hands
so too
she loves his cane
• • •
Come on Carey get out your cane
I’ll put on some silver
Oh you’re a mean old Daddy
But I like you
•
…lyrics from “Carey”
by: Joni Mitchel 1971
____________________________________
Very nice, I enjoyed this immensely.
Very nice, Rob!
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!
Stern or not, he’s a very fortunate soul. Very fortunate indeed.
Nice work, Rob, as usual. I love coming here to read what you have written. Makes my day!
Rob:
What a touching poem– Over time (his age) we shield ourselves from pain and loss,(frown) w erect barriers, But she still sees past to the ‘natural’ state of the heart the inherent tenderness — and the cane can represent his vulnerable part to lean on someone. Very well done, I guess poetry is about what we see or relate too?
Joanny
Dear Rob: The Cane raises some interesting dictomies. On the one hand the cane is a symbol of male domination and power in the world. On the other hand the cane is a symbol of male domination in the area of romantic love ok I’ll say it…a phallic symbol. Both are attractive and intoxicating elixirs for the female pursuasion. Wonderful juxtapositions and contrasts, male/female, power/submission in your poem. Maybe it is not as simple as these contrasts? The cane is also a ancient power symbol which creates magic as your poetry always evokes in the reader. Viva la difference!
Very nice work, Rob!
Very imaginative. Good job!
Harvee
Thisandthat
I loved reading this very much. Makes me wonder how my grandparents used to be when “they were in love,” as I would put it.
rob, very nice…i like the smooth feel of this poem…
Even though he’s a stern man, I bet he melts from time to time..all to the good..thank you!
Us humans and our relationships are so complicated and mysterious aren’t we?
nice poem,
wisely done!
http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/magpie-tale-the-magical-wish/
mine is here.
I enjoyed the dichotomy of his sternness & her affection for him – but I have to say that the last line disturbed me a lot. It’s my gutter mind – I started thinking S&M. Yikes! Heh.
Agree with the bug. There’s definitely some undercurrents going on here!!
I am always fascinated by the interesting power of poetry to spark the imagination. In reading the comments here I see several interpretations of what my poem “was about”.
The reality is, the cane graphic prompt, that Willow posted, put me in mind of some lyrics from the Joni Mitchell song “Carey” — that is why I posted the lyrics along with my poem when I first posted. The poem I wrote is my reaction to the particular lyrics, with no personal interpretation intended on my part — beyond love and sensuality.
With these different perspectives having been posted here, wonder what that lyric from Joni’s song “was about”?
…rob
lovely and at once, naughty–delightful!
A nice light touch of a poem. Words may say “stern” but the poem is the soft response to that. Very nicely done! And the ending of course is just that subtle right touch of contrast and affection. (Thanks Rob.)
softly spoken…with a cane in hand…thanks Rob
A very moving poem, Rob. I get a vivid picture of the person with the man.
I’m pleased this engaged you Mary. Hope you return Sunday to solve it…
…rob
With the cane, I mean. Sigh!
…knew what you meant Mary…
Well, this is a deep one with a lot of contrast — soft and hard, love and lust. Clever, too. Which curtain? A hospital? The Wizard? You managed to get me to read this poem three times. Bravo! Well done, Robert.
Thank you for the kind words Linda, I’m pleased this piece engaged you…
…rob