demoiselles d'avignon

[constantine]

in rare moments of lucidity
i truly see them,
beneath the cosmetic overlays
of a thousand songs and fables,
within the whispers of the harem
and the clamor of the hive

so unforgiving, their ancient code
eons before hammurabi
the order of the hearth,
priestess familial
transgress? i dare not
for fear of banishment
the cold, lonely exile
i go renegade, slyly holding my tongue,
i smile, awaiting her glance of favor
the open bedroom door,
semi-nude woman
fishnet hose,
trapped like agamemnon
within the silky, web-like mesh...

sometimes,
in those fleeting pre-dawn moments
i actually wait for the end of pretense,
too tired to know or care about the consequences
unwilling to dream,
the illusion sheds its giddy warmth
and her face is a broken mirror

[constantine]

original version here: http://www.studioeight.tv/phpbb/viewtop ... 69&t=14803

[SadLuckDame]

This was like wine and dine, I was so happy through it all, just sat back and enjoyed.

[constantine]

thanks! i've worked periodically on this poem for like twenty years. i come back to it and invariably see something that isn't quite right or can be improved upon. i don't usually do that, but this poem just tugs at me from time to time.

[the mingo]

the tug was worth it.

[saw]

a poem worth fiddling with..."within the whispers of the harem/ and the clamor of the hive" is a fantastic image, or story, to consider.....solid from top to broken mirror........