Saturday, June 1, 2013

In the shower




      the water divides // 
 my body into many parts- 

                        some i like, some 
                        i don't -                         

     in between the stone-scrubbing,
 i am confessing to the walls-

                        here's my unwanted cells, coarse hair,
                        the ugliest of my side, the words 

     i wanted to say but couldn't -
 take it all, aLL, ALL  //  i peer at myself closely:    

                       wrinkling flesh, scabs & purplish veins,
                       tiny freckles,  dry lips & unpolished nails-  

     as foamy suds sag under the weight, 
 i recite verses of contrition

                       you are beautiful, it wasn't your fault, 
                       don't be too harsh on yourSELF-- 

     the tiles are silent,  even the toilet   
 seat covers itself, not joining in the private chat-  

                       unlike in the public bathroom, i
                       let everything out, ouT, oUT, OUT until --

     there is nothing to drown into,  
 only a ritual of penance as I towel dry-  

                      groomed & scaled into a page,  
                      i step out &  

     write again-- 


Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Hosted by Claudia, where we are writing bathroom poetry ~  How fun is this ~ Have a good weekend ~

picture credit:  here

34 comments:

  1. smiles..i can relate... mine in the hotel had a huge mirror and i was looking at me..the parts i like and those i don't like and in the end it's good if we come to that spot of cleanness with ourselves..much enjoyed your take grace

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds like quite a bathroom ritual... these days showering is just a the quicker the better situation... :-) but I my wife take quite some time sometimes... (waiting)

    ReplyDelete
  3. mmm...those first couple stanzas....honest and creative....the water dividing yourself....and the judgement we place on ourselves as well..the wanting to say take it all....lots of emotion in this one grace....i like...smiles

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just said to Mary that the powerful symbolism of the shower, of cleansing body and spirit is so appropriate for this prompt. Beautifully written, Grace.

    ReplyDelete
  5. you are beautiful, it wasn't your fault,
    don't be too harsh on yourSELF--
    I really liked these lines and the symbolism everyone is mentioning.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "you are beautiful, it wasn't your fault,
    don't be too harsh on yourSELF-- "
    This is what is most important to focus on !!!
    I especially liked the ending !! Great job on the prompt !!

    ReplyDelete
  7. 'i recite verses of contrition' what a perfectly beautiful line in a thoughtful poem. really liked this - K

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the line break b/t words & i wanted to say. This is one of your best, Grace.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like this poem, Grace. So much leaves in the water of the shower....and it is there that we see ourselves as we are, isn't it? And we are each beautiful in our own way and must always remember that!

    ReplyDelete
  10. This one sings, soars, and delivers the goods, insuring that for all us, when /we step out & write again/.
    The piece is both beauteous & self deprecating, nude with implication, unabashed, unashamed--making each of us reinvent our bathroom rituals.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I like so much dear Grace always ehn Im in the shower I think a lot of things:))

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really found this creative...the bathroom through to the page where you step out and write again.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So you can part water now? that is just wow lol

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love that--seeking forgiveness and that the toilet is closed off--drying off is penance--all's done and ready to write

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is very easy to relate too - very well told as well - we all need to exfoliate a bit! Thanks. k.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Grace,

    I feel the sadness within the lines..let the water cleanse be healed be whole..we all need to feel the water..drip into our souls.

    Have a good night!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow! That is quite a journey, qhite a transformation! Glad it works so well! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You clear the fog from the glass with this piece, Grace, and let all eyes see.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Been there done that... this mornng

    ReplyDelete
  20. One can be cruel to oneself in the bath! Most neutral location not bothering any one. It's ok to let off steam there! Nicely Grace!

    Hank

    ReplyDelete
  21. We can be our harshest critics! Had to smile at, "even the toilet
    seat covers itself, not joining in the private chat-"
    Loved this Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  22. ..sometimes, i feel pity for the bathroom walls for i'm not sure whether he likes it or not to hear our hourly confessions... ah, i hate you (hihi).. if i had thought this notion about the bathroom walls i would have penned it in a poem... you are just cleverly good Grace.. aww.. smiles...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Now that was pretty cool Grace. I think I am going to have to shower more often see if at least I can get rid of some unnecessary hair and make the toilet cover itself from my falling out with the soapy water.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is a fantastic piece. I can so relate. I especially love:
    "in between the stone-scrubbing,
    i am confessing to the walls-"

    ReplyDelete
  25. it's not just about cleasning, yes, it's also about grooming

    high tech toilet power

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh, I love it...we keep telling this to ourself often....the only reason I hate mirrors in the bathroom...you can't always love every bit of yours, and then staring at it is even worse

    ReplyDelete
  27. Strong narrative voice, and I say voice with with a capital V. Enjoyed so much about this piece.

    ReplyDelete
  28. We really do judge ourselves too harshly in the bethroom reflections dno't we? All our flaws open and exposed. But maybe part of the problem is that we see flaws where there really aren't any...

    ReplyDelete
  29. i as many can relate to this our self image and feeling never the same as others see us , i love this full of feeling

    ReplyDelete
  30. groomed & scaled into a page,
    i step out &

    write again--

    this is me, my self-editing, unwillingness to be completely naked on the page. enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Enjoyed every words, I love that you will write again.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nothing like being in your 'all and all' in front of a bathroom mirror to reveal all the things you would rather not look at. Enjoyed.

    ReplyDelete

I try my best to reciprocate comments and visits.
I allow anonymous comments if you have difficulty posting them. Thank you & have a good day!!!