Thursday, March 31, 2016

Subtraction in the evening



My clumpy make-up in cotton
  balls are scattered myrrh

Suds swallow my freckles
   washing away oil & dirt

There's a lot of stories between
   my sagging eyebrows

& cheekbones, a slow dance
   of water spray & gravity of age

The mirror is shifting sands,
   peeling symbols & labels to dust

Quick shuffle of hands
    my face cleansed, a canvas

Recast in pale
   shadows of melting winter snow

With pat of towel,
     I go to the window & search

for the solemn quarter
   of moon,

unclothed in glorious silver
    its light never held back by clouds




Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - OpenlinkNight - Hosted by Mary

34 comments:

  1. Pulling back the veil in many a way, to see the moon's display

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  2. Love "shadows of melting winter snow".....so evocative of this season of the year when we move into spring.

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  3. Truly, you can bare all before the moon as it knows how to appreciate the beauty of a blank canvas. I like your title, Grace, and this piece most def. :)

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  4. Such a gorgeous write especially adore the close :)

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  5. Subtraction in the evening.......love this title and all it evokes. We do wash away the make-up, the layers of pretend, and the sliver of moon that stands unveiled. Beautiful!

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  6. This is precious, grace. I love the way the speaker takes us on a tour of her face, of the way she sees life... and I'm enchanted by how, in the last line, she lets us see that true beauty can't be shadowed. ♥

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  7. To turn the evening ritual of washing one's face into poetry is quite the feat. Excellent flow to this and I love the ending.

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  8. I like that there is no vanity here - just the simple acceptance of time and self. Somehow, the uncovered face has more beauty and character to it.

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  9. This piece says to me...our peers at the night sky often peel back time and even if only for a moment...one can almost feel the hand movements of this poem...lushly spare...

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  10. Love that bright image of the moon in the last stanza.

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  11. This is lovely, and I particularly like "solemn quarter of moon"

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  12. I always see myself tucked into your poems, whether you intend it or not. Here, I am the moon and you're paying me the most beautiful, tender, and loving compliments. Every time I read one of your poems, I feel like you just gave me the sweetest hug. :)

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  13. This was lovely and so descriptive.

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  14. Love the image of the moon ! Great share.

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  15. An evening cleansing, There is beauty in that moon in a natural state.

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  16. "The mirror is shifting sands," truth so beautifully expressed.. & beautiful image of the moon..

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  17. I love the rhyme in these lines; the idea of the mirror shifting instead of a face changing; and the shuffling of hands - a game of chance maybe?

    The mirror is shifting sands,
    peeling symbols & labels to dust

    Quick shuffle of hands
    my face cleansed, a canvas

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  18. So lovely, Grace. One's face, a canvas. Cool. Also true.

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  19. Some lovely words.

    I'm glad I don't wear make-up - what a performance!!!

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  20. unclothed in glorious silver
    its light never held back by clouds

    Even unclothed the natural beauty of the moon sustains itself. So also for elegant ladies!

    Hank

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  21. A very imaginative take on the evenings prep for slumber. In this case, men have a slight advantage, for as age adds wrinkles & lines, our faces just deepen in character. I do love it when my wife just faces a day "fresh-faced", but make-up is still her staple.

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  22. This really made me want to take a nice soaking bath by moonlight. Beautiful poem.

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  23. You made the nightly ritual of facial cleansing so poetic and magical, Grace. :-)

    ~Imelda

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  24. This is enchanting and I love the way you bring the moon's face in at the end.

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  25. This made me smile. I can relate. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  26. I agree with others that marvel at the elevation you've achieved of this ritual. The poem is beautiful, peaceful, and wise. Your lyric sensibilities always delight!

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  27. Beautiful and elegant. Love the resigned tone and unhurried pace of your words.

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  28. what a classy write. love the idea of the canvas as a face. the whole thing is really exceptional.

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  29. Love the third couplet...every line, wrinkle, and blemish had a tale to tell :-)

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  30. This information you provided in the blog that was really unique I love it!!, Thanks for sharing such a great blog..Keep posting.


    Grace

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  31. 'solemn quarter of moon' - love that line ~

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  32. Truly beautiful, Grace! I loved the images in this. I can't find the right words to describe how lovely it is!

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  33. Ah... Apocalypse
    comes iN Quarter..
    Half.. and FuLL
    mOOn
    wayS..
    tRuLy
    onlY reAlly
    MeaNinG veil
    oF Ignorance iS
    lifTEd iNow..
    per
    original
    Greek
    oF hope
    vs. hUman
    EviL waS iN
    wishinG
    dArk
    into
    foolish
    fruition..
    sAdly.. sTiLL
    So..:(..
    iN bLack
    Magic way..;)

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