Sunday, April 21, 2013

in the naked glory, I forget myself

Monhegan's Schoolteacher, 2004 by Jamie Wyeth 
a lifetime spent in the books
sometimes I forget myself
the shock you feel looking at me reading, 
on that bed, naked, while I dry my hair--
only increases my resilience

I thrive in the words of that book
which has taken me to a world filled with infidels 
who bomb the city at their whim. 
I struggle to understand their promise 
to something beyond humanity. 

a land which is not ours any more 
yet a shelter for a shortwhile
until I harden myself and go out 
to be shipped to an unknown place
where I will lie down spent bereft of my books

"wake up, all of you, before twilight strikes
and we all disappear into the night of ignorance"


32 comments:

Helen said...

Beautiful poem ,,,, lost in books is a great place to hide.

Stan Ski said...

You got it right girl...

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I share your love of escaping into books, the better to understand life. Very poignant "a land that is not ours any more". I think we are feeling that about our entire planet these days.

Lisa Williams said...

To escape into books certainly does give us a bit of reprieve from life in this "land that is not ours anymore". Lovely write!

Andy Sewina said...

Wonderful words Gautami!

My Day Twenty-One

The Write Girl said...

What a stunning poem to accompany this work of art. One can become enraptured in a beautiful book.

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

Beautiful beautiful poem :)
Sorry both about the spam and the dreaded word verification :)

Nanka said...

Stunning and the message at the end speaks loud and clear!!
Ignorance can be taught, the crazy can be medicated but what about stupidity??

Old Egg said...

I like the idea of her nakedness indicating the innocence that we are losing in the world at this time, but eventually it will our our freedom that will be gone.

izzy said...

I hate suddenly realizing I am being watched, when I thought I had some privacy!

Harshad Mehta said...

A book lover indeed!

Vandana Sharma said...

Indeed book are a way to forget the harsh realities of this world.............

Stormcat Poetry said...

The symbolism of your nakedness
The vulnerability of your nakedness
The defiance of your nakedness
the pleasure of your nakedness
The belief that you could actually hide and just read about it.
All a metaphor for the reaction of society to repeated waves of terrorism.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful write!!

Jae Rose said...

I always admire your postscripts..it's like naked truth..very few are brave enough to write the truth..or indeed read it..

Kathe W. said...

timely write- what a world we live in today.

Anonymous said...

A timely, powerful piece.

anthonynorth said...

No better escape, or source of knowledge. Enjoyed that.

Sadia Khan said...

Obscure but relevant at the same time...beautuful piece , which I can revere.

Kay said...

a beautiful, powerful piece...x

Tess Kincaid said...

Beautiful! I couldn't live without my books...

21 Wits said...

Books and reading galore- oh yes, give thanks for that! A lovely poem of wit and wisdom.

Lyn said...

2302Fair warning! "Bereft of my books"...what a fate.

Cathy said...

Love it! Now only if the book could actually take us to another place.

Stafford Ray said...

A lot to think about here, a good sign. But I wonder if infidels know they are infidels.

keiths ramblings said...

A thought provoking poem which is really current. Excellent!

De Jackson said...

Sooooo gorgeous, and thought provoking. Beautiful.

vivinfrance said...

Fabulous - you describe me to a T - though I don't look anything like the lovely lady in the picture!

Doctor FTSE said...

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Cheryl said...

Beautiful poem. I am frequently lost in books. You're in good company.

Anonymous said...

the world of words is seductive.
the siren of thoughts exposes
hidden desires and there is that
certain type of reader who cannot
resist this feeling.

excellent.

George S Batty said...

there is more going here that just reading a book. Your words and thoughts go much deeper that just being lost in a book. I to recoil at what is going on the world.