“Banishing Act” – The “X-Aisle”
Banishing Act
Refusing
to grant her even a corner of his gaze,
he sent her into the X-aisle, not
the realm of the somewhat magical, but the dim
dead-end of the inferior–all those Brands X that
always fail, that
will forever be passed over.
The only way that she could tell
that she too was still in the room
(and not stocked in that
far corridor) was the slight swell of the carotid
at his throat, and, periodically, a shadow grasping
the skin that sheathed
his temple.
She tried to use
that stretch of artery as
a lifeline; that glisten at his brow
as a compass to replace
eyes’ mirroring; but even
the autonomic
seemed to turn its back on her, not easy
for someone raised
to please.
When he relented, admitting her again
into his realm, she found that she could not
readily reclaim her spot, but
rather like the wife of Lot (not able to not
look back) would dissolve periodically into salt
and distance, re-collection
a double-edged sword.
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The above is my offering for the Poetics Challenge on Exile (and other things, some of which have to do with James Joyce and Bloomsday) at dVerse Poets Pub. I am hosting! Check it out!
Also, if you have time, please please please check out my books: Children’s counting book 1 Mississippi -for lovers of rivers, light and pachyderms. Or, if you in the mood for something older, check out Going on Somewhere, poetry, and Nose Dive, escapist but very fun fluff.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetryTags: "Banishing Act", Being Xed Out, dVerse poets pub poetics, Exile poem, manicddaily, Sheathe of temple carotid's pulse, X-Aisle
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ManicDDaily 
June 16, 2012 at 3:50 pm
ha nice…x-aisle..love the wordplay..and heck..a tight write with great images like trying to use the stretch of artery as a lifeline..well played on lot’s wife as well
June 16, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Not nice to be thought of as someone’s ‘make do’ until something better comes along… Ouch for her. Loved the clever, and cheekiness of this
June 16, 2012 at 4:44 pm
I love this one… especially the beginning. Great take on exile!
June 16, 2012 at 4:55 pm
What a creative turn of x-aisle into a recollection, double edged sword ~ Nice word play K ~
June 16, 2012 at 5:07 pm
smiles….nice word play on x-aisle and extending it out as well into her situation…nice hit on lots wife as well…and the dissolving…ugh…not a fun place to be….but well spun ma’am
June 16, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I loved this, as it was such an unexpected and clever take on ‘exile.’ Yup, brand X always fails, is always forced into exile, never can reclaim any important place.
June 16, 2012 at 6:44 pm
This really powerful, strangely surreal at first read but even more real as you read it over again. Now, I see it’s an extremely adroit piece of political work, extremely wrenching in its hooks into reality. Literally, this blew me away, so gut wrenching in its meaning.
June 16, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Well, thanks. It actually is pretty heavy in sentiment–that x-ing out of another person, something that women are particularly prone to feel I think. I worry that the clever aspect takes away from that, but thanks. k.
June 16, 2012 at 6:50 pm
“She tried to use
that stretch of artery as
a lifeline; ”
This image really struck me!
June 16, 2012 at 6:53 pm
You know I am with you every step of this particular aisle, k. The failing of the autonomic brought a shiver, and the last stanza is potent indeed–loss, and re-collecting the self, never finding all the pieces that were there before the shatter. I saw a picture of a japanese ceramic cup the other day that had cracked and been mended with gold–apparently to emphasize that the broken elements could be used to make the cup more beautiful, and also, unlike other cups. Perhaps that’s what’s going on in that re-collecting.
June 16, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Thanks, Joy. You know I find it very hard to get a lot done at once, re posting/hosting/poeticizing – though some can!- and feel that this is a somewhat unresolved poem. It’s nice to leave something to take away, more universal. But will come back to it sometime perhaps. A wonderful story about the cup, and very Buddhist. They have that saying – “the cup you are drinking from is already broken.” I think they mean it metaphorically – of course, in my case, there usually is a chip somewhere about the rim! k.
June 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm
strong stuff here, a lot to read into it. loved ‘dim
dead-end of the inferior’. Great line
June 16, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Heavy stuff here, “K”; most of it beyond my lifting ability. I’m thiinking maybe I can roll it around until it falls into place,
June 16, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I love your take on exile…though oooh it’s rather sad to be left on the shelf with all the x brands…there’s a lot in this to digest but a strong write!
June 16, 2012 at 7:50 pm
Thanks. And thanks to all for kind comments. I’ve been busy but appreciate them all. k.
June 16, 2012 at 7:59 pm
I like the X-Aisle word play. Powerful voice given here K. Still it’s a whimsical and cheeky offering. Great write!
Hank
June 16, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Thanks so much, Hank. You are always very kind. k.
June 16, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Terrific. “Someone raised to please”… I recognized myself (and many more) in this. I love your use of the word “re-collection”; a double-edged (s)word indeed, as “to collect” is “to gather, to pick up” (the girl, in this case. (Maybe it’s just my French background that makes me imagine things, but I think it is very clever! And thank you for telling me about the mistake in my poem, I REALLY appreciate since I am very perfectionist in this matter.)
June 16, 2012 at 8:31 pm
You are welcome – thanks for your kind comment. Yes, I meant for the double-edged word. k.
June 16, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Wonderful then!
June 16, 2012 at 8:17 pm
This digs deeply into that feeling of “less-than” that so many of us have at times, allowing ourselves to be shunned. It proves that exile is not always in some far-off place or on a desert isle.
June 16, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Heavy…the banishment of a human being..the total blocking out of their existence (or at least trying your best to)…not nice… But you did an amazing job of getting that feeling across in such a creepy (I feel) way. Manipulation of others to this degree is so cruel..
June 16, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Yikes! We are all a little gritty on this topic aren’t we…perfect topic we’re writing on:)
June 16, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Ha. Yes, well, exile often has a negative quality==you are either getting away from something, kept away, or sent away! k.
June 16, 2012 at 10:45 pm
This is SO painful. You captured this feeling to perfection and I enjoy your likening to Lot’s wife. Excellent!
June 16, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Thanks, Hannah.
June 16, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Thanks, Hannah. Ps – I really liked your much lighter piece. k.
June 16, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Wow, this one cuts to the core. I don’t think your acicular wit detracts but adds to the X-Acto knife quality of your verse. Excellent! Now I really am going to get some rest :).
June 17, 2012 at 9:06 am
X-acto knife – now there was a word I was looking for! k.
June 17, 2012 at 12:20 am
you’ve brought the pain quite forward here, k.
June 17, 2012 at 2:26 am
Fabulous poem, in my opinion. Disturbing, great imagery, clever, and I like the biblical reference at the end, tying it all up.
June 17, 2012 at 3:40 am
Superb! Juicy and delightful, it appeals to the poet in me – and to much that’s reprehensible.
June 17, 2012 at 5:14 am
Lovely word play – clever – thanks for a great prompt K
June 17, 2012 at 5:58 am
(and not stocked in that
far corridor)
Sometimes, you read something that just jumps off the page and its you so hard you are left slightly stunned. That very simple line made the piece for me as it is something we are all guilty of, putting people or issues in that corridor because thats the easy option.
June 17, 2012 at 7:08 am
Too many people settle! Never do it for less than you deserve! Great word play 😀
June 17, 2012 at 10:00 am
Very clever creation overall, its interesting isnt it, that we can relegate (or let ourselves be relegated) to the edge of nowhere. Fascinating portrayal of the relationship and a fantastic prompt. Thanks x
June 17, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Thanks much. k.
June 17, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Brilliant– ferociously good word play on x-aisle– the persona/speaker is hypersensitized to those physical cues– such a torment and therefore tormenting to want and need anything from “him.” xxxj
June 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Thanks, Jenne. A bit unresolved, but I appreciate your comment. k.
June 17, 2012 at 3:36 pm
I mean my poem is unresolved! I will go back to it at some time. k.
June 17, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Amazing poem!
–> “dead-end of the inferior” But she notes she is not completely abandoned and puts forth the silent plea “love me”
No–No–You are so right–so much of abuse is a cry to be loved.
And I mean self-abuse.
June 17, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Wow, what a painful situation to be found in…love the ending comparison to Lot’s wife. Very nicely written!
June 17, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Ouch…this echoes and resonates from a dark place I used to be in a life time ago. Wow…you nailed this one.
June 17, 2012 at 9:13 pm
Thanks so much, Shanyns.
June 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Loved the wordplay–and so,so true “re-collection” can be a double sword!
June 18, 2012 at 4:53 am
Rendered invisible and to a place of no importance…a mere pillar of salt…tequila lover will come your way and appreciate you:)