The Millais Bridesmaid
The Millais Bridesmaid
Surely, none will check my hair–
you see, I’ve got them hidden there:
my own style pick
and candle wick–
tools to escape me someplace where
I will my self-same bridesmaid be
unveiling with solemnity
the paper, pen
that beat any Ken,
as I write my way to someplace free–
which may be but a blue-stained sheet–
(for my pick’s a pen with ink replete,
my candle wick–the
inner flicker
that lights my way to where words meet.)
In those linked strands of L and M
I will plait the who I am
as curl of b
and q of c
carries me onto the lam,
the writing lam, where I will wed
all I ever wish I’d said
and where I’ll find
a piece of mind
to nightly warm my blotted bed.
****************************
Here’s a very belated draft poem for the wonderful Susie Clevenger’s prompt on Real Toads to write something inspired by a painting by John Everett Milais. I chose the Bridesmaid above.
I hesitate to post such a silly poem in light of the horrors and tragedies of Paris; so so sad.
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: hidden in my hair - tools of escape poem, I wish I had that hair poem, manicddaily, Millais Bridesmaid poem, wedded to writing poem
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ManicDDaily 
November 14, 2015 at 8:01 am
Yes, I believe you could hide a lot more than a pen in that mane…this is delightful, scampering along like a vivid young girl as pictured, yet also in a serious way that yet whips up a bit of froth with its inner tumult–a great deal of insight, too, into the seductive engagement of words–(I love the play on ‘Ken’ and ken) and though each stanza has a little hookline that makes your point, I really really love the final one, ‘where I will wed/all I ever wish I’d said..’ Now that is the truth of the whole ceremony, there.
November 14, 2015 at 8:21 am
Ha. Thanks. I wanted actually to work in “ceremony” but “solemnity” seemed to scan better. Of course, coming from my generation, I could not help but think of Angela Davis, but left that out–k.
November 14, 2015 at 10:11 am
This is amazing. There are so many phrases that jump out to me..”my own style pick and candle wick– tools to escape me someplace where” “my candle wick–the inner flicker that lights my way to where words meet” Ok, I am stopping before I have the whole poem here. You have taken ink to her thoughts and spilled brilliant. Thank you so much for taking part in the prompt!!
November 14, 2015 at 10:37 am
Ha; well, thanks, Susie. The pics are really lovely and I was very happy to have the invitation to thinking about them. This has been rather a difficult time for me. k.
November 14, 2015 at 11:04 am
A nice insight into the makings of another hopeful, slightly nervous, always-a-bridesmaid-never-a-bride not so young lady.
My take, beautifully written with some descriptors not in a man’s understanding, at least not this one.
November 14, 2015 at 11:12 am
This is very stylish, Karin. You seem to have had such fun with the form and rhymes but I know sustaining the pattern is very hard work and requires much revision. I enjoyed the POV very much and admire your heroine for her stand point.
November 14, 2015 at 11:52 am
Thanks, Kerry– as you know, I like rhyme and meter a great deal–not sure how well I sustained them here but they are always fun for me. k.
On Sat, Nov 14, 2015 at 11:12 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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November 14, 2015 at 11:31 am
Bravo! The clues, the form, the symbolism-so, well done! I must read it again~ I feel in awe of your talent!
November 14, 2015 at 11:52 am
Ha. Ella–you are very sweet. k.
On Sat, Nov 14, 2015 at 11:31 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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November 15, 2015 at 2:14 pm
We all need a bit of silly to lighten our hearts and remind us of joy. This was an adorable and well written bit of poetry