deepundergroundpoetry.com
Grey Woman
She sips ten dollar wine,
orange-red, with it's quiet fire,
from a forty dollar goblet.
One never soaped, just rinsed
and sat over the sink.
Too soon again, cold will force her
to come drink.
Her gown is old.
Frail cotton seams have began
their outward spiral.
There's a rip, over a thigh, where
she caught the corner
of the great oak table.
From running circles
around a mad lover-man.
As she was laughing,
eyes wildly flashing brilliance,
knowing the inner workings of a man,
as her mind was madly working.
But that, that was when?
Ago.
Tonight she sits, leaning towards the mirror
of the ancient night-table.
She brushes her hair, watching her reflection
hand her the stray grey ones, that refuse to follow
the lay of the auburns.
She winces and frowns, pushing down each crisp article
that reads her age, back to her "show the public" face.
Along the frame of the mirror
are photos of lovers, sons, friends.
Tucked into corners, not by favorite, but by chapter.
Not in order, some were just random happenings.
Even two, are black and white;
Old days, when pictures caught time
at a stand-still.
She goes back, sometimes.
Liquid has no mercy, it lays
wrapped around the base of her glass.
These little rings of her loneliness.
Her marriage to the silence
of one-ness.
She runs her finger through that circle,
then rubs it between her fingers.
She runs them through the grey strands
that now, sated with the attention,
lay content with the red.
Now quenched, patted down
with knowledge of existence.
She lifts a minor bottle of perfume
and traces the valley of her breasts.
Wondering, no man kisses there
in so long, is it still as heated
as it once could be.
Could a fire ignite suddenly
from no kindling more than a simple wanting.
God, the power that she reigned
just by being a woman.
Now, such past tenses, Winter takes it dues
upon those that sleep alone.
Cold creeps into the open seams
and cracks the faucets, allows them to drop
tears, for those who are forced to listen.
At three a.m., as Winter rocks the lonely,
lulling them, into an ever-asleep.
Although her eyes are opened, night pours
grey-milk over them, clouding them
with the veils of old memories.
Haunting her, when she'll try to sleep.
She sits, unswayed, places her wet fingertips
fresh with the aroma of 'false hope' perfume,
down her creases, her neck, even her belly
-Where true lovers stopped to say I love you
between the two kisses, of love and sex.
The odor lifting, scents hinting, a gift
of a kiss, this mist, this drunkenness.
Tucked in vapor packages, ready to be unwrapped
if ever a man comes asking for her gifts.
-Of a holiday spent ripping cotton gowns,
and shooting corks at the ceiling.
Then throwing glasses into the corner,
where behind the dresser, sits a fireplace
filled with ash and dust.
All grey, like snow in the city.
While inside, her fading garden
turns to colorless, ever-waning.
Come now,
she finds herself staring at herself.
Grips the hairbrush, rakes it through
the damnation of age.
Nothing to take the mind away from this.
She'll sleep facing the wall, the blankness.
As the gown raises off of her hip,
showing a slightly broad shadow.
As the moon caresses
where a man should've.
She raises her hand to the reflection,
walks her fingers down the slope
of her ivory dune;
White sandstone,
rubbed down to softness.
She closes her eyes, lets this shadow man
cross her vastness, to the oasis.
That she wraps in thin cotton sheets
no matter the coolness.
She lays, watching the wall,
as the grey light
washes across a blue mood.
She lifts her hand, onto the background
and watches her shadow fingers
twirl like intricate dancers.
Especially the middle one, with the silver belt
that catches the spotlight
-That's known for its intensity.
The art of defying lonely done,
she reaches for the string.
Lamplight pulled down, breaking the scene,
ending this last act.
Her eyes bow closed,
as the curtain of dusk lowers
onto the stage.
And all that remains is the haze,
of odors of perfume and smoke.
Where a crowded room
kept her company.
~~~
Published 29th Jan 2023
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 9
reading list entries 4
comments 23
reads 685
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Anonymous
29th Jan 2023 2:27am
4 reads and i am still unable to form the right words so I will just say thank you for writing this 💗
31st Jan 2023 3:18am
Ah, but you did indeed ultimately form the right words huh! If i could link it with my tablet, I would.
So thank you!
So thank you!
29th Jan 2023 6:51am
A tour deforce, my brother. “…the damnation of age….” A gut punch of intensity and close, almost microscopic observation.
Wonderful write. Ty.
Wonderful write. Ty.
31st Jan 2023 3:25am
This was one of the few that I destructed and redid a bunch of it. I wanted it to be like a tribute of sorts. The nature of the situation. Once I got my mindset right, it wasn't that hard to picture it playing out.
Thank you for letting me know it reads well. By the time I got done writing it, I wanted to give this character a hug! Because she seems real. I felt it writing it.
Thank you for letting me know it reads well. By the time I got done writing it, I wanted to give this character a hug! Because she seems real. I felt it writing it.
29th Jan 2023 7:58am
31st Jan 2023 3:29am
I like how you bring attention to the "Ago". It was meant to be an impact and not just a line break. It carries a lot of weight. That's why it sits there alone. The past being heavy.
And I certainly appreciate your "amazing"s. I try to put good stuff in here. Thanks for letting me know it paid off.
And I certainly appreciate your "amazing"s. I try to put good stuff in here. Thanks for letting me know it paid off.
29th Jan 2023 11:09am
Dear S,
Really? Every time I think it impossible for you to out do yourself you go on to out do yourself! There wasn’t a nuance, detail, emotion or action that wasn’t left out or perfect in this piece. This was so real, as though I was watching a movie and peering into this woman’s nightly routine and her very brain with every thought at my disposal. She personifies every woman who reflects on her past. I loved the hair brushing as it can be such a trance inducing activity to the past and some heartfelt memories. Touching. Poignant. Achingly beautiful. Outstanding. And those are only a few descriptors that spring to mind over this piece.
H🌷
Really? Every time I think it impossible for you to out do yourself you go on to out do yourself! There wasn’t a nuance, detail, emotion or action that wasn’t left out or perfect in this piece. This was so real, as though I was watching a movie and peering into this woman’s nightly routine and her very brain with every thought at my disposal. She personifies every woman who reflects on her past. I loved the hair brushing as it can be such a trance inducing activity to the past and some heartfelt memories. Touching. Poignant. Achingly beautiful. Outstanding. And those are only a few descriptors that spring to mind over this piece.
H🌷
31st Jan 2023 3:36am
Whew! Thank you! This was a re re re re rewrite until I finally said enough! I rarely feel the need to get it as exactly right as I did this one. It's like "she" mattered. And I wanted to dignify it with tasteful descriptions.
I honestly thought I could've done better. But, it was so full already, and I'm horrible at snipping my writes. So I called it done.
I truly thank you so much, H. You help remind me this all matters .
I honestly thought I could've done better. But, it was so full already, and I'm horrible at snipping my writes. So I called it done.
I truly thank you so much, H. You help remind me this all matters .
29th Jan 2023 11:46am
Have a feeling, compliments do not rest easy with you, but I pay ££ to read this kind of stuff. A majestic sweep of the age for our age. Rob
31st Jan 2023 3:47am
You're right. I'm not looking for compliments so much as I am company. I like a big circle when it comes to this stuff. That's why I read so much. I just get limited by time.
I'm going to take a break from posting stuff and concentrate on throwing some light on others in here.
As far as monetary gain to be had. Eh. We will see. I do intend on slapping a bunch together and doing something with them. Regardless of profit potential. Just to have my name on something. -Alot of people in my real life are going to freak out, because hardly anyone has a clue I write. Lol.
Thank you Rob. I humbly nod in your direction.
I'm going to take a break from posting stuff and concentrate on throwing some light on others in here.
As far as monetary gain to be had. Eh. We will see. I do intend on slapping a bunch together and doing something with them. Regardless of profit potential. Just to have my name on something. -Alot of people in my real life are going to freak out, because hardly anyone has a clue I write. Lol.
Thank you Rob. I humbly nod in your direction.
29th Jan 2023 12:51pm
31st Jan 2023 3:51am
Cool! I will take that sledgehammer award!
That "Ago" was important to me, it shows a type of past weight that blocks a door shut, so to speak.
Thank you much, PoetSpeak. I appreciate your time and comment.
That "Ago" was important to me, it shows a type of past weight that blocks a door shut, so to speak.
Thank you much, PoetSpeak. I appreciate your time and comment.
Anonymous
- Edited 29th May 2023 7:45am
29th Jan 2023 2:51pm
<< post removed >>
31st Jan 2023 4:00am
It's the loneliness at that age. And how the outlook seems bleak. Thus the usage of grey. Absent of much color.
I know the correct version is that white is the absence of color. But to me grey is. Snow is white. Clouds are white. Milk is white. Etc. Good things.
Grey is dull. Shadowy. Yes? To me, that's the no color.
And I try to not be too method-poem with my writes. I feel that when we post in an online site, we need to keep the reader interested with a variety of material. I don't want to be boring. Lol.
Thanks Rianne, for the kudos!
I know the correct version is that white is the absence of color. But to me grey is. Snow is white. Clouds are white. Milk is white. Etc. Good things.
Grey is dull. Shadowy. Yes? To me, that's the no color.
And I try to not be too method-poem with my writes. I feel that when we post in an online site, we need to keep the reader interested with a variety of material. I don't want to be boring. Lol.
Thanks Rianne, for the kudos!
29th Jan 2023 7:16pm
The intimacy of this is astounding. It's just incredible writing that caused me to hold my breath and held my eyes like hands.
31st Jan 2023 4:02am
What an original comment, Daniel. Thank you!
Thanks for letting me know that my effort with this write is worth it. It was quite a task actually, to get it to my own liking.
Thanks for letting me know that my effort with this write is worth it. It was quite a task actually, to get it to my own liking.
29th Jan 2023 7:33pm
31st Jan 2023 4:04am
You said plenty with your comment, Luna. Thank you very much!
I'm glad it was worth your read and your kind comment.
I'm glad it was worth your read and your kind comment.
10th Mar 2023 4:50am
That grey woman also has the right to add saffron orange colors to her old white age. well you have crafted very well.
11th Mar 2023 8:57pm
True. But sometimes people are too tired to repaint their mood.
Thanks for your comment!
Thanks for your comment!
12th Mar 2023 3:18am
10th Jun 2023 8:20pm
That was some poem,
I was enraptured. I felt the lonliness. Your observations are uncanny and accurate.
The writing is effortlessly confident. I immediately know that I'm in the hands of a competent wordsmith, which changes the reading experience. I'm very impressed.
You paint such a complete picture that by the end of the poem you feel that you know the protagonist well.
Tipping my hat to you, well done sir.
Regards,
BITS
I was enraptured. I felt the lonliness. Your observations are uncanny and accurate.
The writing is effortlessly confident. I immediately know that I'm in the hands of a competent wordsmith, which changes the reading experience. I'm very impressed.
You paint such a complete picture that by the end of the poem you feel that you know the protagonist well.
Tipping my hat to you, well done sir.
Regards,
BITS
11th Jun 2023 2:09am
Thank you very much, BITS.
And how you went back into the vault for this one. I appreciate that. - I do that as well, to "refresh" a write by someone. We are here to support others, too.
So thank you, again.
I'm looking forward to checking out your page as well.
And how you went back into the vault for this one. I appreciate that. - I do that as well, to "refresh" a write by someone. We are here to support others, too.
So thank you, again.
I'm looking forward to checking out your page as well.
