Every time I post a poem I insist I don’t write many; that’s it’s not really my forte. And yet, I still write them, despite my doubts.
Although I consider myself a fiction writer, and a writer of short and long stories to be a little more precise, I love poetry. I love its conciseness, its ability to paint pictures and tell stories without telling stories. I feel it is closer to painting than other forms of creative writing.
So here is another offering, called ‘Glamour’.
Sun-bed ravaged skin dry flaking and decaying,
Masked by layers of painted make-up.
She sets the wig straight with faltering hands,
Since the bloody thing has slid over her eyes again
For the umpteenth time!
Now takes a deep breath,
Then
Checks herself in the mirror across the room,
Turning her head painfully this way a little,
And then that…
‘Shit, I guess that’ll have to do.’
Both hands shaking, she lights a last, final, cigarette,
And,
Her lips pursed and cracking,
She expels the smoke with a wheezing sigh,
And coughs,
One eye still on her reflection.
Then leans back awkwardly against the pillows,
And turns slowly towards the nurse.
‘Do I look good?’ She rasps.
‘Yeah.’
The nurse nods.
‘You look good.’
‘Concision’. 😉
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I hope so, Hariod! Thank you!
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You should write poems more often I guess then. Lovely.
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Thank you! And thank you for visiting!
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Wonderful 👌
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Thank you, Neethu!
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A very good poem, Mick. You must write more.
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Thanks, Robbie. You may regret saying that!
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I do like this poem – it’s cleverly written and it conjures up a sharp image in my mind. Keep writing your poetry, Mick – I’d like to read more x
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Thanks, Ellie. Be careful what you wish for! I just might publish some more!
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Ohhh tongue in cheek 😉 Or, should I say, cig in mouth 😉
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Yes and no, really, Christy. I wanted to paint a picture of a woman who was defiant in the face of death, in her own way.
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Oh I see. Thanks for explaining your motivation. I didn’t mean any offense with my joke. I did think it a great poem, Mick.
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Thanks, Christy. Certainly no offence taken!
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Love the movement from the synapses to the nurse, saying… ‘you look good’ I love the feeling of this – death and warmth and acceptance. Brilliant kind sir! Brilliant!!
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Thanks, Jaymz. I guess I was aiming to show an acceptance of death, but also the subject’s own way of showing defiance.
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This was good, Mick. In just a few words, her whole personality came through. And I liked her….
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Thank you, Ann. Success, then!
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I can associate with your love for prose, but your poetry is so smooth, Mick.
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Thank you!
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its very good ; rather moving and extremely descriptive. A bad girl right to the ” end”? .
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Definitely. Maybe the word I was thinking of was ‘defiance’, rather than ‘bad’.
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Really awesome!
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Thanks, Jishnu. And thanks for visiting and commenting.
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My pleasure!!
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Reminds me of Sylvia Plath 😊
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Now that is high praise indeed! Thank you, and thanks for visiting.
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You’ve captured someone dear to me who challenged death defiantly. Do write more poetry.
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Thank you, Christine. That sounds like a huge compliment, and rather what I wanted to get across!
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It is huge, Mick. A poem for me to keep.
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