Lying in Bed Being Beautiful Next to You

Inspired by a Shakespearean at Midnight

I remember about being your beauty

because you told me once I had some

inside of me,

now, as an aging woman

my Goddess seems to be drifting away

from an untouchable dream.

In my glass

where Evian embraces ice

and makes love to a lemon wedge,

I hear chinking of the crystal

and see our beauty gray,

refracted in tender candle light.

But to think of us as lovers

in this one goblet, half filled

with water and diluted citrus seems

shallow. There is only me, dreaming

and lying in bed being beautiful next to you.

Comments

1- Tracey on Feb. 8 2008

This is a poignant piece that touched me in a soft and profound way. The title is wonderful, and I'm smitten with the first stanza. The last line is also superb.

I don't know why but I have mixed feelings about the goblet/water/lemon imagery; I need to reread this several times to figure that out and either realize I'm a total boob or come back with an idea that may or may not be useful to you.

Well done, Ann.

2- Anstey on Feb. 20 2008

I really like this one Anna

3- Anne on Feb. 20 2008

Thanks, Tracey for reading this poem and commenting on it. The stanza you speak of is reflective of this woman's thoughts of her beauty at her older age. The ice and the lemon are totally metaphoric and the reader of course can glean what they want from it. It is not a "usual" metaphor, I agree. The concept of ice and lemon together- cold and tart-caressing in a glass of water is not all that different from two human beings, yes?

Anne

All my way, in my time, in my words, in myself.

4- Tracey on Feb. 20 2008

You've stretched my brain with that image, Anna, which I appreciate.

5- Moordykspot on Apr. 13 2008

How can you not like this thought provoking beautiful piece of work. Wonderful words from an emotional heart and the pleasure the words provide. Priceless

Ah thanks from afar

6- Anstey on Apr. 13 2008

I do like this title.

7- Anne on May 5 2008

This poem is among one of the four or five that I will be reading in public on Tuesday evening in Colorado Springs. My first "appearance" locally. Its a great title for a reading; I thank you.

All my way, in my time, in my words, in myself.

8- Anstey on May 5 2008

A title can really make a poem.

9- Anne on May 5 2008

I think titles can be terribly hard to come up with for a poem. Often I find them hiding in the verse itself. When I changed the title of a poem from Spring Snow (which was cliche) to The Wedding Ring Quilt, it became an award winning poem. I wrestle quite often over titles-Ifinally have one for my poetry collection.

All my way, in my time, in my words, in myself.