Gauguin Girl

Gold cherry

By Philip Sidney

Fri, 15 Aug 2014
  • 3655 reads
16 comments
 

He saw my

hibiscus face in sunlight,

strong feet in warm dust,

eyes that soaked up the world,

thighs grasping heat from a horse’s flank.

We listened to wind singing in palms,

he placed the flower behind my left ear,

subtle as the scent of gardenias.

He sought to capture

something in me,

beyond me.

 

I stood beneath the tree,

in whose wood

he carved a face

like mine.

 

Bodies of the sensual world,

return to the earth.

The piece of pua,

a relic of what we were,

he stroked it as he stroked my face,

made it what he wanted to be.

You see I was strange.

You see I was beautiful.

I was

alive.

Certificate PG
Poem

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

There is a deep clarity of the classic artists in this poem,  which I found so enjoyable to read.

Thoughtfully written and thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Jenny!

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Philip

Very interesting poem.

I'm wondering if this is your New Zealand piece with the word pua.

Well done.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Hi Jean, it is South Pacific, the pua tree has lovely flowers on it and islanders use them to make leis.  I bumped into a Gauguin exhibition in April when I was visiting my daughter in the US.  It was overwhelming and I found the mask particularly moving.  Then I woke up with this poem in my head the other day.  The NZ one in Chicken Eye in the Sky. 

Submitted by lavadis on

I  LOVE this - really well written  - you paint a wonderful picture.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much lavadis.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

A gem, indeed, Philip.

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Tina!

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Wow!  Thanks for choosing my poem as pick of the day.  

Submitted by whyshewrote on

This is absolutely stunning, the ending especially. Congrats on PIck of the Day!

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you whyshewrote!

Submitted by Parson Thru on

"I woke up with this poem in my head..." Favourite line. ;-)
A truly lovely poem that goes to the heart of why the figure was carved. Both connect with the bittersweet brevity of life. Great pick.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Parson.  Sometimes it's a case of getting to the pen before it floats away.

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Sure is

Parson Thru

Submitted by Sooz006 on

Stunning. I like poems that I can understand. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you!