The Poetry of Porcelain

Gold cherry
Poem of the week

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 20 Jul 2015
  • 13597 reads
37 comments
 
He could tell by its style...the shade
of the clay – trace its origin, its artist...
What was its purpose; to hold sugar,
or tea – rosewater or jam.  
 
The bad chip on its rim – dropped
from careless hands, painstakingly repaired – 
given back its dignity, and a semblance
of its former glory. 
 
To him, its imperfections made it 
more perfect; cerulean blue glaze...a moriage 
enamel dragon in gold paint, encircling
 swirling clouds.  
 
Held to the light, a small child’s face
at the very base, impressed 
in lithophane.  
 
She says she’s going to bed...
labels him ‘ an obsessive’.
It didn’t used to be the case.
 
He’d met her at art school
in the days when Potter’s Pink
and Indian Red coursed through
her veins – 
 
her life’s blood. But
she’d changed.  Hardly picked up
a brush anymore, except
to paint her nails. 
 
He watches her sleeping.
Peas in a pod, they’d been;
presently though, they went
their separate ways, had done for years, 
 
all the same, theirs – a  decent marriage; 
like pillars of a temple – separate, and yet
with one common good. 
 
Her skin, milk white as the finest
Limoges ...with his fingers traces 
the silvered web of stretch-marks 
which she loathed,  
 
yet they spoke with more eloquence 
than words, of the wonders of life,
and the miracle of birth.
Certificate PG
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Spiritual
Philosophy
Love

Comments

Submitted by J.L.Hamilton on

Astounding. Just astounding. Wordsmith.

I was blown away by this. It is beautifully woven together and the imagery...

Excellent work. 

 

Jeremy Hamilton

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Good morning, Jeremy, and so very many thanks to you.

Tina

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Beautiful, Tina. Especially loved that last stanza. Also, my favorite line: it''s imperfections made it more perfect. Loved it.

Rich

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Rich.  Pleased you likedsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A stunning piece of writing Tina.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

...It was my pleasure, Jenny, and the thanks is all yourssmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I'm with the others, very lovely, I love the title and the shift from object to person, lots to think about here.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Much appreciated, Philipsmiley

 

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Three 'p' s for your pod Tina - Powerful - Poignant - Perfect

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Speaking of peas, I have rather a bumper crop in my garden this yearsmiley  Seriously though, so pleased my poetry inspired you. Many thanks.

Tina

 

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Cheers Tina, I haven't grown peas for years, but there's something special about fresh peas with a small sprig of mint cooked with them, mind you not many made it to the pot smiley. This is a really lovely piece Tina with great imagery and structure. I feel very lucky this week with the level of quality reading options that have been posted. I really appreciated this one.  you take care and enjoy your gardening ... Rob

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Sorry, Rob...missed this little gem from you earlier.  You are so right about that sprig of mint.  And enjoy my gardening, I shall...thank you.  Doing anything outdoors...going for a walk, merely standing outside one's front door and watching the world go by...recharges those tired old batteries, and breathes new life into us all. 

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I too liked the last stanza, Tina,  the silvered web of stretch-marks seem to reflect the chip on the china speaking of its having been useful not just beautiful. Where does the story come from? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello there, Rhiannon...I guess the thinking behind this poem is threefold...my two daughters, and my inherent love of old porcelain and china. My youngest has always treated stretch-marks with disdain, and I have long tried to win her round to my way of thinking that they are rather wonderful.  My eldest, sharing my love of china, bought an Art Deco vase some years before she passed away....a picture of a lady painted on it which is so very like her. I guess however much we try and stop ourself getting too atttached to material things...they are just 'things' after all, sometimes it is almost impossible to detach the history of these artefacts, from the artefact itself. Please excuse me Rhiannon, I feel I have rambled on, but I hope you get the 'gist', and many thanks for your interest.smiley  Pleased you enjoyed.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Beautifully brought to life, Tina.

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

So pleased you thought so Bee.  Your words more than treasured.

Tina

 

Submitted by love_writing on

This is just beautiful! The switch from object to person is subtle, interlinked..I have read it a few times now and I can see (and feel) more in it every time. Wonderful piece. 

love_writing

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

lw - indebted to you.  Pleased it inspired yousmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by EB on

I'm going to join the long list of admirers and say beautifully done. 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Well, thank you kindly, EBsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Get a great reading recommendation every day.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thank you eds, for making my daysmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Kilb50 on

A mesmerising poem, Silver...wonderfully fluent in form & intelligence, the image of stretch marks acted as a powerful - and at the same time beautiful - metaphor for artistic and emotional imperfection.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

My thanks to you, Kilb. Your words mean a great deal to me

 

Submitted by blighters rock on

Totally and utterly top drawer. Wanted it to go some many ways but was never let down throughout.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Richard...always more than a bonus when you drop by;-)

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks,Richard.  Appreciated, no end.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Appreciated, Richard.  Thank you, so much.

Tina

 

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Seamless. And I loved how all those things came together to create it too.

 

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