Triptych 2: Virgins

Gold cherry

By Philip Sidney

Sun, 10 Jan 2016
  • 4344 reads
16 comments
 

Madonnas of the bus, balance babes

on denim clad limbs,

all bones and angles,

not soft and milky like

renaissance paintings,

their eyes are luminous

and hold the universe.

 

Youthful mothers without money or men,

juggling buggies and bags,

do not know

how strong they are,

they carry the world

and the weight

of judgement.

 

Nine months travelled

from childhood

to motherhood,

barefoot on

a thorny path,

lit by epiphanies

of the night.

 

The virtue or value of virginity

may be

debated by those

who would reduce

the worth of existence

to such an arbitrary

measure.

 

No flowers flaunting reproductive

beauty, like those

at plaster Mary’s feet,

for these girls do not

require adoration,

they are too busy

with life.

Certificate 12
Poem

Comments

Submitted by tibi popovici on

Oh, the virginity subject..., very well said Philip! And the ending..., hmm it's just perfect.

Love it!

T.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Tibi. smiley

Submitted by celticman on

bus-balance babes [hyphen]. Pretty much perfect. I love these word paintings. 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks celticman, yes, I do need to separate the words there!  Glad you like. :)

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

a beautiful sensitive treatment - as good as the first. I'm really enjoying this triptych!

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you insert! :)

Submitted by airyfairy on

This series is such a brilliant idea and so well executed.  I see these young women on buses most days, and you have captured them so well.

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you airyfairy. smiley

Submitted by VeraClark on

I love this. Visually crystallised and with such human compassion.

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you Vera. :)

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Get a fantastic reading recommendation everyday

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much for the golden cherries! smiley

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Helen

Beautifully done, and how well you brought the virgin theme from religion to modern thought on the subject.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thank you so much Jean.  I must have a catch up with your writing, I've been a little distracted over the last few weeks:)

Submitted by Sim on

'Nine months travelled from childhood to motherhood'. So astute and beautifully expressed. I saw a very young mum on the train yesterday managing twin toddlers and a baby in a buggy, calmly and lovingly. I thought she was wonderful and am so pleased you do too!

Sim

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Thanks Sim smiley