The book

Cherry

By shoe

Sun, 06 Mar 2011
  • 3677 reads
14 comments
 

I was given a book
covered in hand painted silk
patterned with ripples
The pages were blank
and the colour of spilt vinegar
every page was edged in gold

It invited, implored, insisted
I write down my secrets
So I wrote, in indigo ink
on every page, top to bottom
until it was full, then
I gave it to you
and you read it all
dipping in at random
underlining favourite passages
until it became dog eared
and shabby
like well loved books do

It was a book to live your life by
this book of secrets
or they might be lies
for what else could one write
in such a beautiful book

Certificate U
Poem
Some kind of poetry
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Magic this one, shoe. (Just a tiny typo - should be 'indigo') I loved every line of this and I can picture that book in my mind. The ending - perfect;-) Tina

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
People seem to forever be buying me beautiful notebooks, Shirley, and I'm gutted that I just don't have enough to say to write in them all - love your ideas in this poem though. Beautifully conjured! Especially the 'spilt vinegar pages' :) Magic xxx

 

Submitted by Highhat on
Nice ;)

Submitted by ScoZen on
Ah, shoe, lovely. "...hand painted silk patterned with ripples..." A little book to treasure I think!
ScoZen

Submitted by fatboy74 on
A lovely poem Shoe. :-)

 

Submitted by Beeme on
I really like, beautiful imagery. Really lovely :) Beeme xx

k.

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks Tina, for spotting that typo and for reading and leaving a lovely comment, Thanks to Highhat, Magic, ScoZen, FB and Beeme, your comments are very much appreciated, as is your kindness.

 

Submitted by seashore on
Lovely

Submitted by barryj1 on
This poem surely proves the time-worn cliche that good things come in small packages. The final, five-line stanza was the perfect summing up. This elemental language has the feel of alchemy. Not a wasted word. Sure wish I could be so economical with my prose.

barryj1

Submitted by shoe on
Thanks seashore for reading, glad you like it. Barryj1, thats quite a comment and I'm thrilled you like it, I always think I haven't said enough and chide myself to try harder, we're never happy are we!

 

Submitted by Dynamaso on
For the sake of repetition, this is quite lovely.

 

Submitted by anipani on
Secrets or lies? Marvellous , I realy enjoyed this. Love 'pages the colour of vinegar' . Fresh and true writing.

anipani

Submitted by TVR on
I thought this was beautiful and it moved me, shoe, and I agree with the person above about the final stanza - perfect. Thank you. sd

TVR

Submitted by shoe on
Dynamaso, a repetition I really don't mind hearing! anipani and sue, thank you for reading and leaving such encouraging comments, really appreciated.