The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Thu 11/2/06)

[RetroLounge]

Gretel

A woman is born to this:
sift, measure, mix, roll thin.

She learns the dough until
it folds into her skin and there is

no difference. Much later
she tries to lose it. Makes bets

with herself and wins enough
to keep trying. One day she begins

that long walk in unfamiliar woods.
She means to lose everything

she is. She empties her dark pockets,
dropping enough crumbs

to feed all the men who have ever
touched her or wished.

When she reaches the clearing
she is almost transparent—

so thin
the old woman in the house seizes

only the brother. You know the rest:
She won’t escape that oven. She’ll eat

the crumbs meant for him, remember
something of his touch, reach

for the sifter and the cup.

Andrea Hollander Budy


*******************

RL

If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...

if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Lovely poem. Thanks, my friend.

I don't know if it was the reference to the woods in yours, or the change of seasons here, that brought this one to mind. It's one of my favorites. I'm sure that you know it. I've known it, by heart, since I was a kid.:-)


Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

[miss_american_pie]

2. ...

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Retro..........

So this is what a woman is born to.......

I always wondered........

What a lovely poem.....

remember

something of his touch, reach

for the sifter and the cup.

Just beautiful......thank you........:hug:

[reyd reid reed]

4. Quite a summary...

Says a lot...and it's uncomfortably close to the truth.

Thank you. You, my friend, are teaching me quite a bit about poetry, an art and discipline I've resisted for a long time.

:hug:

[RetroLounge]

5. ...

:hug:

Not to mention flirting...

:9

RL

[reyd reid reed]

6. Oh, that's something

you're very good at...can I be Teacher's Pet?

:P

[RetroLounge]

7. Only if heavy petting is involved...

:9

RL

[reyd reid reed]

8. That's a requirement, isn't it?

:evilgrin:

[RetroLounge]

9. I would say so, yes...

:9

:hi:

RL

[reyd reid reed]

10. And a good student *always*

fulfills the course requirements.

:9

[RetroLounge]

11. Oh, you can count on fulfillment...

:loveya:

RL