Sunday, August 5, 2012

Magpie Tales 129: Small Talk




















A Dinner Table at Night, 1884, John Singer Sargent, shared by Tess Kincaid.




               small talk 




               between slicing
               whirs of air and 
               feathered edges 
               there is restraint.


               storms, too, have 
               that characteristic, 
               a raging/abating,
               that keeps you 
               off your mark,


               reminding you 
               that control is 
               not always 
               what you do
               with your life: 


               to appreciate 
               dominion and calm,
               is to also be 
               prepared for 
               alternatives between
               cocktails and 
               the feast. 




Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 




10 comments:

  1. As always... Good write again... Im suppose to say i love the last one but actually love it all...

    JJRod'z

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  2. nice..i like that you point out that control is not about what you do with your life...true that man....

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  3. Control/ restraint...one can feel the rigidity...thanks for offering the "other". Very good!!

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  4. (uber-cool header pic by the way...)

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  5. I like the notion of efficient agony.

    =)

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  6. You are so right the moments in between can make all the difference! I really feel the depth in your writing... very nice read!

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  7. A finely balanced poem, echoing its theme in its structure.

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