Sunday, June 27, 2010

MAGPIE/ Prompt #20

                                photo/ willow/ magpie tales


RESTORATION 101


Here it is, the canvas of my life.
Time for maintenance.

It's better to sweep
a wide swathe of detritus away,
than to paper over
all the mistakes of the past.

I grab a useful brush,
not unlike the toothy kind,
and scrape against the accumulated plaque.
Then spray a scent to cover my exhalation,
as if fragrance itself equals
a cleansing.

Now the image of my years
is spread before me.
I try to float the dust
out of well worn crevices,
like Sisyphus pushing a ton of rubbish uphill.

Did he reach the top?
A rolling stone seeks its level
and gravity triumphs against a wanting soul,
no matter how serious the intent to win.

Whatever winning is.

Here's the likeness, brush it clean.
What seems a sketchy existence
stubbornly clings like skin.

Down on my hands and knees I go,
scrubbing,
like some indentured servant.


@copyright/ all rights reserved/ 2010


One more time, I'd like to thank Willow at magpie tales for being a weekly inspiration to all of us in Blogland.  I certainly look forward to one more enigmatic photo, from which springs....

30 comments:

Brian Miller said...

and by the time you are finished scrubbing it will be time to start all over again...like sisyphus...nice magpie. great imagery...

Helen said...

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could actually restore ourselves with the mere sweep of a brush?

Your Magpie is wonderful!

Lyn said...

Hi Brian-
Oh no..not all over again!!Thanks so much, Brian...

Lyn said...

Hi Helen-
Thank you..I am looking for a new way!! And easy, too!

Tumblewords: said...

Sometimes, maybe it is just better to paper over the past. Sweep the dust under the rug. :) Love this!

A Cuban In London said...

'like Sisyphus pushing a ton of rubbish uphill.'

This is such a brilliant image. And to pair it up with brushing your teeth is genius. Many thanks.

Greetings from London.

Lyn said...

Hi Tumblewords-
Thanks..I'll probably continue to do both!!

Lyn said...

Greetings to a Cuban-
Thank you..more than kind!Love to stretch the metaphors!!

Blue Sky Dreaming said...

Wonderful! I'm voting for papering over and like the others have said... the Sisyphus imagery is brilliant!

Kathe W. said...

oh my-lovely Magpie

Lyn said...

Hi Mary Ann-
I think I'll try self hypnosis next time...Thanks!

Lyn said...

Hi kathew-
So nice of you...thanks!

Everyday Goddess said...

my face has been so many me's i can barely remember all of them!

excellent magging!

Tess Kincaid said...

Indentured servant is a brilliant ending!! Wonderful, Lyn!!

Lyn said...

Hi Everyday Goddess-
You and me both! Very good, thanks!

Lyn said...

Hi Willow-
Being the shaggy dog I am, that last line was what I was aiming for!! Leave it to you...Thanks a mil...

rel said...

Lyn,
are we doomed to strive for something new and different? Beautiful discription of our obscessions.
rel

Lyn said...

Hi rel-
I think that's our nature..Just trying to clean up my act, I guess..I'll try again tomorrow! Thanks so much...

~T~ said...

I love the last line! Very introspective.

Lyn said...

Hi T-
Thank you..sometimes things just sort of float in..

Unknown said...

Hi Lyn,

It's all super but I particularly like the second and fourth stanzas and, of course, the last line!

Lyn said...

Hi Derrick-
Thank you..I'm happy to come up with anything!

Sam Liu said...

Beautiful metaphor, poignant and eternally truthful. Your writing and your philosophy resonate deeply.

joanna said...

Lyn

This is simply an amazing poem I love the way it flows and the words you use -- it has an imaginary ethereal feel of a soul in ancient Greece that fall from heaven.

Joanny

Lyn said...

Hi Sam-
You are so gracious..I really appreciate your comments, Sam..thank you.

Lyn said...

Hi joanny-
I love your insight, the way it builds up my poem..thank you!

Anonymous said...

uniquely descriptive magpie!

Lyn said...

Hi soundoffreedom-
Thank you..I do find the prompts to be quite stimulating!

Vicki Lane said...

Such wonderful imagery! Beautifully done.

Lyn said...

Hi Vicki-
Thank you for your kind words...

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