Embroidery makes her eyes ache.
Sewing the silken threads in line
with the picture inside her mind
allows no room for a mistake.
Her strength of will bows to her skill
as she struggles to stay awake
until her mantel clock strikes nine,
leaving her heart, not eyes, to ache.
Sewing the silken threads in line
with the picture inside her mind
allows no room for a mistake.
Her strength of will bows to her skill
as she struggles to stay awake
until her mantel clock strikes nine,
leaving her heart, not eyes, to ache.
Poets United took Night Time for their Thursday Think Tank prompt. I was thinking of the days before electricity, when women stitched away by candle light, when I wrote these lines this morning- before I read their prompt! Fortuitous, or what?
Oh, and it fits my own In Tandem, too!
Do I detect a note of worry/sadness, or am I just projecting, especially since I just finished my piece. Love your picture this week, Pen.
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh out loud. The Good Husband regularly taunts me for being a "ten-on-the-dot" person. If at home, I must head back to my room at ten. I simply don't want to be up and about any longer. I am a creature of habit.
ReplyDeleteAh, serendipity. Gotta love it.
ReplyDeleteVery nice verse. :)
The lot of women of an earlier age always upsets me and sewing by candle-light was only one among many trials. I love the illustration. The colours are very nostalgic for me.
ReplyDeleteWonderful creation...the title, verse and In Tandem.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. Melancholy, but lovely.
ReplyDeleteLove the image Jinksy, rich and vibrant. And love the poem as well, also vivid in detail and story,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
My first thought as I read the poem was of some sadness infused in it. And I saw Ann mentioned it in her comment.
ReplyDeleteThen, as I completed reading the post, Serendipity was the word that came to my mind. And then, I saw Frank made exactly that comment.
This is another level of 'two in tandem' for me.
Yes , there's something lonely about this piece . Is she waiting for a straying husband to return ......?
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you have so vividly painted here, and it goes so well with your tandem picture too. Nice one! :-)
ReplyDeleteA Sight For Sore Eyes.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture. I have done embroidery and other handwork in younger years when eyes were sharper and I did not have carpal tunnel syndrome. Also dabbled in oil painting until allergies interfered.
ReplyDeleteSo today is only digital which is sad. Many of the crafts and arts suffer, but digital does contribute to imagery if creative minds find the way, like you
The illustration reminds me of Central Park in New York City, or, perhaps, Boston Common. Were either of those the inspiration, by any chance? I doubt it, but that's what immediately came to mind for me.
ReplyDelete?really wonder Pen how they did some of that really fine embroidery, don't you
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pastel colours even if they did make her eyes ache.
ReplyDeleteI love all the details that paint the image; your art is lovely, too~
ReplyDeleteOh... just buy glasses and switch on the lights!
ReplyDelete;-)
(I can see this in embroidery actually. With some silver threads. If only I had the patience ;-))
It's fascinating how we take the prompt into so many different directions. I can now see the embroidery so clearly, but never would have before.
ReplyDeleteIts lovely!
ReplyDeleteMaggie X
Nuts in May
I am grateful every day I wasn't born then, except when I think of how wild and beautiful the world must have been--but unlikely I would have gotten to see much of it before dying in childbirth. Like the concept of this, Jinksy.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great last line, turning the whole thrust of the poem into something very different and unexpected.
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered how women managed to sew such fine work by candlelight. Give me bright light every time:-)
ReplyDeleteI really like all the rhyming within lines. You've said volumes in these few, well-worded lines.
ReplyDelete