The history of women and wood

A response to a suggestion by C.D. Campbell

A History of Women and Wood

A boy, years on the farm

Barely notices time,

But each year the notch where the horse

Rests his long jaw on the manger

And feeds, grows smoother and deeper.

The hoe handles, never sanded,

Bought rough and used rougher,

Are yet now smooth.

Free of the least imperfection.

I hear your voice,

Feel it glide like water into my heart.

I mount the stairs to your apartment;

The oak trod shallow in the tread.

The newel, the banister, fall like silk

Beneath my hand.

So why, when I touch you

Am I surprised at such smooth perfection?

 

 

 

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

And you got all that from horse trough or at least "horse". He does have to eat from somewhere, so I guess manger will suffice as it is a synonym for trough. Clever. Maybe I should challenge you with the words "spicy burrito" next time. Ok, I think the only thing that has been proven is that you have been holding out on us and poetry is not a waste of your time. {insert smiley face emoji of your choice} I know we kid each other and I can wax on about the typical imagery, metaphor, and all that stuff, but I think this could be published easily. That's my highest compliment. CD

BTW--At first reading I could've swore you had some type of meter scheme going.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for your generous comment. I wrote a "short story" that more completely addressed your prompt, although it too was addressed sideways. The poem was an afterthought when it occurred to me you had not specified what form you expected. I probably would have passed up "spicy burrito" by the way.

[CD Campbell]

I didn't expect any type of particular form. I'm just used to pulling off my shoes and counting syllables.

[Chris]

"fall like silk"? curious of fall...

I appreciate the warmth of the last two lines.

[Delmar Cooper]

"fall like silk"? Sounded right when writ maybe as a person rises on a stairway his hand seems to falls rather than rise relatively speaking it's relatively confusing. Probably had something to do with underpants and now I simply can't remember. Damn shame too.

[Chris]

Railings, newels and banisters age well with use - silken smooth to the touch...

[Chris]

so did you bounce all-the-way down or float fluttering as the air passed by? Chuckling here.

[Delmar Cooper]

bounced up the stairs oozed down

[Chris]

THAT is sooooooooooo real... ouch

[h d e rushin]

so wonderful you are with words my friend. Wonderful.....just wonderful./dana

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks Dana I read all you post. I wish I was not nonplussed every time. By nonplussed I mean blown away.

[Cherrie Palmer]

These are the best kind of poems. When we take a phrase and let it take us on a journey. This was well played with the perfect ending.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thank you for reading and for your comment.

[Emily B]

this is beautiful. Timeless and true.

[Vera Anne Wolf]

I really liked this. It opens as a sort of passage of time, then slips you into a memory. I loved all the touch sensations you layered in here which build up to a wonderful closing line at the end. Not sure the title does it justice, but truly enjoyed this piece.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading. The title is definitely lacking in curb appeal.

[Nipplegrinder]

I absolutely love this poem. There is a sense of vintage love for wood, but the rich vocabulary lured me in, and made me read again. And again and once more. You possess sophistication with simplicity in this. Admirably scribed.

[Delmar Cooper]

I am so pleased by your gracious comment. It makes me happy that I have , for you, created the illusion of "rich vocabulary" and sophistication" with nouns, verbs, one simile and three or four modifiers.

[John the Baptist]

I like the economy of expression in this one, and also the use of imagery that links the smooth perfection of familiar things with the feel of the beloved. A very smooth piece here.

PS: Spell check smother in line 5. Also, the line at the end needs a question mark.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading and for your comments, especially the PS. I had been mildly upbraided by C.D. Campbell for sloth and he challenged me to respond to "horse trough" This was done quickly and not proofed. Obviously.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks to your help those two errors are now corrected.